Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero: The new two-way speakers have become the most compact model in the Airmotiv line. But don’t rush to call them “junior”. In terms of status, sound, and appearance, they look worthy against the background of large three-way modifications – T-Zero is simply optimized for small rooms.
The founder of the Emotiva brand, Dan Laufman, continues to develop products that look more expensive than they cost and sound more expensive than they look. The new compact Airmotiv T-Zero speakers look solid and, I would say, “gothic” due to the multi-layer coating of the front panel with satin black lacquer and the characteristic upper beveled edges of the entire series, which not only add originality to the design but also, according to the manufacturer, “minimize diffraction effects and interference in the room”, the side walls are decorated with textured vinyl. If someone suddenly thinks that the acoustics in the interior look too flashy, then protective “grills” are at his service, which are attached with magnets and make the appearance of the speakers more neutral. Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero Review
The word Airmotiv in the model name means that it is equipped with a ribbon HF emitter (aka Air Motion Transformer and a tweeter named after inventor Oscar Heil). Let us recall that this design uses a particularly thin membrane with sprayed conductive elements, under the influence of a magnetic field it moves, producing acoustic vibrations. The advantage of this solution was the lightness and extremely low inertia of the emitter and, as a result, transparent and detailed “highs”. The membrane size in T-Zero is the same as in other acoustics of this line – 32 x 25 mm.
Two separate 5.25-inch (13.34 cm) drivers are responsible for the mid and low frequencies. There is no reservation, with three different emitters the system is truly two-way with a crossover at 2.5 kHz, but each driver with a woven fiber diffuser is optimized for its own range, in particular, the “low-frequency drivers” are distinguished by heat-resistant voice coils and ventilated pole pieces. The manufacturer emphasizes that the crossover design uses “audiophile grade” film capacitors, precision resistors, and air-core inductors.
Unlike the “large” floor models T1 and T2, capable of operating in bi-amping/bi-wiring modes, the T-Zero speakers have two standard terminals at the bottom of the rear panel. Above them is an impressive phase inverter hole. According to acoustic characteristics, the set is designed to work in small rooms of about 16-18 sq. m. and it is in such conditions that it can reveal itself in the best possible way, it is important to find the optimal location so that the speakers are not placed close to the wall. Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero Review
All of our own
The description of the Airmotiv T-Zero states that the speakers are designed to work both with stereo components and as front speakers in a home theater. However, the company’s representatives insisted that the reproduction of musical material is the model’s strong point, and it is not appropriate for true music lovers to be distracted by the bustle of watching videos.
For listening, we were offered a set assembled mainly from products of the same brand, where the components optimally match each other in terms of characteristics. The speakers were driven by an integrated amplifier Emotiva BasX TA-100 with a built-in DAC on the AD1955 chip (which is deservedly considered one of the best “one-bit” from Analog Devices).
The main sound source was the Emotiva BasX CD-100 CD player, connected to the analog RCA input and using its own “good old” and, in my opinion, very musical CS4398 DAC. This CD player can also work as a high-quality transport, connecting to the TA-100 via coaxial or optical connectors, but this time we connected a Yamaha WXC-50 network player to the amplifier’s “optics” to play “hi-res” from a USB drive. Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero Review
Academic approach
It is usually assumed that bass reproduction by acoustics of such form factor is, to put it mildly, a “compromise”, and therefore I immediately suggest T-Zero cope with the aggressive “rapcore” “Take The Power Back” by Rage Against The Machine. In response, the speakers gave out distinct full-bodied “lows”, revealing both the pressure of the drum kit and the ominous voice of the bass guitar. The characteristic “punch” is felt, while the speakers do not push into the chest at all, but sensitively “shake” the eardrums. The composition, although authentic, sounds not the usual menacing, but somewhat academic, and you perceive yourself not as a fan at a rock concert, but as a conservatory teacher on the artistic council committee: “Pay attention, colleague, to the characteristic overtones in the vocals of Zack de la Rocha …”. But this feature will help you peacefully get along with neighbors in a panel high-rise building without losing volume and sound quality.
In the composition “Believer” by Imagine Dragons, the speakers managed to convey a rich, thick sound and low-frequency rhythm together with well-drawn vocals and transparent “highs”. The song “Oh Carol” by Smokie sounded bright and “smashing”: clear elastic bass together with detailed emphasized instruments and voice encouraged you to tap your foot to the beat, although I have never been a fan of the band. However, it is worth warning that true “bass heads” may be disappointed: the speakers do not have many “lows”, but just enough to reliably convey the artist’s intentions. Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero Floorstanding Speakers
The folk-blues composition “Blackjack Heart” by the American performer Karen Michelle Johnston, known as Michelle Shocked, pleased with the thick, viscous sound of the double bass, distinct touches of the drumsticks, and well-developed vocals. The romantic rock-blues piece “Love Will Keep Us Alive” by Eagles sounded intimate and chamber-like, and, I would say, envelopingly cozy.
Swiss electronic musicians Yello were presented interestingly and unusually. The hard upper frequencies as part of the band’s signature style, which on regular speakers hit the ears with sharp hammers, in T-Zero’s interpretation, thanks to ribbon tweeters, were presented softly and cleanly. The volume and support at the “lows” were preserved, and the compositions, without losing energy and pressure, acquired a bit of elegance.
The speakers added subtlety and, surprisingly, soulfulness to the expression of Joseph Maurice Ravel’s classic “Bolero.” Brass and woodwind instruments were distinguishable, and the overall sound was detailed and coherent.
It is important to note that the perception of music during listening was influenced not only by the speakers, but also by the characteristic signature of the sources with their DACs: the CD player played more cohesively and melodically (and I liked it more), and the built-in amplifier chip tried to present the stream from the network player a little colder and more analytically. This is an additional advantage of this setup when you can choose the sound for the genre or mood, trusting the signal processing to one or another device.
Conclusion Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero
Airmotiv T-Zero can become a serious player in the market niche of compact acoustics for small rooms. Usually, this segment is dominated by bookshelf speakers, but in the democratic price range, it is difficult to find models comparable to these “floor speakers” in versatility (including multimedia) and sound quality.
At the same time, the speakers have a distinct recognizable character, and before deciding to buy, I strongly recommend listening to them carefully in various musical genres. Perhaps someone will prefer a brighter, richer, and more expressive sound. I imagine that for refined natures, this set will become an excellent companion in a cozy room on cold autumn days with a blanket and a warming drink. You can put on classical music, jazz, pop, and energetic rock – and all this will be presented neatly, in detail, and melodically. And yes, you will hear the bass too…
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero Specification
Advantages: Confident reproduction of various musical materials. Delicate detailed presentation. Possibility of operation as part of a home theater.
Flaws: This is exactly the case when it is worth talking not about shortcomings, but about “features”. Perhaps some listeners will not have enough pressure and expression, especially in “heavy” genres, but this is a matter of personal taste.
Price: 59,990 rubles
Passport details
Number of stripes: 2
Acoustic design: bass reflex (on the rear panel)
Drivers: Airmotiv 32 x 25 mm ribbon tweeter, 13.34 cm midrange and woofers
Frequency range: 48 – 28,000 (+3/-3 dB)
Nominal impedance: 4 Ohm
Sensitivity: 87 dB (2.83 V/1 m)
Recommended amplifier power: 50W – 300W per channel
Power handling: 100W (nom.) / 200W (peak)
Crossover frequency: 2500 Hz
Input connectors: 2 screw terminals
Dimensions: 968×218×267 mm (including legs)
Weight: 13.15 kg (one column)
