TEST BENCH

The Dôme satellite has quite uniform directivity, and the averaged measurements for the front, center, and surround positions are very similar. The speaker has a 2-dB elevation from 800 Hz to 2.3 kHz centered at 1.3 kHz. This is followed by a 2.8-dB depression between 2.6 and 4.3 kHz centered at 3 kHz, followed by raggedness at higher frequencies. Imped- ance is on the low side, falling at or under 4 ohms from 100 Hz to 1.4 kHz. The sub has enough upper-frequency bandwidth to successfully mate with the smaller satellite speakers. But it also showed limited low-frequency dynamic capability, along with a tendency to blat and grunt when overdriven. The sub's crossover turnover frequencies relate closely to the markings on its control dial, ranging from within 10 to 20 Hz of the indicated setting from 60 to 160 Hz. - Tom Nousaine