We examine a group of 2.1 speaker soundsystems from Soundscience, Microlab and Corsair. Who will come out the victor?
Desktop PC’s and even home entertainment systems store an immense collection of our music, movies and games and it is therefore to our benefit to invest in a good quality sound system to enhance the entertainment experience.
You may have the latest graphics card, hex-core processor, largest monitor money can buy but without the inclusion of a decent sound system the audio will fall foul and could even ruin the experience altogether.
Game developers, music producers and entertainment studios have, in recent years striven to provide more engaging involvement within their specific areas of work – so having a poor sound system could undo their hard-work.
Today we will be doing a grouptest of an assortment of 2.1 sound systems from Soundscience (Antec), Microlab and Corsair. These systems are designed for PC and home entertainment use and we hope this article helps to assist with your buying needs.
On the next page we will begin our analysis on the products under review.
Soundscience Rockus 3D 2.1 Sound System
Product on Review: Rockus 3D
Manufacturer and Sponsor: Soundscience
Street Price: £150
Rockus 3D Technical Specifications
To many Soundscience will be a name unheard of, they are a subsidiary of Antec. It was formed in 2010 with the intention of bringing dedicated audio products to the PC and home entertainment markets.
Rockus 3D is a 2.1 sound system by Soundscience and promises to provide an immersive home theatre experience. Here is what Soundscience have to say about this setup:
The rockus™ 3D | 2.1 speaker system creates a personal home theater experience that brings the power and realism of 3D audio together with the clarity and accuracy of high-fidelity music. 3Dsst™, soundscience’s 3D technology, actively analyzes incoming stereo audio signals and intelligently places them into a 3D sound field. The results are a personal theater experience with realistic, immersive 3D sound for your movies and games from 2.1 speakers – whether it’s the impact of an explosion, the snap of a baseball whizzing by a player’s face, or the thunder and fury of a videogame gunfight. The rockus also features a dedicated music mode optimized for superb stereo sound reproduction, letting you hear your music with deep, visceral sub-bass and spacious crisp, mids and highs. soundscience puts 3D cinematic sound and high-fidelity music in its place: Your room.
So let’s take a closer look at the Rockus 3D 2.1. To begin with the Rockus 3D is presented in a very eye-catching package with depictions of the speakers on the front and around the back an insight into the significant features. Inside, the Rockus 3D is very well packaged in order to keep all items protected whilst in transit.
Packaging for Rockus 3D
With all of the items removed from their packaging we can take a look at the bundle. This comprises of:
• 100W Subwoofer (13.8” (H) x 7.7” (W) x 10.6” (D) – 8.5KG
• 25W Satellite Speakers 5.7” (H) x 4.7” (W) x 6.3” (D)
• Remote Control
• Cables -.5mm to 3.5mm cable, speaker cable – speaker cable – 2 x RCA to open end, RCA to 3.5 mm cable, remote cable
• Instructions sheet
Rockus 3D bundle
The build quality for each of the items is actually very good. The only item that is plastic and lacks the premium feel is the remote control. The satellite speakers are steel construction and each have a foot that causes the unit to face upwards, this is not adjustable. The body of the unit has a matt finish whilst the circular discs are shiny metal. Each speaker is capable of 25W and is connected to the subwoofer via an RCA cable.
2x Satellite Speakers with very good build quality
Around the back of the subwoofer are a range of jacks, ports and buttons. Each speaker must be connected via RCA to open end – the open end meeting the “To Speaker” ports. Though this is easy to do this method of connecting the speakers is quite archaic. Other options on the back include both analogue and digital input jacks giving plenty of flexibility.
The bass control is rather odd – Soundscience have included a 3-switch button on the rear of the sub to allow 3 different modes of bass. Usually this type of option is available on the remote or is a rotating nob – this method implemented restricts us to only 3 fixed states.
The back of the sub-woofer with options for various types of input
Finally onto the remote control. This is plastic, fairly lightweight and provides some control for the sound system. By turning the top the volume can be increased or decreased – though there is no indication of what level this is actually positioned at. Pressing this top section of the remote causes music to pause but there is a 2-3 second delay between pausing and unpausing.
