Emotiva B2 Plus Review: A Compact Bookshelf Speaker That Plays Big

Introduction

Emotiva has built its reputation on high-value hi-fi and home theater equipment, and the B2 Plus is the newest addition to its bookshelf range. It steps into the position held by the B1 Plus with a larger cabinet and an all-new 6.5-inch woofer, while keeping the folded ribbon AMT tweeter that has become a signature across the company’s speakers. At around $400 per pair, it sits in the same conversation as the brand’s entry floorstanders, but in a form factor that fits on a media console, a desk, or a pair of stands.

The short version: this is a two-way, 6.5-inch bookshelf speaker that reaches down to 40 Hz, plays far bigger than its cabinet suggests, and delivers the kind of top-end clarity that usually costs considerably more. Here is a closer look at what it does well, and what is worth weighing before you buy.

Who This Speaker Is For

The B2 Plus is aimed at listeners who want a compact speaker that can carry a two-channel system without feeling like a compromise. Its 40 Hz low-frequency extension means music can be enjoyed full range without a subwoofer, and the cabinet is small enough to sit on a television console or a desktop without dominating the room.

It is also a strong candidate for a home theater front stage. The same speaker can serve left, center, and right channels, and dialogue comes through clearly even when no center channel is used. If you only have the budget for a pair, running these two on their own is a genuinely workable option.

It suits people who value clarity above all else: hearing breath sounds, cymbals, and small details in familiar recordings. Listeners who prefer a warmer, more relaxed presentation may find it less to their taste, but for anyone chasing detail at this price, it is a very direct answer.

Design and Build Notes

The B2 Plus is unapologetically Emotiva in appearance. It comes in black, with an angled front baffle and a textured wrap that reads more like leather than a wood imitation. There is no attempt to look like a conventional wood-veneer cabinet, and that styling is polarising: some listeners love it, others do not. If you are in the second camp, the performance is still worth a listen.

The magnetic grille is similar to the rest of the lineup and holds on noticeably more firmly than the B1 Plus grille did, so it stays put when the cabinet is moved. Around the back there is a rear-firing port and, for the first time on an Emotiva bookshelf model, two sets of binding posts for bi-wiring or bi-amping. Internal volume comes in at 5.4 gallons against roughly 2.7 gallons for the B1 Plus, which is the main reason this speaker digs so much deeper in the bass.

Main Strengths

The headline strength is the top end. The folded ribbon AMT tweeter covers the range from 40 Hz up to 28,000 Hz in combination with the woofer, and it produces the clearest, airiest highs available at this price in the company’s own lineup. Importantly, this is clarity rather than a boosted treble: percussion, cymbals, and vocal detail are simply present in the room instead of being smeared or recessed.

That clarity depends on the crossover working properly, and the design reflects it. Most AMT tweeters are crossed over fairly high, which leaves the woofer handling most of the midrange. The 6.5-inch driver here is built specifically to partner with this tweeter, so it rolls off smoothly rather than spiking as it approaches the crossover point. The practical result is a midrange with no distracting breakup and no sense of the mids being pushed forward or pulled back.

Bass is the second surprise. With the subwoofer switched off and the speaker run full range, the low end remains completely usable for music, and the cabinet does not sound lean. It also plays big: even in a large, open-plan room with high ceilings, it holds together at reasonable listening levels. Speakers known for a clear top end, such as Yamaha’s Concert series models, offer a similar flavour, but they come across as less airy and less effortless than this.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The presentation is not entirely without character. On some cymbal-heavy material, high frequencies can come forward a little and momentarily pull at the soundstage. It is occasional rather than constant, and it does not undermine how good the speaker sounds overall, but listeners who prioritise imaging above all else should know it is there.

For movies, a subwoofer is still worth planning for, and a dedicated center channel is the better long-term arrangement. That said, dialogue was never difficult to follow using just a pair, so a center channel is an upgrade rather than a necessity. The rear port also means the cabinet benefits from a little breathing room behind it.

Finally, amplification matters. The B2 Plus pairs well with a wide range of amplifiers, but very lean-sounding class D designs are the least flattering match. A warmer or more substantial amplifier, including Emotiva’s own offerings, plays to the speaker’s strengths.

Buying Advice

At around $400 per pair, the B2 Plus is positioned to be one of the brand’s most popular speakers. For that money you get a 6.5-inch two-way bookshelf that reaches 40 Hz, supports bi-wiring and bi-amping, and delivers a level of clarity that is hard to match in its price bracket. If you are new to this family of speakers, it is also an accessible entry point into the sound signature the company is known for.

Budget amplification is not a barrier. Inexpensive integrated and chip amplifiers in the low hundreds can drive these speakers successfully, and stepping up to a more capable amplifier brings further gains in control and body.

If a floorstander of similar price is an option in your room, it is worth comparing the two directly. Where space is limited, or where you want a speaker that can also serve a desktop or a home theater front stage, the B2 Plus is the more flexible choice. For a two-channel journey that starts and ends with one pair of speakers, this form factor is a sensible place to land.

Conclusion

The Emotiva B2 Plus does what a great value speaker should do: it removes the obvious compromises. A 6.5-inch woofer, a proven folded ribbon AMT tweeter, 40 Hz extension, and bi-amping support all arrive in a cabinet that fits comfortably into most rooms. The styling will divide opinion, and the occasional forward moment in the treble is worth knowing about, but the clarity, balance, and bass presence on offer here make it easy to recommend to anyone shopping in this range.