Just a few short years ago, multimedia desktop speakers were a pretty sexy category. They had evolved into some impressive configurations, including an amplified Klipsch 5.1-channel speaker system, a Logitech 5.1-channel system with Dolby Digital/DTS decoding, and even a Creative 7.1-channel powered system, all THX-certified. I tried them all and considered them among the most enjoyable products I'd ever tested.
But then something funny happened: the high-end 5.1-channel multimedia speaker category seemed to hit a ceiling, and manufacturers began shifting their emphasis onto inexpensive multichannel bundles for PC gamers and then to less-than-exciting desktop 2.1 subwoofer/satellite setups, in deference to the burgeoning online music bonanza and perhaps acknowledging the fact that many consumers of PC audio don't want to deal with the inconvenience of running rear channel speakers. A pity, as I for one do enjoy watching DVDs--and listening to DVD-Audio--at my desk, in full-quality surround via a monster soundcard, but I guess that makes me something of a high-tech dinosaur (my oxymoron of the day).
While some of the current-generation multimedia sub-sat systems add newfangled processing to try and wring more dimensionality out of two-channel audio, Razer has taken a purer approach, while at the same time introducing cutting edge technology. Although better-known for designing and manufacturing high-end gaming peripherals, Razer is the first to market with a product that features a pair of recent innovations from surround sound pioneer THX.
A pet project of Laurie Fincham, THX's Chief Scientist and creator of THX Ultra2, the Razer/THX Mako Advanced 2.1 Desktop Audio system is one of the big-letter company's first original product designs, and the first piece of hardware to offer Fincham's Ground Plane and Slot Speaker breakthroughs. And as you can see from the overall look, Razer is bringing sexy back!
New Meaning to the Term "Desktop Speakers"
The first thing you're likely to notice about the loudspeakers and sub is their roundness. While they don't approach the nigh-sphericality of Anthony Gallo's celebrated wares, they do stand out from most other speakers I've seen. And in this case, the shape is entirely intentional, and not merely for aesthetics.
Fincham's Ground Plane and Slot Speaker technologies work together by positioning the downward-firing peerless metal dome tweeter directly atop the paper/cloth midrange and reflecting the sound off the desktop itself. Along the way, the sound is channeled via an extremely narrow, nearly-360-degree groove (the "Slot") just above the base. This omni-directional design lends the resulting soundfield a rich and enveloping sense of space which is missing from more traditional speaker designs. A smaller, secondary slot, centered below the THX logo, allows the high frequencies to radiate in all directions as well.
Conventional speakers place the tweeter and midrange apart from one another in confined cabinets with narrow controlled dispersion characteristics. This type of design minimizes the surface reflections which can interfere with the direct sound from both drivers. But with the Mako system, by factoring in the expected desk bounce as part of the equation, the overall output of the system is substantially increased.
The distinct curves of the Mako sub and sats also defy standing waves, for greater efficiency and deeper bass. Of course, with the desktop surface contributing toward the sound of the system, some care must be taken in placement: these speakers have no business on a rug, a mouse pad or other non-reflective surface (more on that later).
The bi-amplified satellites are driven by a proprietary ClassHD digital amplifier nestled inside the subwoofer which incorporates a "tracking power supply," essentially matching the power to the musical needs of each speaker at any given time. This reduces wasted energy and thereby distortion, ostensibly resulting in higher fidelity.
In terms of construction, the sat housings are ABS plastic, while the subwoofer is a composite of fiber-reinforced thermoset resin and organic filler. The eight-inch long-throw sub driver--also downward-firing--has 200 watts at its disposal, and a touch-sensitive on-desk pod wired into the sub controls it all. This remote has no moving parts and sports wicked red and blue lights that are sure to distract you while you're trying to "work."
Hook Me Up
The included CAT-5 cabling (with traditional looking RJ45 connectors) which connects the sub module and satellites was a surprise, but it does simplify the connections and eliminates the possibility of phase errors. Inputs are analog only and are pretty straightforward: one 1/8-inch (3.5mm) stereo minijack input for connecting an external source such as an iPod, and one stereo RCA jack input which you'll probably use to hook up your PC or Mac. A headphone output is also included for those times when you want to let sleeping family members (or roommates) lie.
Listening Impressions
I conducted my tests largely with MP3s, AACs and WMA music tracks, representative of the types of compressed audio content one would normally encounter during the Mako's intended computer use. In an 18-by-12-foot room and resting atop stone tile, the two little sats and sub managed to fill the joint with sound, even when ratcheted down from their full power output. The result was quite simply a lot of sound from a little gear.
In what was at first a curious sensation, I noted too that the sound lacked a true "sweet spot," radiating instead in all directions from the ground up. I walked a complete circle all around the setup, which if you could see my desk you'd know was an otherwise impossible feat, and except for the obvious changes in left/right directionality, the sonic experience was wonderful, with no perceived loss of clarity or overall volume. Despite the unforgiving surface, there was no harshness to the sound. The soundstage was solid, with an assured presence and ample detail in both music and movies.
The subwoofer moves a lot of air, so much so that I could still hear and readily enjoy my selections from other rooms in the house, which I suppose is also a word of caution to those with sensitive domestic partners or easily-disturbed neighbors.
Lifting the satellites straight up off the test surface confirmed the nature of their design, as not only did the volume drop off dramatically but the midrange seemed to drain away as well. High frequencies remained consistent, although they stood out more on their own when the speaker was unceremoniously de-coupled from its proper resting place.
Experimenting with different surfaces, I placed the gear onto berber carpet with thick padding and a concrete slab underneath, and the rug definitely ate up a lot of the sound. I tried compensating by turning the volume up full, and discovered that a loud song with a lot of bass for example tended to roll the system back a bit on its own. In truth, when the system is driven past the point of clipping for extended periods, the global gain automatically reduces in an effort to minimize audible distortion. At comfortable listening levels (and on a proper surface) the gear tends to "disappear" however, as it has less of a hard, discernible location than its front-firing ancestors.
Within reason, different speaker placements (closer, wider, sats high/sub low) did not negatively impact the soundfield, which always exhibited a pleasing fullness and spaciousness. Spoiled as I am, part of me did miss the discrete rear channels of my youth on movie content, but I know that's an unfair quibble as the Mako system is all about the wonders of bass-fortified main channels, and these three black igloos did render an enjoyable front-only presentation, projecting far enough back to envelop me in sound. Although the amplifier does employ digital DSP, any effect is transparent, as the sound quality is extremely natural. Despite the radical departure from traditional speaker design, the intent here is 2.1 purity, and THX has succeeded.
Final Thoughts
The $399 price tag makes this one of the more expensive 2.1 desktop systems out there, in this current age of quick, cheap sub/sat solutions for PCs, laptops and iPods. But the bold look, innovative technology under the hood and --most importantly--the uniquely generous soundstaging of the Razer/THX make it a viable choice for people who want performance and flexibility from a simple, powered multimedia suite.
Where to Buy
Manufacturer's Specifications
Manufacturer's Contact Information
Razer USA Ltd.
2035 Corte Del Nogal #101
Carlsbad, CA 92011
(888) 697-2037
website: www.razerzone.com
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