Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 81 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the MX satellite (purple trace) and MM-6 subwoofer (blue trace). The passive loudspeaker was measured with the grille at a distance of 1 meter with a 2.83-volt input. (Please note that comparing the measured response and sensitivity of any multipole loudspeaker to that of a conventional monopole loudspeaker is tricky at best. Due to these loudspeakers’ inherently different radiation pattern, it is to be expected that the listening-window response will appear to smoothly droop in the higher frequencies, pulling the sensitivity rating down with it.)

The satellite’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +2.36/–12.13 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +2.52/–12.96 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 141 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 120 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.49 ohms at 544 Hz and a phase angle of –63.46 degrees at 224 Hz.

The MM-6’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 45 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 41 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 275 Hz with the Low-Pass Filter control set to maximum.—MJP