In-Wall Speaker Reviews

L/R Sensitivity: 88 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 90 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Surround Sensitivity: 88.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the W3 L/R section (purple trace), W3 center channel section (green trace), W1 surround (red trace), and SubSeries 200 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 W3 L/R’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +2.05/–2.91 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 103 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 71 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 6.25 ohms at 257 Hz and a phase angle of –43.50 degrees at 179 Hz.

The W3 center’s listening-window response measures +0.80/–2.31 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +1.26/–1.42 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 126 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 106 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 5.89 ohms at 284 Hz and a phase angle of –43.18 degrees at 179 Hz.

The W1’s listening-window response measures +1.37/–1.75 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 109 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 91 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 6.33 ohms at 247 Hz and a phase angle of –39.86 degrees at 158 Hz.

The SubSeries 200’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 28 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 25 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 131 Hz using the LFE input.—MJP