Tower Speaker Reviews

L/R Sensitivity: 92.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz
Center Sensitivity: 92 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz
Surround Sensitivity: 91.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the CM9 L/R (purple trace), ASW 10CM subwoofer (blue trace), CM Centre 2 center channel (green trace), and CM5 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 CM9’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +0.83/–5.12 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 60 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 49 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.41 ohms at 116 Hz and a phase angle of –68.80 degrees at 66 Hz.

The CM Centre 2’s listening-window response measures +1.64/ –4.66 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +1.96/–4.85 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 63 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 52 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.44 ohms at 131 Hz and a phase angle of –68.36 degrees at 85 Hz.

The CM5’s listening-window response measures +1.07/–3.32 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 70 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 54 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.39 ohms at 17.2 kHz and a phase angle of –49.17 degrees at 98 Hz.

The ASW 10CM’s close-miked response with the Bass Extension and EQ switches set to position A, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 20 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 16 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 146 Hz with the Low-Pass Filter switch set to Off.—MJP