Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 85 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 88 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the Imagine XB satellites (purple trace), SubSeries 125 subwoofer (blue trace), and Imagine XC 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 Imagine XB’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +2.67/–3.16 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3dB point is at 57 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 50 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.30 ohms at 193 Hz and a phase angle of –54.10 degrees at 111 Hz.

The Imagine XC’s listening-window response measures +2.53/–4.27 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +1.90/–4.20 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 71 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 55 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.84 ohms at 195 Hz and a phase angle of –48.91 degrees at 106 Hz.

The SubSeries 125’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3dB point is at 38 Hz and the –6dB point is at 35 Hz. The upper –3dB point is at 129 Hz with the Crossover switch set to External.—MJP