Soundbar Reviews

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the S4251w Sound Bar (purple trace) and subwoofer (blue trace). The left channel was measured with grille at a distance of 1 meter.

The S4251w Sound Bar’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures + 7.71 /&ndsh; 2.52 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 160 Hz, and the &ndashl6-dB point is at 137 Hz. Please note: Due to the virtually universal lack of multichannel analog inputs, we are limited as to which channels we have direct access to when testing. Our measurements of soundbars are therefore limited to one of the main channels (we routinely choose the left channel for consistency) and the companion subwoofer (when provided).

The subwoofer’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 40 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 97 Hz. —MJP