Short answer: the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. It ranks #32 of 100 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $549; the Revel Concerta2 M16 ranks #37 and costs $600, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 offers: Very neutral, linear frequency response at the recommended toe-out angle, with better directivity than the similarly-priced ELAC DB63. Watch for: Slight recessed upper-midrange around 2kHz from the tweeter-to-woofer handoff.
On the Revel Concerta2 M16 side: CEA2034 spinorama shows an on-axis response that’s essentially flat from 200Hz to 10kHz, with some bass boost around 100Hz. Set against that: Harmonic distortion shows a notable peak around 80Hz and a sharp spike around 350Hz, plus the woofer appears to get a bit unhappy right before handing off to the tweeter.
Buy the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Revel Concerta2 M16 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 | Revel Concerta2 M16 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549 | about $600 used |
| Ranked | #32 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #37 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 12.8" x 8.5" x 11.5" (325 x 216 x 292 mm) | 14.8"H x 8.6"W x 10.8"D (374.7 x 218.4 x 273.3 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (safe with 8-ohm rated amps) | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, Manufacturer specified) | 86dB |
| Drivers | 1x 6" woven cone woofer, 1x 25x32mm AMT folded ribbon tweeter | 25mm tweeter + 165mm woofer |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs / 8.2 kg | 32 lbs / 14.5 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, rear ported | ported, rear |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 27kHz (+3/-3dB, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz | - |
| Output Power | 125W continuous, 200W peak | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- ELAC DB63 vs ELAC DBR62
- ELAC DB63 vs Zu Audio Method
- ELAC DB63 vs Revel Performa M22
- Revel M106 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
- ELAC DB63 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
The Two Speakers In Full
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2: $549 Emotiva
Pros: Very neutral, linear frequency response at the recommended toe-out angle, with better directivity than the similarly-priced ELAC DB63. Decent bass extension for a bookshelf (F3 at 62Hz). AMT folded-ribbon tweeter with a rotating waveguide for placement flexibility. Great value - rated a top-three performer for the money by Erin’s Audio Corner.
Cons: Slight recessed upper-midrange around 2kHz from the tweeter-to-woofer handoff. Sounds noticeably bright pointed directly at the listener - needs toeing out 10-20 degrees, crossfiring behind the head, for the most linear result. Elevated multi-tone distortion at higher output leads to some grainy, compressed mids when pushed. Irregular compression deviations affect dynamics at higher volume. Needs a subwoofer for real bass authority.
Full Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz |
| Dimensions | 12.8" x 8.5" x 11.5" (325 x 216 x 292 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 6" woven cone woofer, 1x 25x32mm AMT folded ribbon tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 27kHz (+3/-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (safe with 8-ohm rated amps) |
| Output Power | 125W continuous, 200W peak |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs / 8.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, rear ported |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs ELAC DB63
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs JBL HDI-1600
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs ELAC VELA BS 403
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs StarkSound Beta 5
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs Revel M126Be
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs Wharfedale Linton 85
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs Monolith Encore B6
- See all 9 comparisons
Revel Concerta2 M16: about $600 used
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows an on-axis response that’s essentially flat from 200Hz to 10kHz, with some bass boost around 100Hz. Predicted in-room response is very nice, with just extra bass and a bit of roll-off above 20kHz - the reviewer calls it “nice!” Distortion is well controlled through most of the range at both test levels.
Cons: Harmonic distortion shows a notable peak around 80Hz and a sharp spike around 350Hz, plus the woofer appears to get a bit unhappy right before handing off to the tweeter. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) shows some lingering resonances in the 300Hz-1kHz region. The reviewer cautions not to over-cover the cabinet/grille area with thin fabric, as it can audibly affect the top-end response.
Full Revel Concerta2 M16 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 14.8"H x 8.6"W x 10.8"D (374.7 x 218.4 x 273.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 165mm woofer |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB |
| Weight | 32 lbs / 14.5 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs JBL HDI-1600
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC DB63
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC DBR62
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Yamaha NS-800A
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC VELA BS 403
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
- See all 10 comparisons