Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite sensitivity:
83.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center sensitivity:
87 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the satellite (purple trace), Sub 8 subwoofer (blue trace), and center channel (green trace). All passive loudspeakers were measured with grilles at a distance of 1 meter with a 2.83-volt input and scaled for display purposes.

The satellite’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +2.78/–2.17 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 141 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 114 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.54 ohms at 440 Hz and a phase angle of –59.88 degrees at 208 Hz.

The center’s listening-window response measures +2.75/–1.32 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +2.50/–1.60 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 143 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 127 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.43 ohms at 492 Hz and a phase angle of –61.54 degrees at 218 Hz.

The Sub 8’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 45 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 36 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 189 Hz with the Lowpass control set to maximum.—MJP