Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 83 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 84.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the WA-S1 monitor (purple trace), WA-C2 center channel (green trace), and WA-8SB 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 WA-S1’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.41/–4.21 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 158 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 139 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 7.29 ohms at 330 Hz and a phase angle of –30.27 degrees at 224 Hz.

The WA-C2’s listening-window response measures +4.79/–3.48 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +4.39/ –3.49 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 168 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 152 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 5.12 ohms at 8.1 kHz and a phase angle of –27.67 degrees at 224 Hz.

The WA-8SB’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 48 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 41 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 131 Hz with the Crossover Frequency set to maximum.—MJP