Short answer: the Adam Audio T7V. It ranks #26 of 40 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $289.99; the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s ranks #39 and costs $400, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Adam Audio T7V: Quite balanced and neutral, very close to the Yamaha HS8. The tradeoff: On-axis response is a bit wider than ideal for a nearfield monitor, and narrow vertical dispersion means you need to sit at tweeter height to get the intended tonal balance, per Audioholics’ measurements.
What the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s gets right: CEA2034 spinorama shows lots of bass energy below 300Hz and the ability to play louder than a JBL 305P MKII comparison unit. The catch: A suckout between 300-600Hz on the listening window is followed by a peak from 600Hz up.
Buy the Adam Audio T7V. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s. It ranks near the bottom of the 40 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Adam Audio T7V | Emotiva Airmotiv 6s | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $289.99 | $400 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #26 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #39 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | approx. 65Hz, extrapolated from the reviewer’s directly-computed -6dB point of 45.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 72Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approx. 45Hz, extrapolated from the reviewer’s directly-computed -6dB point of 45.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 13.7"H x 8.3"W x 11.5"D (348 x 210.8 x 292.1 mm) | - |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 42Hz - 25kHz (+0/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA | - |
| Weight | 15.7 lbs / 7.1 kg | 24.9 lbs / 11.3 kg each |
| Drivers | 7" (178mm) woofer | 6.5" AirMotiv low-frequency transducer, 60x32mm AirMotiv tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (built-in presets) |
| DSP | No | No |
| Output Power | 70w Per Speaker | 210W total (100W tweeter, 110W woofer) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Adam Audio T7V: $289.99 Amazon
Pros: Quite balanced and neutral, very close to the Yamaha HS8. Deeper bass than the HS8
Cons: On-axis response is a bit wider than ideal for a nearfield monitor, and narrow vertical dispersion means you need to sit at tweeter height to get the intended tonal balance, per Audioholics’ measurements. Frequency response below 1kHz also looks a bit ragged in the digitized ASR analysis - not as smooth out of the box as some rivals, though it’s said to respond well to EQ.
Full Adam Audio T7V review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approx. 45Hz, extrapolated from the reviewer's directly-computed -6dB point of 45.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | approx. 65Hz, extrapolated from the reviewer's directly-computed -6dB point of 45.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 13.7"H x 8.3"W x 11.5"D (348 x 210.8 x 292.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 7" (178mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Output Power | 70w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 15.7 lbs / 7.1 kg |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Audio Science Review Measurements
- Audioholics Review Measurements
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T7V vs Yamaha HS7 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Adam Audio A7X vs Adam Audio T7V sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T7V vs Yamaha HS7 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Adam Audio T7V sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Adam Audio T7V vs Adam Audio A5X sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Tannoy Gold 7 vs Adam Audio T7V sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T5V vs Adam Audio T7V Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Kali LP-6 vs Adam Audio T7V Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 7 G4 RP7G4 vs Adam Audio T7V Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T7V vs JBL 306P MKII Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Reddit Search for Adam Audio T7V Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Emotiva Airmotiv 6s: $400 Discontinued
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows lots of bass energy below 300Hz and the ability to play louder than a JBL 305P MKII comparison unit. Bi-amped design with 100W (tweeter) plus 110W (woofer) drives a 6.5” AirMotiv low-frequency transducer and AMT-style tweeter.
Cons: A suckout between 300-600Hz on the listening window is followed by a peak from 600Hz up. The built-in EQ options don’t fix this - one preset has the same dip plus a 3-7kHz peak. Vertical response droops at the 2.5kHz crossover. The reviewer’s verdict: there’s no reason to buy a speaker with a suckout in the upper bass if you have a choice. Discontinued.
Full Emotiva Airmotiv 6s review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 72Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | No |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 6.5" AirMotiv low-frequency transducer, 60x32mm AirMotiv tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (built-in presets) |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 25kHz (+0/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 210W total (100W tweeter, 110W woofer) |
| Weight | 24.9 lbs / 11.3 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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