Short answer: the Emotiva Airmotiv XA2. It ranks #5 of 11 surround speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $329; the Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II ranks #8, rated 3.5/5, and costs $549.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 does well: A wall or ceiling surround and height speaker with the folded ribbon tweeter of the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2, which rotates to aim at the listener, and a 5.25” woofer. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
The case for the Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II: A wide dispersion surround with two horn tweeters and two 5.25” Cerametallic woofers on angled baffles, rated at 94dB, so it is very easy to drive. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
Buy the Emotiva Airmotiv XA2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 3.2 to 4.0; Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II 3.1 to 3.9). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 | Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329 per pair | $549.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #5 of 11 in Surround and Height Speakers Estimated | #8 of 11 in Surround and Height Speakers Estimated |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 75Hz (manufacturer specified) | 62Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 1x 25x32mm folded ribbon tweeter, 1x 5.25” woven fiber woofer | 2x 1” titanium LTS tweeter on 90x90 Tractrix horn, 2x 5.25” Cerametallic woofer |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (manufacturer specified) | 94dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 27kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) | 62Hz - 25kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 12.5”H x 7.2”W x 8.5”D (318 x 182 x 216 mm) | 14.2”H x 11.9”W x 7.6”D (360 x 303 x 194 mm) |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5.0 kg) each | 16.8 lbs (7.6 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 40W or more recommended | 100W RMS (400W peak) handling |
| Warranty | 5 years | - |
| Enclosure | - | Sealed MDF |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Emotiva Airmotiv XA2:
- Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 vs Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500SA II
- Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 vs MartinLogan Motion MP10
- Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500SA II vs Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II
- Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II vs SVS Prime Elevation
- Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II vs MartinLogan Motion MP10
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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 XA2: $329 per pair Estimated Emotiva eBay
Same family: the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 (bookshelf, rated 4.2/5), the Emotiva Airmotiv XT1 (smallest floorstanding, estimated 4/5), the Emotiva Airmotiv XT2 (floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5), the Emotiva Airmotiv XT3 (largest floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5), the Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 (smallest center, estimated 3.4/5), the Emotiva Airmotiv XC1 (center, estimated 3.6/5) and the Emotiva Airmotiv XC3 (largest center, estimated 3.6/5). See every Emotiva Airmotiv generation.
Pros: A wall or ceiling surround and height speaker with the folded ribbon tweeter of the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2, which rotates to aim at the listener, and a 5.25” woofer.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. Rated only from 75Hz, so it needs a subwoofer, and 86dB sensitivity is modest.
Full Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 40W or more recommended |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 75Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 12.5”H x 7.2”W x 8.5”D (318 x 182 x 216 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 25x32mm folded ribbon tweeter, 1x 5.25” woven fiber woofer |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 27kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5.0 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II: $549.99 per pair Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the Klipsch RP-500M II (smaller bookshelf, rated 4/5), the Klipsch RP-600M II (larger bookshelf, rated 3.7/5), the Klipsch RP-5000F II (smallest floorstanding, rated 4/5), the Klipsch RP-6000F II (floorstanding, rated 3.9/5), the Klipsch RP-8000F II (floorstanding, rated 3.9/5), the Klipsch RP-8060FA II (largest floorstanding, estimated 3.8/5), the Klipsch RP-404C II (smallest center, rated 3.7/5), the Klipsch RP-500C II (center, rated 3.9/5), the Klipsch RP-504C II (largest center, rated 3.8/5) and the Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500SA II (smaller surround, ranked higher, estimated 3.5/5). See every Klipsch Reference Premiere generation.
Pros: A wide dispersion surround with two horn tweeters and two 5.25” Cerametallic woofers on angled baffles, rated at 94dB, so it is very easy to drive.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. It is wall mount only and rated from 62Hz, so it is not a main speaker.
Full Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II review and specifications →
| Released | 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS (400W peak) handling |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 14.2”H x 11.9”W x 7.6”D (360 x 303 x 194 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1” titanium LTS tweeter on 90x90 Tractrix horn, 2x 5.25” Cerametallic woofer |
| Enclosure | Sealed MDF |
| Frequency Response | 62Hz - 25kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 94dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 16.8 lbs (7.6 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II vs Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500SA II
- Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II vs MartinLogan Motion MP10
- Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II vs DALI Sonik On-Wall
- Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II vs KEF Q8 Meta
- Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II vs SVS Prime Elevation
- Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-502S II vs SVS Ultra Evolution Elevation