Truths and Myths: Monsoon's MM-1000
Written: Mar 12 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Eye-catching, envy-inspiring design; paramount sound; dual input jacks
Cons: Lack of power switch
The Bottom Line: Shop around, look for the best deal on a pair of MM-1000's, buy them without inhibition, wow your friends, and pat yourself on the back for making a wise investment.
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| punjabi2001's Full Review: Level 9 Sound Designs MM-1000 2 Speakers |
If you are serious about purchasing these speakers, you've no doubt been reading as many product reviews as possible. Though not the most expensive speakers you can buy for your computer, the MM-1000's are not exactly cheap, and the worst thing you can do is purchase a set of computer speakers and be unhappy with your decision. So if this is among the first reviews you've read- go out there and look around on the web for more reviews, and make as educated a decision as possible.
Having said that, I want to share with you some truths and myths about these speakers. You'll read about what other people have to say; there are some really smart and knowledgeable audiophiles out there who can talk about pitch and tune and angles and circuitry and everything you would ever want to know about home audio. Then there are some not so knowledgeable people who are just looking for a good pair of computer speakers that will kick out some formidable sounds. I fell soundly in the latter category. I'm a college student, my budget isn't too big, and I wanted to put a pair of sleek, slim speakers on my desk that would compete with my hallmate's 12" JBL subwoofer, satisfy my movie-watching needs, and most importantly: make full use of a little program called Napster.
TRUTH: The MM-1000's are slim and great looking.
The speakers are sleeker, slimmer, and flat-out sexier than any picture could hope to depict. I constantly get comments on their looks, and like I said in the "pro's" section, they really are enviable. I don't have much room on my desk for a pair of clunky speakers, and I couldn't be happier with the minimal amount of space each speaker takes up on my desk (4 1/2 by 5 1/2 inch squares, each). The subwoofer tucks neatly out of sight, and as a package the system is just damn slick. The flat-panel satellites are roughly half an inch thick; I have my computer monitor off to the side sitting on top of my fridge, so my desk looks like a command center with the two speakers sitting on the edge. You can't buy a better looking system. There may be some that are equally as appealing, but I challenge anyone out there to find one that surpasses these in sheer attention-grabbing design.
MYTH: There is a narrow aural sweet spot that renders the MM-1000's useless unless you sit directly in front of them.
This was the biggest concern that I had when deciding whether or not to purchase these speakers. Without going into too much detail, the flat-panel technology here works by emitting sound from both the front and back of the speaker, essentially forming a figure-8 pattern of sound, and the best way to experience this sound is to sit directly in front of the speakers. I had read that once you move out of this sweet-spot, the sound quality seriously degrades. I can tell you right now that this is a crock of (fill-in-expletive). Admittedly, the design of the speakers is such that when you sit directly in front of them, the sound seems to cascade over you from all directions (or, more appropriately, drown you in a "monsoon" of sound). But you can go anywhere within a 100-ft. radius and you would swear you're listening to a top-end shelf system.
TRUTH: The MM-1000's are great general purpose speakers.
No argument here. I watch DVD's on my computer and I wonder why I would ever want to go to a theater again. Although there are only two satellite speakers, the surround sound effect and the clarity of sound is amazing. I challenge anyone again... watch any DVD with these speakers and tell me if you even missed having true surround sound. They fill the room with details and a crispness that is hard to match. Listening to music is a dream.... if you do buy these speakers, listen to some of your favorite songs on your old speakers and then listen to them again on these and you will hear instruments and sounds you never even knew existed in the song. Video games? I've had to stop playing Half-Life and Soldier of Fortune because my RA got too many complaints of loud gunfire being heard in the halls. Once again, the crisp sounds are mind-boggling, and they'll rip through you like thunder.
MYTH: The speakers aren't too powerful, and the sub is lackluster.
Simply put, the subwoofer has massive cojones. It doesn't overpower that 12" JBL I mentioned earlier, but I have earwitnesses that can attest to you that this sub shakes walls like nobody's business. When I first bought these speakers, the sub didn't work. Outpost.com sent me another set in two days, but I actually enjoyed listening to the music without the sub- it gave me an appreciation for just how clear and powerful the satellites are. On some songs, with the volume turned way up you will notice some popping, but I've only noticed that on some mp3's and not CD's. It's not the most powerful system you can buy, but for the money, you get an exceptional amount of bang-for-the-buck. If these speakers were a car, they'd be a 2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. You can certainly buy a machine with more power, but you're going to pay dearly for it.
MYTH: The remote puck is a waste of plastic, and the lack of a true volume remote is a big turn-off.
Ok, the remote puck isn't the best innovation you'll see on a set of computer speakers, but they have a mute button on them that comes in fairly handy. The only small gripe I have with the sub is that there is no power switch, so if you want to shut the system off you have to unplug it. Ok, it's kind of awkward, but I leave my computer on all the time anyways so I never need to really turn them off. If your computer is exceptionally quiet, and the room your computer is in is also quiet, then you will notice a constant stream of "static rain," a really slight sound that doesn't go away unless you unplug the system. This is where the remote puck comes in handy, to mute the system completely. Now about the remote... I know some systems come with a volume remote, but how lazy do you really want to be? The sub has a perfectly good set of controls on it- one for the volume, one for the bass level, and a "Punch" button that acts as a bass boost. The Punch button and the bass level adjuster allow you to experience an exceptionally wide low range sound. Tweak the controls to whatever volume level you want, and use the volume controls on your computer to set the volume.
TRUTH: If you are looking for a unique pair of speakers that will grab people's attention both visually and aurally, as well as satisfy your own needs- you need to seriously consider purchasing this system.
I know there are a pair of lower-end speakers from Sonigistix, but I wouldn't recommend them. Only because I paid $160 or so at Outpost.com, and this is an exceptional price for these speakers. I wouldn't recommend downgrading to a less powerful speaker just to save a few bucks.
One final note: I was actually looking for speakers to hook up to my MiniDisc player, and I came across these. As I mentioned earlier, they have dual input jacks. Yes, you can hook up two sources to the subwoofer with no problems! I have my computer plugged into one jack and the other one is free for whatever I might need to listen to that's not on my computer.
MYTH: I was paid by Sonigistix to write this review. ;-)
I really am enamored with these speakers. They just flat-out CRANK. If you hear of people who have problems with positioning or with sound quality, they either have a defective system or they shouldn't be operating electronic equipment. Put them on your desk and point them in the general direction of your face, and you're in audio heaven. And go ahead, walk around the room or even leave the room, and you'll still have that smile on your face.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
punjabi2001
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Member: Jawad Ahsan
Location: Charlotte, NC
Reviews written: 5
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