Path: menudo.uh.edu!usenet From: eacj@tc.cornell.edu (Julian Vrieslander) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.reviews Subject: MINI-REVIEW: Desktop speakers Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.audio Date: 19 Jul 1993 21:54:19 GMT Organization: The Amiga Online Review Column - ed. Daniel Barrett Lines: 82 Sender: amiga-reviews@math.uh.edu (comp.sys.amiga.reviews moderator) Distribution: world Message-ID: <22f56b$l10@menudo.uh.edu> Reply-To: eacj@tc.cornell.edu (Julian Vrieslander) NNTP-Posting-Host: karazm.math.uh.edu Keywords: audio, speakers, commercial [MODERATOR'S NOTE: This article was originally posted in comp.sys.amiga.multimedia and other computer newsgroups. Since the information is relevant to Amiga owners looking for good-quality desktop speakers, I have reposted it here with the author's permission. Thanks, Julian!. - Dan] I have been shopping for desktop stereo speakers. These will be used for monitoring the output from some Macintosh sound synthesis programs that I'm developing, and also for playing tunes from the Mac's CD-ROM player (or a separate WalkPerson). I see that there are other netters considering these products, so I thought I'd share the information I've found so far. Desktop speakers (also called "multimedia" speakers) have some specific design requirements. They should be magnetically shielded, if used close to a video monitor. The acoustic response should be optimized for near field listening. Their footprint should be small enough to fit on a crowded desk. Many of these products are self-powered (they have built-in amplifiers and require only a line level input signal). The August 1993 issue of Windows magazine has a comparative review of 6 self-powered multimedia speakers, written by David Ranada, a staffer from Stereo Review magazine. He measured free standing and tabletop frequency response, and also included his subjective ratings of sound quality. Here is a synopsis of the product descriptions, and a synopsis of Ranada's ratings. All the speakers have level controls. Prices are list for a stereo set. Acoustic Research Powered Partner AV-622, $349 2 satellites plus separate subwoofer. Bass and treble controls. Best overall sound quality (rating = A), good bass, plays loud and clean. Altec Lansing ACS300, $400 2 satellites plus separate subwoofer. Bass and treble. Adjustable DSP phony stereo/spaciousness enhancement. Disappointing sound quality (rating = C). Bass-heavy, congested. Amp clipping? Apple Appledesign Powered Speakers, $179 2 pieces. Electronic equalization. Neutral sounding at high and low listening levels (rating = B). Frequency response not as extended as some other models, but rather flat. Koss HD/6, $100 2 pieces. Bass boost button. Anemic bass, depressed midrange, harsh when played loud (rating = C). Labtec CS100, $150 Single enclosure for placement under monitor. 2 tweeters plus downward-firing woofer. Tone control. Minimal stereo separation, not much bass, mechanical resonances, easily overloaded (rating = C). Roland MA-12C, $290 2 pieces. Bass and treble. Plays loud without strain, good bass and high-frequency clarity (rating = B). So far, I have managed to obtain demos of the first three products on this list. But these demos were at computer megastores (Comp USA, etc.) and some of the set-ups were less than ideal. The speakers were far from ear or desk-level, or the subwoofer buried inside a deep cabinet. To get meaningful evaluations of these puppies, I'll have to find a dealer willing to offer a home trial. With those caveats, I will say that my initial impression of the Altecs was more favorable than Ranada's opinion. Perhaps I played them at lower levels. The ARs sounded boomy at two different stores, but that might have been due to the set-ups. I heard one demo of the Apples that sounded quite nice, and another demo where their lack of bass relative to the Altecs was quite noticeable. I also had a brief demo of the Sony SRS-88 ($155, 2 pieces). These sounded very open and smooth, but did not have the bass of the Altecs and ARs. Julian Vrieslander Neurobiology & Behavior, Mudd Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853 INTERNET: julian_vrieslander@cornell.edu BITNET: eacj@crnlthry --- Daniel Barrett, Moderator, comp.sys.amiga.reviews Send reviews to: amiga-reviews-submissions@math.uh.edu Request information: amiga-reviews-requests@math.uh.edu Moderator mail: amiga-reviews@math.uh.edu Anonymous ftp site: math.uh.edu, in /pub/Amiga/comp.sys.amiga.reviews