Short answer: the Emotiva Airmotiv T2+. It is a high-value three-way tower with strong output and unusually deep usable sealed-room bass for the price, and its main demand is current: the 4-ohm nominal load approaches 3 ohms near 100Hz. The Q Acoustics 5040’s Continuous Curved Cone driver profile promises smooth midrange integration and better bass damping, but its free-field response has a noticeable mid-bass scoop around 200Hz, about 6dB below the mean SPL.
Buy the Q Acoustics 5040 if you want one new; the Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ | Q Acoustics 5040 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $999 per pair Discontinued | $2,472.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #35 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #41 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 89.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 91.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | Approximately 3 ohms minimum near 100Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal (3.0 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 32mm folded-ribbon tweeter; 5.25” midrange; dual 8” woofers | 0.88 in. decoupled dome tweeter, twin 5.0 in. C3 Continuous Curved Cone woofers |
| Dimensions | 42.7”H x 12.2”W x 12.3”D | 38.1”H x 11.5”W x 14.2”D (967 x 293 x 361 mm) |
| Weight | 56.9 lbs (25.8 kg) each | 39.7 lbs (18.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.56 | 3.80 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.14 | 6.41 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Emotiva Airmotiv T2+: $999 per pair Discontinued Emotiva eBay
Newer model: the Emotiva Airmotiv XT2. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we don’t have measurements to confirm that yet.
Pros: High-value three-way tower with strong output and unusually deep usable sealed-room bass for the price. Erin measured F3 at 62Hz and F10 at 32Hz, with sensitivity just under 90dB/2.83V/1m. Dual 8-inch woven-fiber woofers relieve the 5.25-inch midrange, and the 32mm folded-ribbon tweeter provides broad horizontal coverage. Approximately +/-2.5dB response linearity, solid cabinet bracing and low compression allow substantial playback levels; the gradual low-frequency roll-off integrates well with either room gain or a subwoofer. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 89.5dB.
Cons: The nominal 4-ohm system approaches 3 ohms near 100Hz in Erin’s measurement, so a high-current amplifier is preferable. Horizontal and especially vertical directivity through the midrange/tweeter transition is less uniform than the best waveguided or coaxial designs; listener height and nearby reflections matter, and EQ cannot correct the narrowing mismatch. The large rear-ported cabinet needs placement clearance, and its deep F10 should not be confused with flat 30Hz output at cinema levels. Discontinued.
Full Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 42.7”H x 12.2”W x 12.3”D |
| Drivers | 32mm folded-ribbon tweeter; 5.25” midrange; dual 8” woofers |
| Impedance | Approximately 3 ohms minimum near 100Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 89.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.56 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.14 |
| Weight | 56.9 lbs (25.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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Q Acoustics 5040: $2,472.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: C3 (Continuous Curved Cone) driver profile technology provides smooth midrange integration, controlled cone breakup, and improved bass damping. High voltage sensitivity (91.5dB SPL at 2.83V/1m) allows loud listening with low-to-moderate amplifier wattage. Cabinet features Point-to-Point (P2P) internal bracing and Helmholtz Pressure Equalizer (HPE) tubes to suppress internal standing waves and panel vibrations. Measured bass extension of 70Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 91.5dB.
Cons: Free-field frequency response exhibits a noticeable mid-bass scoop around 200Hz (~6dB lower than mean SPL), causing an F3 of 70Hz (F10 of 39Hz) in open space and requiring boundary placement (11-22 inches from front wall) to reinforce upper bass output. Measurements indicate an enclosure resonance near 300Hz visible in sound power data. Minimum impedance drops to 3.0 ohms, demanding a stable 4-ohm rated amplifier despite high sensitivity.
Full Q Acoustics 5040 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 38.1”H x 11.5”W x 14.2”D (967 x 293 x 361 mm) |
| Drivers | 0.88 in. decoupled dome tweeter, twin 5.0 in. C3 Continuous Curved Cone woofers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (3.0 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 91.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.80 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.41 |
| Weight | 39.7 lbs (18.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Q Acoustics 5040 vs Infinity Primus 360
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