MEASUREMENTS

I used DRA Labs’ MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the GoldenEar BRX’s frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 mike for the nearfield and in-room responses.

GoldenEar specifies the BRX’s sensitivity as 90dB/W/m; my estimate was somewhat lower, at 87.5dB(B)/2.83V/m. The BRX’s impedance is specified as “compatible with 8 ohms.” However, the impedance magnitude (fig.1, solid trace) drops well below 8 ohms in the midrange and mid-treble region, with a minimum value of 3.24 ohms at 194Hz. There is also a combination of 5 ohms impedance magnitude with an electrical phase angle of –45° The BRX has minimum EPDRs of 2.15 ohms at 59Hz and 1.53 ohms at 135Hz, and the EPDR remains below 4 ohms in the midrange. This loudspeaker will work best with amplifiers that are comfortable driving loads below 4 ohms, which I suspect is why it proved a better match with the Parasound monoblocks than with the NAD integrated.