Home Theater Systems Reviews

Two channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.2% distortion at 165.8 watts
1% distortion at 192.2 watts

Two channels driven into 4-ohm loads:
0.2% distortion at 86.3 watts
1% distortion at 212.4 watts

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the SB-HF100 L/R (purple trace) and SB-HW560 subwoofer (blue trace). The L/R loudspeaker was measured at a distance of 1 meter with a 2.83-volt input. Both loudspeakers were driven by the matching receiver, which includes corrective equalization. Please note that the lack of a multichannel input precludes the measurement of the center and surround speakers.

The SB-HF100’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +4.41/–0.65 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 244 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 208 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 7.82 ohms at 15.2 kHz and a phase angle of –53.30 degrees at 6.7 kHz. Sensitivity averages 86 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz.

The SB-HW560’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 48 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 45 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 97 Hz.

Crosstalk at 1 kHz driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load was –73.20 dB left to right and –78.25 dB right to left. THD+N from the amplifier was less than 0.040% at 1 kHz when driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load. The signal-to-noise ratio with 2.83 volts driving an 8-ohm load from 10 Hz to 24 kHz with “A” weighting was –88.71 dBrA.— MJP