There is also a small button on the remote that allows the user to switch between 3D and music modes – an LED indicator will show above each when selected. As do the Digital and Mute options when used.
The remote control for Rockus 3D
On the next page we will consider the 2nd speaker in our grouptest – the Microlab FC360.
Microlab FC360 2.1 Sound System
Product on Review: FC360
Manufacturer and Sponsor: Microlab
Street Price: £50
Microlab FC360 Specifications
Microlab are again a brand that perhaps many will not have heard of but have a surprising portfolio of audio products and are available at an extensive range of etailers. Microlab was founded in 1998 and has a main focus on acoustics and home entertainment audio solutions.
The FC360 2.1 sound system is a compact setup that brings elegance and premium sound quality at an extremely attractive price-point. The unit we will be taking a look at today has been revised to include a “new look” compared to the original FC360s.
Microlab have the following to say about the FC360s:
Microlab FC-360 is an excellent system in 2.1+1 speaker class. It’s intended for playing g multimedia sound and listening to favorite music.. Compact size allows you to place components of the system skillfully and with maximum convenience. Wide frequencies range provides clear sounding when listening to different music styles. Speakers can easily be placed near monitor: Magnetic shielding of speakers satellites and subwoofer prevent them from probable noises. The subwoofer frame is made of wood, so bass becomes clearer. External amplifier also promotes better sound performance. Good power reserve provides high volume level. Front panel control knobs make system easy to use.
Packaging for FC360 is very plain – the system arrives in a square cardboard box with an image of the sub-woofer and speakers. The reverse is exactly the same as the front with no technical details – the right side is the only area that features a short section with limited details. Inside, the system is well packaged with polystyrene blocks and anti-scratch material to ensure all items remain in perfect condition during transit.
Packaging for FC360
With all items out of their packaging we can examine the bundle. There are a variety of items that include:
• Sub-woofer – 54W – 255 x 255 x 287, mm – 9.4KG
• Speakers – 15W – 89 x 202 x 102, mm
• Amplifier – 75 x 200 x 200, mm
• Cables – RCA and 3.5mm jack
• Instructions manual
Microlab FC360 bundle
The new look FC360 adopts an elegant approach to audio styling. The satellite speakers have been given a premium leather appearance – this looks and feels very nice. As is the objective with FC360, these speakers are compact and take up little space – each of the speakers is 15W and connect to the amplifier via RCA cables.
Slim, compact FC360 speakers
The sub-woofer is again deemed compact due to its dimensions and just like the speakers has a unique surface texture giving it that premium touch. This unit is likely to reside by the TV or computer without being an eye sore. The sub-woofer connects to the amplifier via RCA too.
Sub-woofer has been given the premium look/feel
The amplifier is where all the fun is at. This unit looks very nice with its combination of matt and high gloss appearance. Comparing this to the original – all of the features on the AMP for the new FC360 have been given special treatment. The power button has been placed on the topside of the AMP whilst volume controls and headphone/AUX jacks are on the front.
Around the back, the AMP has a variety of RCA ports for speaker/sub connectivity as well as the bass control nob. Having the bass control at the back can be a little awkward and it would have been nice to have some type of remote for this unit but based on the price we can’t really complain.
The AMP for FC360 – The best looking AMP you have seen?
The back of the AMP with bass control
On the next page we will take a look at our final speaker system for the grouptest – Corsair SP2500.
Corsair SP2500 2.1 Sound System
Product on Review: SP2500
Manufacturer and Sponsor: Corsair
Street Price: £150
Corsair SP2500 Technical Specifications
Corsair are renowned for their award-winning products that cover a vast range of lines including memory, computer cases, power supplies, cooling, SSDs and more.
The SP2500 is a 2.1 sound system designed to cater for all genres of audio. Based upon specification and included featured the SP2500 is without doubt aimed at the high-end with its gigantic sub-woofer on-the-fly remote control with LED display and racy speaker set.
Here is what Corsair have to say about SP2500:
The Gaming Audio Series SP2500 is the product of a design philosophy that embraces the importance of clean, detailed audio reproduction — not just for games, but for movies and music as well. Building a great PC speaker system is more than about giving you room-shaking power. You also need optimal imaging and positional accuracy, and sonic depth and detail. Since you have only one speaker system, you don’t want to make compromises. That’s why we’ve created the SP2500.
