Post by mission on Dec 30, 2012 14:19:44 GMT -5
I just got a pair of the Airmotiv 5's at Christmas for one of my sons. He listens to music almost exclusively from his iPhone 5. I wanted to get him a pair of speakers that would last him a long time and improve the sound quality as compared to a speaker doc would for the phone. I was looking at getting a pair of Audioengine A2's when I stumbled upon the CNET review for the Airmotiv 4's. It was a great review, but I was hesitant to spend so much for a pair of powered speakers. I was thinking an amp and a separate set of quality speakers. However, after calling Emotiva and speaking with a salesperson, he assured me that we would love the Airmotiv 5's. I must admit, they sound great, even with the source just being an iPhone. A couple things to note, however. Getting a 3.5mm to RCA cord that would "split" down the middle to get the wires to go in two separate directions was harder than I thought. Most of the cords the RCA end would only separate a foot or so. I did find one on a major online retailer that could be separated and the speakers places far enough apart. Secondly, it should be noted that the 3.5mm tip end wasn't long enough to go through his phone case. So he has to take it out of the case. I found another jack that has a graduated tip to allow it to go into the phone with the case on, but it is another step between the speakers and the source. The point of all this is, I would have paid Emotiva to have a good set of cords that would work to set this up with a phone. The same could apply to hooking them up to a computer or TV.
Now for the speakers. The sound is fantastic. Very, very good. They are set up in his bedroom and fill the room with music no problem. Plenty of bass for a small room with no subwoofer. You can post graphs, do studies, whatever, but the real deal is the sound. And these speakers are excellent.
A couple of ways to improve:
* Make the electrical cord be at a right angle (or flat) where it plugs into the wall. It makes it easier to be plugged in behind a desk, dresser, or other piece of furniture.
* If you do make speaker cords that work for these, it would be cool if they could control the power too, so you don't have to turn the power on to each separately.
* I think they should come with speaker grills. For those that don't want them, take them off. But at least make them an option.
* Lots of babble about these being copies of some QSM Chinese made speakers. I don't know about all that, but it made me second guess what I was buying. Be true to your brand and squash rumors like that right away with facts.
* Send an email coupon to someone who just bought a pair of these for a % off another Emotiva product. I would have probably bought more.
The salesman on the phone was excellent and answered all my questions.
Oh, as far as my system goes, I have a Marantz amp and CD player, and Mission speakers that I bought over 25 years ago. The old Mission speakers are great and make most new ones sound terrible in comparison. I hope my son still likes his Airmotiv's in 25 years!
Now for the speakers. The sound is fantastic. Very, very good. They are set up in his bedroom and fill the room with music no problem. Plenty of bass for a small room with no subwoofer. You can post graphs, do studies, whatever, but the real deal is the sound. And these speakers are excellent.
A couple of ways to improve:
* Make the electrical cord be at a right angle (or flat) where it plugs into the wall. It makes it easier to be plugged in behind a desk, dresser, or other piece of furniture.
* If you do make speaker cords that work for these, it would be cool if they could control the power too, so you don't have to turn the power on to each separately.
* I think they should come with speaker grills. For those that don't want them, take them off. But at least make them an option.
* Lots of babble about these being copies of some QSM Chinese made speakers. I don't know about all that, but it made me second guess what I was buying. Be true to your brand and squash rumors like that right away with facts.
* Send an email coupon to someone who just bought a pair of these for a % off another Emotiva product. I would have probably bought more.
The salesman on the phone was excellent and answered all my questions.
Oh, as far as my system goes, I have a Marantz amp and CD player, and Mission speakers that I bought over 25 years ago. The old Mission speakers are great and make most new ones sound terrible in comparison. I hope my son still likes his Airmotiv's in 25 years!