Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Center Sensitivity: 87.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Surround Sensitivity: 82.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the CM6 S2 L/R (purple trace), ASW10CM S2 subwoofer (blue trace), CM Centre 2 S2 center channel (green trace), and CM1 S2 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 CM6 S2’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +3.48/–3.45 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3dB point is at 61 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 51 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.58 ohms at 17.2 kHz and a phase angle of –58.85 degrees at 3.8 kHz.

The CM Centre 2 S2’s listening-window response measures +1.63/–5.39 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +1.65/–6.30 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 67 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 52 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.73 ohms at 342 Hz and a phase angle of –67.72 degrees at 100 Hz.

The CM1 S2’s listening-window response measures +2.16/–4.14 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 60 Hz, and the &ndash6dB point is at 47 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.51 ohms at 20 kHz and a phase angle of –65.46 degrees at 4.7 kHz.

The ASW10CM S2’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3dB point is at 22 Hz and the –6dB point is at 16 Hz. The upper –3dB point is at 126 Hz with the Low-Pass Filter switch set to Out, Bass Extension switch set to A, and the EQ switch set to B.—Mark J. Peterson