SP2500 is presented in a large, eye-catching box. The sheer size of this box indicates that what is inside must have some hefty dimensions. The front of the box immediately catches the eye with a picture of the speaker system and the sides contain information regarding the features and technical details. Inside, as we have found with the other products under the review (but even more so with the SP2500) all items are well packaged. Corsair have gone one step further with their packaging to include separate compartments made with cardboard and protective polymer sheeting. Regardless of what has been used – the packaging maintains a safe transit.
The packaging for SP2500
Inside, there is an assortment of included items within the bundle these include:
• Subwoofer – 120W – 46 x 25.8 x 29.7 cm
• 2x Satellite Speakers – 56W – 10.8 x 12 x 15.9 cm
• Desktop remote controller with 6′ / 1.8m cable
• 3.5mm to stereo RCA cable for PC input
• Two 6″ / 1.8m satellite audio cables with ATX4 connectors
• Power cable
• Quick Start Guide
Pictured below the sheer size of the subwoofer can be clearly seen. This burly unit could present clearance issues if you don’t have the space!
Plenty of items in the bundle
Corsair have bundled two satellite speakers with SP2500 – these are 56W and whilst looking quite pleasing to the eye are plastic construction. I’d have liked to see something more robust for such a high-end setup. These units may be plastic but they are still decent quality and the aesthetics as can be expected from Corsair are second to none. The speakers have colour-coded cables and the connectors are rather reminiscent of a PCI-E connector.
Small but lively 56W satellite speakers
The subwoofer included with SP2500 can only be described as a juggernaut. This burly unit is 120W and is hard plastic with a matt finish. Being so large means there is plenty of power behind it and this is all customisable via the remote control.
Around the back of the subwoofer there are two brushed steel plates – the panel on the left has a power plug whilst the panel on the right features different ports for connectivity. The remote control uses a serial port – similar to that of the oldschool mice and peripherals many will remember from the 90s. The speakers as mentioned earlier connect via RCA cables that plug into connectors that resemble the PCI-E or CPU power on a computer PSU making it a very secure and easy way to hook the satellite speakers up. Beneath this are the Line in and AUX jacks.
A monolith of a subwoofer awaits
The rear panels on the subwoofer
Finally we come to the remote control that is bundled with SP2500. This remote control is connected via a 6” serial cable. The remote control or desktop control as Corsair call it, has a small interactive 1.6” TFT screen that displays on-the-fly volume, bass, EQ and other options. In the middle there is a volume wheel, mute button (instant mute/unmute), menu button and sub button. Not only does it give the user a handy tool for adjusting such features but it also comes with a headphone and second AUX jack plus a USB port.
Without this remote the SP2500 is already an excellent product but it further enhances the user experience and is something that really does compliment the system very well. Corsair have thought about everything with the SP2500.
Handy remote for total control over volume, bass, EQ profiles and more
With all of our units having had their close examination we will now focus on the performance to see which system offers best value, performance and quality on the next page.
Testing, Performance and Results
Testing audio is always going to be a subjective matter and even more so with a set of 2.1 speakers. There was a keen desire to feature our speakers in a video review showing performance on Vortez TV but there is something very wrong with doing such an evaluation. There are a bunch of review websites that have tried to show the audio performance of speakers in a YouTube video but there is something critically wrong with this for a number of reasons:
1. Recorded video footage is captured using any selection of microphone
2. Video is then exported using any selection of audio codec
3. Video is then uploaded to YouTube and again compressed
4. Playback is performed on viewers sound system:
• They have their own soundcard
• They have their own speaker system
And as a result, the performance of a speaker set cannot be ascertained by showing them on a video. This is actually rather amateur and shows a total lack of know-how.
In order to examine the speakers in this grouptest there is a degree of subjective to acknowledge – but this aside we will be putting each product through a series of tests that include different genre of music, various games and movies.
To get the most out of the speakers the we will be using the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro Soundcard rather than onboard sound supplied by the ASRock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3.
