Calibrated sculk sensors have to be 'hard' powered by redstone from the side

 

Figure A.

 

See figure A.

4 are hard powered (top 4)
2 are not hard powered (bottom 2)

One calibrated sculk sensor triggers, while the other doesn't.

The expected behavior would be that any redstone power from the side would tune the calibrated sculk sensor. However, it does not. Which means you need a repeater, comparator, redstone dust, etc. to power the side. While indirectly through a block, does not work...

Further note: This seems to be exactly the behavior of the side of a comparator