Tower Speaker Reviews

w L/R Sensitivity: 88 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 88.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Surround Sensitivity: 88.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the Evolution 40 L/R (purple trace), SW 300 subwoofer (blue trace), Evolution Center center channel (green trace), and Evolution DFS surround (red trace). All passive loudspeakers were measured at a distance of 1 meter with a 2.83-volt input and were scaled for display purposes.

The Evolution 40's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +2.40/–1.22 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3dB point is at 39 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 33 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.07 ohms at 150 Hz and a phase angle of –58.77 degrees at 2.5 kHz.

The Evolution Center's listening-window response measures +1.06/–4.73 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +0.81/–4.49 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 95 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 80 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.48 ohms at 9.3 kHz and a phase angle of –54.49 degrees at 2.2 kHz.

The Evolution DFS's listening-window response measures +1.84/–4.08 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 97 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 86 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.24 ohms at 230 Hz and a phase angle of –33.78 degrees at 4.1 kHz.

The SW 300's close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3dB point is at 36 Hz and the –6dB point is at 33 Hz. The upper –3dB point is at 139 Hz with the low-pass filter switch set to off.—MJP