Music
To test the music performance for each of our speaker systems I ran the following music tracks. The tracks tested offer a variety of different tones, treble and bass due to them being featured across a range of different genres.
3OH!3 – STARTRUKK (Feat. Katy Perry) *R’n’B*
Thriving Ivory – Angels on the moon *Pop/Rock*
Armin van Buuren ft Sharon den Adel – In and Out of Love *Dance*
Lacuna Coil – Trip the Darkness *Rock/Metal*
The above tracks provided a great deal of versatility thus allowing me to determine a reasonable opinion on each speaker system.
Soundscience Rockus 3D
The Rockus sound system dealt with the music tracks reasonably though the bass reproduction did suffer in areas. The three different modes on the back of the subwoofer offered little difference between each stage. The Rockus 3D certainly offer clarity and a degree of crispness but in some areas this can overpower the bass and as a result sounds tinny with narrowband, weak lows, peaky mids. In 3D mode the simulation of surround sound did little to convince me this is a worthwhile feature when listening to music. One aspect the Rockus did do well with is the mid-high range – they performed well even at higher levels with the volume almost maxed out.
Microlab FC360
The FC360’s fared very well during our music tests. Clarity, crispness and bass are all aspects that the FC360’s score well with – having the bass wheel on the back of the AMP allowed the level to be tweaked and customised at will. At low, mid and high there was no distortion whatsoever and considering the size of the bass and satellite speakers, with their compact dimensions this is a surprising fact. The FC360’s dealt with each genre extremely well.
Corsair SP2500
Though I had heard many good things about the SP2500 I reserved my judgment but what the majority say is very true. This sound system is exceptional.
There are many variables to alter with the SP2500’s due to the volume, bass and EQ settings – I used “Pop” as this generally covered all genres. Audio is of the highest quality – tones are crisp, clear and bass reproduction is fantastic. Out of all speakers under the spotlight the SP2500’s are an obvious winner due to flexibility and premium sound quality.
Gaming
Moving onto the games I loaded up Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and then The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Soundscience Rockus 3D
The Rockus 3D system worked very well during the games testing. Of the two modes available 3D is probably the best to go with since in this type of area it actually works quite well. Sound is accurately reproduced via the satellites and bass. Explosions and projectiles create an immersive experience with the 3D mode enabled and I can vouch for the Rockus 3D delivering very good sound quality throughout the games we tested.
Microlab FC360
The FC360’s aren’t really designed for the gaming environment but they still impressed. Delivering a punchy bass and strong acoustics meant that realism was maintained throughout the MW3 experience. Skyrim gave even better results and I’m happy to report that even though FC360’s are designed for music and movie usage they hold to their own in the gaming arena too.
Corsair SP2500
The SP2500’s are intended to be primarily used for gaming and in this department they shine. Inside the EQ settings there are profiles for ‘FPS’ and ‘ACTION GAMING’ – personally I prefer ACTION GAMING for MW3 – the tones are crisper. Either way, both offer an immersive experience and as with the other types of tests the SP2500’s again deliver within the gaming arena. When you are used to a particular sound setup with the clarity, treble and bass residing at certain pitch and levels and then the SP2500’s arrive you are just blown away. Distinct sound separation and a punchy bass is the order of the day.
Movies
In this department an action-packed movie is played. The movie used for this test was the 2000 classic: Gladiator.
Soundscience Rockus 3D
The Rockus 3D handled the movie test reasonably well but as with the music had some struggles with bass reproduction. Whilst most of the tones were crisp there was a lack of punch even on the third bass setting. The performance here was by no means terrible but comparing to the other products under the spotlight it falls behind slightly in this area.
Microlab FC360
In the movie arena the Microlab FC360’s performed very well. A sense of distance with objects is experienced and a range of audio details can be identified. Bass is good, full and punchy and again different levels appear to be crystal clear. Low, mid and highs are all handled well.
Corsair SP2500
With Corsair’s SP2500’s sound feedback in this department is again impressive. Resonance is precise and accurate and it’s easy to pick out tiny details throughout the movie. For this test ACTION and DRAMA were selected from the EQ menu profile and throughout these two profiles were switched to see the difference in sound clarity. On both settings the bass is warm and spacious. Sound separation is a key feature with this speaker system – meaning that each individual type of sound, instrument or movement can be picked out quite easily.
