Tower Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 85.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 85 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the Reference AV satellites (purple trace), TR-2 subwoofer (blue trace), and Reference AV Center 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 Reference AV's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +3.33/–4.04 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 107 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 82 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 2.38 ohms at 20.0 kHz and a phase angle of –126.11 degrees at 16.0 kHz.

The Reference AV Center's listening-window response measures +3.00/–7.12 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +2.48/–8.20 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 111 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 91 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 2.80 ohms at 20.0 kHz and a phase angle of –136.92 degrees at 18.1 kHz.

The TR-2's close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 29 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 22 Hz with the Bass Boost switch set to +6 dB. The upper –3-dB point is at 117 Hz with the Crossover Bypass switch set to Bypass.—MJP