Tower Speaker Reviews

L/R Sensitivity: 89 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 89 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 Beethoven Baby Grand L/R (purple trace), Maestro Grand center channel (green trace), Haydn Grand surround (red trace), and Principal Grand 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 Beethoven Baby Grand’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +2.84/–6.48 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 59 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 32 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.00 ohms at 99 Hz and a phase angle of +42.55 degrees at 2.2 kHz.

The Maestro Grand’s listening-window response measures +2.81/–3.44 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +2.96/–3.59 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 55 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 41 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.28 ohms at 193 Hz and a phase angle of +44.82 degrees at 1.4 kHz.

The Haydn Grand’s listening-window response measures +2.74/–7.64 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 54 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 44 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 5.33 ohms at 221 Hz and a phase angle of –47.80 degrees at 4.7 kHz.

The Principal Grand’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 45 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 35 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 190 Hz with the Low Pass control set to maximum. —MJP