Conclusion
So we’ve reached the end of the 2.1 speaker grouptest and all of the products featured did a good job but it’s actually quite easy to identify a 1st, 2nd and 3rd from the test subjects.
Soundscience Rockus 3D
The Rockus 3D retain great build quality and look ‘the business’. They handled gaming the best out of the three tests we ran with the unit. Audio with this system is very clear and crisp but due to the peaky mids and a bloated bass music can appear tinny. Overall the performance is good but it could be better, especially for the asking price of £150. Soundscience have included a very handy remote control but it does lack bass control and audio jacks. We also found there was a 2-3 second delay between muting and unmuting.
Pros
+ Good build quality
+ Unique design appeals to eye
+ Remote is useful
Cons
– Mediocre sound quality
– Cost far too much
– Mute delay of 2-3 seconds
– No remote bass control
– No headphone jacks on speaker/remote
+ Good build quality
+ Unique design appeals to eye
+ Remote is useful
Cons
– Mediocre sound quality
– Cost far too much
– Mute delay of 2-3 seconds
– No remote bass control
– No headphone jacks on speaker/remote
Microlab FC360
Microlab’s FC360 2.1 system could possibly be deemed the underdog and although present at many etailers do lack exposure. Today’s analysis revealed that the FC360’s deserve the exposure – they are an awesome product. Having recently been revised to include a ‘new look’ with a touch of elegance this kit has been designed well. It is compact, looks professional and oozes great build quality. Furthermore the audio performance in a range of various tests revealed that this setup is not to be underestimated. Music was lively and energetic with great low, mid, highs and a punchy bass to suit. Although FC360’s are primarily designed for music and movie usage gaming was still immersive. We were able to pick out particular sounds. Movies were again a pleasure to watch/listen with sound being warm, inviting and engaging. Our only criticism with the 360’s was the lack of remote control – thus meaning that volume and bass had to be adjusted by turning the dials on the AMP itself. But it is difficult to complain about such a feature being absent when this particular setup can be bought for a very attractive price-tag of just £50! Due to our experiences with this system it is our pleasure to award “Gold” and “Amazing Value”.
Pros
+ Great overall sound quality
+ Punchy bass
+ Very good build quality
+ Compact
+ Excellent value for money
Cons
– No mute control
– No remote control
+ Great overall sound quality
+ Punchy bass
+ Very good build quality
+ Compact
+ Excellent value for money
Cons
– No mute control
– No remote control
Corsair SP2500
As clear as the sound emitted from this system – the Corsair SP2500’s are an obvious winner. We have no reservations about saying this – the SP2500’s are simply one of the best speak systems we have heard. Pitched against the Rockus 3D (They are actually the same price), the SP2500’s offer clear advantages – better overall sound quality and a remote control that offers lots of flexibility.
Build quality as expected from Corsair is spot on. Each item within the bundle has great build quality. Sound in each of the tests revealed distinct separation, crystal clear tones and a punchy, warm, adjustable bass. Depth and realism in the gaming arena to which the SP2500’s are primarily designed for is unheard of with other units.
The desktop remote control is extremely useful. Not only does it have audio jacks and USB, it also allows the volume, bass controls to be adjusted whilst allowing EQ profiles to be selected for different genres of audio. You get the idea that you are buying into something great with the SP200’s, something of premium quality and it is just that – a step above the rest. If you are wanting an immersive, engaging, fulfilling experience then look no further this is a fantastic 2.1 sound system. Based upon our findings and how pleased we are with this unit, the SP2500 achieves our highest accolade and an award that is very rarely given out – “Platinum”.
Pros
+ Excellent overall sound quality
+ Remote offers maximum control and is interactive
+ Audio jacks on remote control
+ USB power from remote control
+ Easy to setup
+ The best of the bunch
Cons
– Plastic speakers
+ Excellent overall sound quality
+ Remote offers maximum control and is interactive
+ Audio jacks on remote control
+ USB power from remote control
+ Easy to setup
+ The best of the bunch
Cons
– Plastic speakers
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.
