Tower Speaker Reviews

L/R Sensitivity: 89 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 89.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Surround Sensitivity: 87 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the 8200e LR (purple trace), 642e SB subwoofer (blue trace), 8200e C center channel (green trace), and 8200e SR surround (red 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 8200e LR's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.24/–2.26 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 63 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 53 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.97 ohms at 99 Hz and a phase angle of –41.46 degrees at 74 Hz.

The 8200e C's listening-window response measures +1.61/–3.59 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +1.9/–2.47 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 59 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 51 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.87 ohms at 94 Hz and a phase angle of –51 degrees at 67 Hz.

The 8200e SR's three-face averaged response in Dipole mode measures +3.04/–14.85 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 101 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 86 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4 ohms at 360 Hz and a phase angle of –63.58 degrees at 136 Hz.

The 642e SB's close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 37 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 26 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 128 Hz with the Lowpass switch set to Bypass.—MJP