Loudspeakers

Active loudspeakers don't come much simpler than the Titan 707, in significant part because it provides for operation in either active or passive mode. Indeed, its 'two-pack' active option with Exposure electronics evinces a notably conservative design approach. In passive mode, the 707 is specified as having a sensitivity of 89dB and nominal impedance of 6ohm. Our measured pink noise and music sensitivities of 86.9dB and 86.6dB SPL at 1m for 2.83V input indicate that 87dB is more realistic, and although the passive 707 isn't a notably difficult speaker to drive, the 3.8ohm minimum impedance we recorded means it is better thought of as a 4ohm design. Low-frequency impedance phase angles are well controlled, so the minimum EPDR is 2.1ohm/402Hz – better than the 1.7ohm we typically measure – but dips to 2.4ohm/94Hz and 2.5ohm/36Hz complicate the issue.

Forward frequency responses, measured on the tweeter axis for both passive and active operation, are characterised by a shelved-up treble [see Graph 1]. However, this is more prominent in the active version – so perhaps tweeter gain should be dialled back in the active crossover. Note, though, that active operation lessens the dips at 2.3kHz and 6.9kHz, suggesting improved driver integration. Response errors are ±2.5dB and ±2.9dB in passive mode, rising to ±3.2dB and ±3.5dB in active mode (all 200Hz-20kHz). Pair matching over the same frequency range is ±1.0dB in both modes. Bass extension is fair at 45Hz (–6dB re. 200Hz), with the CSD waterfall [Graph 2] revealing what are probably bass/mid driver breakup modes in the low treble, these largely undimmed by active operation. KH