Tower Speaker Reviews

L/R Sensitivity: 84.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 85 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Surround Sensitivity: 84 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the XT4 L/R (purple trace), PV1 subwoofer (blue trace), XTC center channel (green trace), and XT2 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 XT4's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +2.42/–3.90 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3dB point is at 49 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 39 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.92 ohms at 99 Hz and a phase angle of –49.26 degrees at 78 Hz.

The XTC's listening-window response measures +2.01/–2.88 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +1.92/–3.15 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 68 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 58 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 5.11 ohms at 19.5 kHz and a phase angle of –58.22 degrees at 4.7 kHz.

The XT2's listening-window response measures +1.89/–2.64 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 64 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 52 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 5.79 ohms at 200 Hz and a phase angle of –45.02 degrees at 114 Hz.

The PV1's close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3dB point is at 47 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 36 Hz. The upper –3dB point is at 103 Hz with the EQ switch set to "i" and the Hz control set to maximum.—MJP