Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 86 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 88.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the SP-BS22-LR satellite (purple trace), SP-C22 center channel (green trace), and SW-8MK2 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 SP-BS22-LR’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +2.29/–3.18 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 63 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 59 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 5.50 ohms at 240 Hz and a phase angle of –44.48 degrees at 128 Hz.

The SP-C22’s listening-window response measures +1.36/–2.63 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +1.05/–4.04 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 75 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 69 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 6.00 ohms at 248 Hz and a phase angle of –43.30 degrees at 128 Hz.

The SW-8MK2’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 31 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 29 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 137 Hz with the FREQ control set to maximum.—MJP