Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 85.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 86.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the x-ls satellites (purple trace), x-sub subwoofer (blue trace), and x-cs 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 x-ls's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +0.40/–5.54 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 64 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 52 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 5.66 ohms at 3.3 kHz and a phase angle of –52.16 degrees at 1.4 kHz.

The x-cs's listening-window response measures +2.37/–4.89 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +2.41/–5.53 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 57 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 49 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 6.17 ohms at 2.9 kHz and a phase angle of –70.37 degrees at 1.8 kHz.

The x-sub's close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 42 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 32 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 104 Hz using the Subwoofer input.—MJP