Tower Speaker Reviews

The Energy Veritas V2.4's ported cabinet is tuned to approximately 32Hz, and its minimum of 3.7ohms falls at the same frequency. We would rate the nominal impedance at 4ohms. In fact, the impedance remains very close to 4ohms from 30Hz to 400Hz, and rises significantly higher than 5ohms only above 1kHz. It should be a reasonably easy load for any competent amplifier. The V2.4's sensitivity is approximately 85dB/W/m.

The V2.4's pseudo-anechoic response at tweeter height, averaged over a 30° forward horizontal angle and combined with the nearfield responses of the woofers and port,

is shown in Fig.1 (violet). The bass extends down to approximately 36Hz (–10dB). The response is smooth, though with a small rise centered at about 1.5kHz (+2dB); it rises again above 5kHz (+3dB, 4–9kHz). Contrary to my listening impressions, the measurements do not show a laid-back midrange. Nor do the off-axis curves, which differ from the front-axis average mainly in their faster high-frequency rolloff—typical of most speakers.

Fig.1

The audible sensation of a slightly laid-back midrange may have come from the slightly elevated highs combined with an elevated midbass, the latter caused by room gain (not by the speakers, which themselves are very flat in that region).

Fig.2 again shows the V2.4's averaged horizontal front response (violet), plus the vertical responses taken at +15° (red) and –15° (blue) relative to the tweeter. The vertical responses remain very close to the front-axis average, except for a small dip at about 3.5kHz above the tweeter axis. This should not be significant in practice; because of the tall cabinet, most listeners will likely sit with their ears just below the tweeter level.

Fig.2

The cabinet of the center-channel V2.0C is tuned to about 45Hz, with a minimum impedance of 4.1ohms at 154Hz; a fair rating for its nominal impedance would be 6ohms. A good amplifier should have no problem driving the V2.0C; its sensitivity measured about 86dB/W/m.

The V2.0C's measured front horizontal response was taken on the tweeter axis and averaged in the same manner as described above for the V2.4 (Fig.3L, violet). The effective bass extension is approximately 35Hz (–10dB). At a wide off-axis angle to the left of the speaker there is a significant response dip centered at about 500Hz and reaching a maximum of about –10dB. Because the two woofers are crossed over differently, moving off-axis to the right produces a different result (Fig.3R). The 500Hz dips seen to the left of the speaker disappear, but dips now appear at 2kHz, around the crossover frequency between the woofer and tweeter. Even at 15° off-axis (not shown), there are significant off-axis response deviations. At 15° to the left, the 900Hz–2.5kHz range is depressed by about 4dB; at 15° to the right, the same region is elevated by about 2dB from the front-axis average. These deviations are clearly the cause of the off-axis colorations I heard in the listening tests.

Fig.3L

Fig.3R

However, the V2.0C's ±15° vertical off-axis performance is excellent. In fact, it stays so close to the on-axis average—within ±1dB over most of the audible range—that printing the curve would be a waste of space. Normally at this point I would suggest using the V2.0C vertically if your system allows it, but the cabinet's stylishly curved sides prevent such a setup.

You can see from Fig.4 why I recommend the V2.2 as a better center-channel than the V2.0C—assuming you can accommodate it. Its response is, if anything, a little be tter than the V2.4's, though with less bass. Its vertical response, not shown, is also excellent (though slightly better 15° below the tweeter than above it), its sensitivity matches the V2.4's, and its measured impedance minimum of 3.1ohms at 45Hz and nominal value of 4ohms should make it compatible with any good amplifier.—TJN

Fig.4