Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 87 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 87 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the SAT-TS30 satellite (purple trace), CEN-TS20/30 center channel (green trace), and HKTS200SUB subwoofer (blue 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 SAT-TS30’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +3.09/–1.72 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 163 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 145 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 5.48 ohms at 20.0 kHz and a phase angle of –54.24 degrees at 6.7 kHz.

The CEN-TS20/30’s listening-window response measures +3.40/–1.56 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +3.12/–1.66 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 162 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 144 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 5.37 ohms at 18.1 kHz and a phase angle of –49.70 degrees at 5.9 kHz.

The HKTS200SUB’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 47 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 44 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 116 Hz using the LFE input and with the Bass Boost switch set to On.—MJP