Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 90 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 92 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the B-20 satellite (purple trace), C-20 center channel (green trace), and SW-450 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 B-20’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +0.64/–2.39 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 82 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 62 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.41 ohms at 224 Hz and a phase angle of –54.71 degrees at 123 Hz.

The C-20’s listening-window response measures +0.77/–3.66 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +1.62/–4.26 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 97 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 84 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.45 ohms at 210 Hz and a phase angle of –50.28 degrees at 123 Hz.

The SW-450’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 30 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 28 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 102 Hz with the Lowpass control set to maximum. —MJP