Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

L/C/R Sensitivity: 90.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Surround Sensitivity: 86.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the S300 L/C/R (purple trace), S300T surround (red trace), and X12 subwoofer (blue 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 S300’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.36/–2.09 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +2.04/–0.99 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 76 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 63 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.14 ohms at 6.0 kHz and a phase angle of –57.82 degrees at 96 Hz.

The S300T’s three-face averaged response measures +1.35/–2.43 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 93 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 78 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.92 ohms at 2.1 kHz and a phase angle of –61.92 degrees at 111 Hz.

The X12’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3dB point is at 24 Hz and the –6dB point is at 18 Hz. The upper –3dB point is at 207 Hz in THX mode.—MJP