Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the Emotiva B1+ is the better pick: it ranks #23 of 168 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.1/5), against #163 (rated 1.5/5) for the Jamo C 93 II. If you want one new, the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 replaces the Emotiva B1+ and is rated 4.2/5 at $549.
The Emotiva B1+ is the more accurate pick. Its form factor and driver layout make it a sensible match for a properly chosen amplifier and room. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.34 against 3.35 for the Jamo C 93 II. Watch for: It needs an external amplifier and thoughtful placement.
What the Jamo C 93 II does well: Attractive cabinet and finish for the price. The catch: Extremely non-linear tonal balance: Erin measured treble averaging roughly 5dB above the midrange, with local swings from near the midrange level to +6dB by about 12kHz.
Buy the Emotiva B1+ only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, buy the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2, which replaces the Emotiva B1+.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Emotiva B1+ | Jamo C 93 II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 per pair Discontinued | $299 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #23 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #163 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53.2Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 68.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 10.8”H x 7.1”W x 8.3”D (274 x 181 x 210 mm) | 13.8”H x 7.9”W x 10.2”D (350 x 200 x 260 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 5.25” woven fiber cone with SBR surround woofer, 25x32 mm Airmotiv folded ribbon tweeter | 6” HCCC cone woofer, 1” silk-dome tweeter with waveguide |
| Weight | 8.8 lbs (4.0 kg) each | 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.34 (spinorama.org) | 3.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.86 (spinorama.org) | 5.97 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared.
Measurement data: Emotiva B1+ (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) and Jamo C 93 II (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
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How Emotiva B1+ compares with other leading options:
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- Arendal 1961 Monitor vs Emotiva B1+
- Emotiva B1+ vs Neumi BS5
- KEF Q150 vs Emotiva B1+
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The Two Speakers In Full
Emotiva B1+: $250 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2, rated 4.2/5, released Feb 2024. See every Emotiva Airmotiv generation.
Same family: the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ (center, rated 3.4/5).
Pros: Emotiva B1+ uses 5.25” woven fiber cone with SBR surround woofer, 25x32 mm Airmotiv folded ribbon tweeter in a conventional wired-speaker design. Its form factor and driver layout make it a sensible match for a properly chosen amplifier and room. Measured bass extension of 70Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: It needs an external amplifier and thoughtful placement. Speaker performance will depend heavily on the partnering electronics and room acoustics. Discontinued.
Full Emotiva B1+ review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2019 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 10.8”H x 7.1”W x 8.3”D (274 x 181 x 210 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” woven fiber cone with SBR surround woofer, 25x32 mm Airmotiv folded ribbon tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.34 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.86 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 8.8 lbs (4.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: What are the other reviewers hearing with the $250 @EmotivaAudioCorp B1+? More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Emotiva B1+
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Does Jamo make speakers for people with hearing loss?
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Bright & Boomy or Neutral? JBL Stage A120/A130 vs Emotiva B1+
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Jamo C 93 II: $299 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: Attractive cabinet and finish for the price. The mild midbass rise can add subjectively enjoyable punch at modest playback levels, and the speaker is reasonably compact. Erin measured about 84dB sensitivity through the midrange. Harmonic distortion at moderate output is not the central problem; the much larger limitations are frequency-response accuracy, directivity and compression. Measured bass extension of 68.8Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84dB.
Cons: Extremely non-linear tonal balance: Erin measured treble averaging roughly 5dB above the midrange, with local swings from near the midrange level to +6dB by about 12kHz. The result is hollow midrange, exaggerated apparent detail and a bright, fatiguing balance. Multiple diffraction discontinuities around the crossover and waveguide prevent reliable EQ correction; turning the speakers 30 degrees outward does not fix the irregularity. Midwoofer directivity narrows before the tweeter abruptly widens, indicating poor crossover/directivity matching. Vertical listening position should remain near tweeter axis. Output behavior is exceptionally poor: Erin found compression running off the plotted scale at high level and multitone distortion crossing -20dB (10%) across roughly 200Hz-1.2kHz, which produces audible grain. The grille makes response still less linear. Erin judged the cheaper Emotiva B1+ better in accuracy, soundstage and output. Discontinued.
Full Jamo C 93 II review and specifications →
| Released | May 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.2Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13.8”H x 7.9”W x 10.2”D (350 x 200 x 260 mm) |
| Drivers | 6” HCCC cone woofer, 1” silk-dome tweeter with waveguide |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.97 |
| Weight | 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons