Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 87 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 89 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the SS-NA5ES satellites (purple trace), SA-NA9ES subwoofer (blue trace), and SS-NA8ES 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 SA-NA5ES’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +2.12/–3.84 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3dB point is at 49 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 45 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.24 ohms at 208 Hz and a phase angle of –59.60 degrees at 98 Hz.

The SS-NA8ES’s listening-window response measures +2.76/–2.39 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +2.98/–4.20 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 48 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 39 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.04 ohms at 203 Hz and a phase angle of –57.11 degrees at 98 Hz. The SA-NA9ES’s close-miked response in Passive Radiator mode, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3dB point is at 27 Hz and the –6dB point is at 25 Hz. The upper –3dB point is at 158 Hz with the Cut Off Freq control set to maximum. —MJP