Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 88 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 LS40 satellite (purple trace), LS Center center channel (green trace), and LS120P 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 LS40’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +3.73/–2.36 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 54 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 42 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.78 ohms at 3.7 kHz and a phase angle of –53.02 degrees at 91 Hz.

The LS Center’s listening-window response measures +1.16/–4.05 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +0.66/–5.44 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 89 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 74 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 6.66 ohms at 9.9 kHz and a phase angle of –54.87 degrees at 3.6 kHz.

The LS120P’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 31 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 28 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 134 Hz using the LFE input.—MJP