Tower Speaker Reviews

L/R Sensitivity: 87 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 91 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Surround Sensitivity: 90.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the Classic HD L/R (purple trace), Silverscreen HD center channel (green trace), Deco surround (red trace), and Metro subwoofer (blue 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 Classic HD’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +3.96/–2.16 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 46 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 41 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.40 ohms at 53 Hz and a phase angle of –41.63 degrees at 4.6 kHz.

The Silverscreen HD’s listening-window response measures +3.17/–1.94 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +3.26/–2.60 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 76 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 69 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.33 ohms at 71 Hz and a phase angle of +39.93 degrees at 20 kHz.

The Deco’s listening-window response measures +3.37/–2.97 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 73 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 63 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.08 ohms at 20 kHz and a phase angle of –47.58 degrees at 4.5 kHz.

The Metro’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 25 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 23 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 100 Hz with the Frequency control set to maximum. Please note that the response is +8.51 dB at 36 Hz, making the crossover and level settings required for proper integration tricky at best.—MJP