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  5. Airmotiv 3b Speakers: Conclusion

Airmotiv 3b Speakers: Conclusion

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Emotiva AirMotiv 3b lifestyle Pic

The Emotiva Airmotiv 3b is a winner for solid desktop sound

Yes, Emotiva has done it again. These aren’t your average computer speakers.  The Airmotiv 3bs are high-grade desktop speakers with serious kick. For such a small package, they deliver remarkably good sound. They certainly are not the perfect desktop speaker and they don’t come with luxurious extras.  There is no remote or subwoofer output, for example.  But at the $200 price point (shipping included), those are inconsequential omissions. 

If you’re tight on space and budget and have been waiting for a reason to give your computer-based gaming, movie watching, or music listening a serious upgrade, then look no further than the Airmotiv 3b. 

Do good things come in small packages?  The Airmotiv 3b is certainly proof of this.  Highly recommended!

The Score Card

The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:

Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating

Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.

Audioholics Rating Scale

  • StarStarStarStarStar — Excellent
  • StarStarStarStar — Very Good
  • StarStarStar — Good
  • StarStar — Fair
  • Star — Poor
MetricRating
Build QualityStarStarStarStar
AppearanceStarStarStar
Bass ExtensionStarStarStar
ImagingStarStarStarStar
SoundstageStarStarStarStar
Dynamic RangeStarStarStarStar
Fit and FinishStarStarStarStar
PerformanceStarStarStarStar
ValueStarStarStarStar
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About the author:
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Theo is a serious audiophile and home theater enthusiast—a passion he's enjoyed for over 20 years. He heads up many of our speaker system and receiver reviews as well as covering the latest in streaming technologies and Ultra HD video.

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Recent Forum Posts:

Read the Complete Thread
Reyfox posts on March 19, 2016 10:41
These do sound like what I might be looking for. Something that doesn't take up a lot of desk real estate.
Curious as to what a comparison would be between these and say Audioengine's a2+ desktop speakers. Personally, I have zero interest in blue tooth connectivity.
Cos posts on March 15, 2016 18:13
I have had the Airmotiv 4 Powered Speakers for a while when I picked them up at one of their roadshows and could not be happier. They sound great, I like their ribbon tweeter, they play loud if needed and are built like a tank.

Unfortunately they do suffer some of the same problems as their bluetooth counterpart
1. No way to add a subwoofer
2. Bass response, while great for a speaker it's size, will not get the extreme lows

Overall they offer an excellent $ for Sound Quality Ratio
gene posts on March 15, 2016 16:19
Desktop audio is generally a letdown. But leave it to Emotiva to come up with a desktop speaker that defies conventional wisdom. Emotiva's AirMotiv 3b is two way, front-ported speaker that is great-souding, chest-thumping, and takes up minimal real-estate while also being kind on your wallet. What more could you ask for? How about both wired and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a 60 watt stereo amplifier, aptX codec support, and 32-bit DSP.




Read: Emotiva AirMotiv 3b Bluetooth Speaker Review to see why this small-sized wireless powerhouse left us impressed.
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