Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Satellite Sensitivity: 86 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 88 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the CS 23 II satellite (purple trace), CS 223C II center channel (green trace), and CS Sub10 II 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 CS 23 II satellite’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +2.51/–1.75 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 104 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 90 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.42 ohms at 310 Hz and a phase angle of –35.59 degrees at 179 Hz.

The CS 223C II center’s listeningwindow response measures +6.76/–4.95 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +6.91/–5.26 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 112 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 89 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 6.25 ohms at 9.3 kHz and a phase angle of –45.09 degrees at 2.9 kHz.

The CS Sub10 II’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 40 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 35 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 127 Hz with the Crossover control set to maximum.—MJP