Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

L/R Sensitivity: 90 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 90 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Surround Sensitivity: 85 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the R300 L/R (purple trace), R600c center channel (green trace), R800ds surround (red trace), and R400b 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 R300’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.03/–3.07 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 54 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 42 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.25 ohms at 158 Hz and a phase angle of –28.40 degrees at 4.7 kHz.

The R600c’s listening-window response measures +0.84/–2.49 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +0.97/–2.12 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 55 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 44 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.04 ohms at 137 Hz and a phase angle of –31.95 degrees at 4.3 kHz.

The R800ds’s three-face averaged response measures +2.23/–4.49 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 98 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 77 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.21 ohms at 347 Hz and a phase angle of –42.79 degrees at 96 Hz.

The R400b’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 42 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 36 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 123 Hz with the Crossover control set to maximum and the EQ switch set to +6 dB.—MJP