Tower Speaker Reviews

L/R Sensitivity: 89.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 88 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Surround Sensitivity: 86 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the 803D L/R (purple trace), ASW825 subwoofer (blue trace), HTM2D center channel (green trace), and DS8S surround (red trace). All passive loudspeakers were measured at a distance of 1 meter with a 2.83-volt input and were scaled for display purposes.

The 803D's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.90/–3.68 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3dB point is at 46 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 37 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.65 ohms at 99 Hz and a phase angle of –56.23 degrees at 50 Hz.

The HTM2D's listening-window response measures +2.73/–4.00 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +2.85/–3.83 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 44 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 38 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.76 ohms at 99 Hz and a phase angle of –86.17 degrees at 90 Hz.

The DS8S's three-face averaged response in dipole mode measures +1.06/–3.74 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 71 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 61 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.84 ohms at 114 Hz and a phase angle of –55.83 degrees at 80 Hz.

The ASW825's close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3dB point is at 29 Hz and the –6dB point is at 20 Hz. The upper –3dB point is at 99 Hz with the low-pass-filter switch set to out and the EQ switch set to A.—MJP