Tower Speaker Reviews

L/R Sensitivity: 90.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 90 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Surround Sensitivity: 88 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the RX8 L/R (purple trace), RX Centre center channel (green trace), RX1 surround (red trace), and RXW-12 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 RX8’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.27/–3.99 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 52 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 46 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.37 ohms at 152 Hz and a phase angle of –40.55 degrees at 84 Hz.

The RX Centre’s listening-window response measures +1.39/–4.30 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +1.29/–5.14 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 72 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 59 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.09 ohms at 195 Hz and a phase angle of –38.88 degrees at 103 Hz.

The RX1’s listening-window response measures +0.76/–3.38 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 64 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 56 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.48 ohms at 186 Hz and a phase angle of –45.78 degrees at 106 Hz.

The RXW-12’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 33 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 23 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 105 Hz with the Low Pass Filter switch set to LFE and EQ-2 engaged.—MJP