Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 83.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center 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 Excite X14 satellites (purple trace), Sub 250 II subwoofer (blue trace), and Excite 24 center channel (green 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 X14’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +0.93/–4.05 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3dB point is at 62 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 50 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 7.12 ohms at 218 Hz and a phase angle of –36.82 degrees at 108 Hz.

The X24’s listening-window response measures +1.33/–3.28 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +1.67/–3.35 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 60 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 52 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 8.12 ohms at 291 Hz and a phase angle of –55.22 degrees at 154 Hz.

The Sub 250 II’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3dB point is at 31 Hz and the –6dB point is at 27 Hz. The upper –3dB point is at 223 Hz using the LFE input.—MJP