Installation and test
Sat, 09/22/2007 - 16:46 — Richard Biely
Installation
Both models USB Speaker System and Portable USB Speaker System are very easy to install. There is a retractable USB cable that connects speakers to notebook or PC. After connection, system is able to recognize and install device drivers automatically (It functions with Windows XP, but I do not expect any problems with older Windows ME/2k or Unix either).
In case that you would connect two sets of speakers all at once, one in classical way via jack connector and one via USB connector, the device connected via jack connector directly to the sound blaster, would have priority. After its disconnection, system needs only few seconds to adapt to a change and redirect sound output to the USB device. Although, during playing games, sound devices are initialized usually at the beginning of a programme and that's why, in this situation, you would have to repeatedly initiate your game. There is not any interference between speakers connected either via jack connector or via USB connector.
2.1 Multi Media Portable Speaker System model gets connected via standard jack connector and unlike other two models; it is possible to connect it to all devices, e.g. MP3 and CD players. Here I recommend using four AAA batteries, which, how I've proved, are able to run for four hours. It is up to you to decide if this is convenient solution for you.
Test
Speakers test is always a matter of subjective opinion; one has to trust its ear. Fortunately, ear for sounds is similar for most of people and majority is able to distinguish sound quality. Therefore I expect, that if you will sometime listen to the music coming out of herein tested speakers, you will be able to recognize differences in sound quality.
Each speaker system has been tested during my common daily activities; I was listening to the music during work (also during writing of this review) and I was playing PC games, monitoring sound quality. Just to mention few artists and music styles, I was listening to Enya (new age, Celtic, instrumental), Nickelback (hard rock, pop rock), Evanescene (alternative rock) and OST (some Japanese stuff, World of Warcraft, Prince of Persia), to mention few games I played (X-Men, Legends 2). To get best sound quality, all music was in MP3 format with minimal bitrate 192 kbps.
No surprisingly, Portable USB Speaker System came out from a test as the worst tested system. I have to admit that speakers are better than notebook's; anyway their sound is rather lousy. Sound interpretation is poor and distorted. I did not mind that much during playing games, but when listening to the music, I would prefer to have them switched off (unfortunately there is no stop control).
On a paper, USB Speaker System should be providing similar sound quality as little portable USB satellites. Fortunately, my suffering was not so intense this time. Nothing world-shaking, but sound quality is good enough to imagine this speakers system on a table of less demanding users. Although, I would point out on a bad volume stepping, while regulating volume using media controls placed on satellites. When the volume button is depressed, there is a hearable jump in a volume. Quite disturbing.
The last tested system is 2.1 Multi Media Speaker System. Looking at its little satellites, after previous experience, I was rather sceptical. But already first tested song cleared up my unnecessary doubts. I would never say that subwoofer could make such a difference. 2.1 Multi Media Speaker System is full-featured miniature of conventional 2.1 speaker system. As its downside I would consider lower power, but regarding its dimensions, and the fact that 2.1 Multi Media Speaker System was made to be the portable device, this attribute is acceptable. There is one more thing to rebuke. Like most of cheaper speaker systems, also 2.1 Multi Media interfere with mobile phones. To avoid the interference, you have to keep your cellular phone at least half a meter away from subwoofer. Obviously, if you are connected to Internet via mobile phone, there is no way to get rid of unpleasant buzz. I was also surprised that subwoofer's volume is not really synchronized with Windows volume function, if you change volume manually with subwoofer's volume controller; there is not any visible change in Windows.
Both models USB Speaker System and Portable USB Speaker System are very easy to install. There is a retractable USB cable that connects speakers to notebook or PC. After connection, system is able to recognize and install device drivers automatically (It functions with Windows XP, but I do not expect any problems with older Windows ME/2k or Unix either).
In case that you would connect two sets of speakers all at once, one in classical way via jack connector and one via USB connector, the device connected via jack connector directly to the sound blaster, would have priority. After its disconnection, system needs only few seconds to adapt to a change and redirect sound output to the USB device. Although, during playing games, sound devices are initialized usually at the beginning of a programme and that's why, in this situation, you would have to repeatedly initiate your game. There is not any interference between speakers connected either via jack connector or via USB connector.
2.1 Multi Media Portable Speaker System model gets connected via standard jack connector and unlike other two models; it is possible to connect it to all devices, e.g. MP3 and CD players. Here I recommend using four AAA batteries, which, how I've proved, are able to run for four hours. It is up to you to decide if this is convenient solution for you.
Test
Speakers test is always a matter of subjective opinion; one has to trust its ear. Fortunately, ear for sounds is similar for most of people and majority is able to distinguish sound quality. Therefore I expect, that if you will sometime listen to the music coming out of herein tested speakers, you will be able to recognize differences in sound quality.
Each speaker system has been tested during my common daily activities; I was listening to the music during work (also during writing of this review) and I was playing PC games, monitoring sound quality. Just to mention few artists and music styles, I was listening to Enya (new age, Celtic, instrumental), Nickelback (hard rock, pop rock), Evanescene (alternative rock) and OST (some Japanese stuff, World of Warcraft, Prince of Persia), to mention few games I played (X-Men, Legends 2). To get best sound quality, all music was in MP3 format with minimal bitrate 192 kbps.
No surprisingly, Portable USB Speaker System came out from a test as the worst tested system. I have to admit that speakers are better than notebook's; anyway their sound is rather lousy. Sound interpretation is poor and distorted. I did not mind that much during playing games, but when listening to the music, I would prefer to have them switched off (unfortunately there is no stop control).
On a paper, USB Speaker System should be providing similar sound quality as little portable USB satellites. Fortunately, my suffering was not so intense this time. Nothing world-shaking, but sound quality is good enough to imagine this speakers system on a table of less demanding users. Although, I would point out on a bad volume stepping, while regulating volume using media controls placed on satellites. When the volume button is depressed, there is a hearable jump in a volume. Quite disturbing.
The last tested system is 2.1 Multi Media Speaker System. Looking at its little satellites, after previous experience, I was rather sceptical. But already first tested song cleared up my unnecessary doubts. I would never say that subwoofer could make such a difference. 2.1 Multi Media Speaker System is full-featured miniature of conventional 2.1 speaker system. As its downside I would consider lower power, but regarding its dimensions, and the fact that 2.1 Multi Media Speaker System was made to be the portable device, this attribute is acceptable. There is one more thing to rebuke. Like most of cheaper speaker systems, also 2.1 Multi Media interfere with mobile phones. To avoid the interference, you have to keep your cellular phone at least half a meter away from subwoofer. Obviously, if you are connected to Internet via mobile phone, there is no way to get rid of unpleasant buzz. I was also surprised that subwoofer's volume is not really synchronized with Windows volume function, if you change volume manually with subwoofer's volume controller; there is not any visible change in Windows.
