Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 87 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center 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 MBS-01 satellite (purple trace), PC-Ultra subwoofer (blue trace), and MCS-01 center channel (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 MBS-01’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +0.60/–3.99 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 78 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 42 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 5.77 ohms at 2.7 kHz and a phase angle of –44.50 degrees at 91 Hz.

The MCS-01’s listening-window response measures +1.34/–5.46 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +0.84/–6.00 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 60 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 50 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 5.30 ohms at 164 Hz and a phase angle of –40.43 degrees at 93 Hz.

The PC-Ultra’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 18 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 16 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 173 Hz with the Crossover switch set to Off.—MJP