Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 91 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 91 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the NP Evolution 1.0 satellite (purple trace), NP Evolution Subwoofer (blue trace), NP Evolution Center (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 NP Evolution 1.0’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +4.30/–6.56 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 70 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 53 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.30 ohms at 174 Hz and a phase angle of –43.51 degrees at 93 Hz.

The NP Evolution Center’s listening-window response measures +5.01/–9.86 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +4.51/–10.56 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 74 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 57 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.36 ohms at 174 Hz and a phase angle of –40.90 degrees at 93 Hz.

The NP Evolution Subwoofer’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 55 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 45 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 117 Hz using the 5.1-channel subwoofer input.—MJP