Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 86 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 XQ10 satellite (purple trace), HTB2SE subwoofer (blue trace), and XQ50c 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 XQ10’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +4.70/–1.72 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 67 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 57 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.52 ohms at 4.5 kHz and a phase angle of –48.78 degrees at 106 Hz.

The XQ50c’s listening-window response measures +5.14/–1.07 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +5.55/–1.25 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 80 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 66 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.97 ohms at 17.2 kHz and a phase angle of –64.84 degrees at 81 Hz.

The HTB2SE’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 40 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 32 Hz with the Bass Boost switch set to +3 dB. The upper –3-dB point is at 212 Hz.—MJP