Tower Speaker Reviews

L/R Sensitivity: 86 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 85 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Surround 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 OB1 L/R (purple trace), TLE1 subwoofer (blue trace), CB6 center channel (green trace), and GB1 surround (red 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 OB1's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.81/–2.31 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 55 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 47 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.74 ohms at 107 Hz and a phase angle of –90.18 degrees at 67 Hz.

The CB6's listening-window response measures +1.34/–2.41 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +1.32/–2.48 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 53 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 45 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.90 ohms at 174 Hz and a phase angle of –34.11 degrees at 85 Hz.

The GB1's listening-window response measures +2.26/–2.65 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 108 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 51 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 6.50 ohms at 263 Hz and a phase angle of –41.90 degrees at 4.3 kHz.

The TLE1's close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 57 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 49 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 165 Hz with the roll-off control set to maximum.—MJP