Bass maximum: TOP-5 computer acoustics class 2.1

Sven MS-1820 are inexpensive and compact class 2.1 speakers that can be easily placed both on the table and hide the subwoofer under the table. In this case, the speaker will be almost invisible, but well audible.

The model is presented in black and made of MDF with plastic inserts. The Sven MS-1820 controls are located on the subwoofer's glossy front panel. On top of the panel are the bass and treble controls, below them is a small LED display, which displays information about the track you are listening to, the radio station (there is a built-in FM receiver) or shows the time.

Below is an SD card slot and a USB input for connecting a flash drive, allowing you to use the speakers separately from the computer. There is a phase inverter hole on the side, and the power button and connectors are displayed on the rear panel. Like the subwoofer, the front panel of the satellites has glossy inserts, and on their bottom there are rubber feet that dampen sound vibration and prevent the speakers from jumping on the table.

Externally, the system is assembled well, no traces of glue or notches are visible. The glossy control panel, which quickly collects fingerprints, and the combined rewind and volume buttons, which cause inconvenience at first use, spoiled the impression a little. True, both the first and the second are solved by the remote control, which has all the necessary controls.

The total power of the Sven MS-1820 is 40 W, standard for this class. For the money, the acoustics sound pretty decent. The satellites, despite their size, cover a decent range and match well with the subwoofer. I was pleased with the maximum volume limit with slight distortion. True, at maximum volume it is better to turn down the bass slightly so as not to overstrain the subwoofer.

In general, the Sven MS-1820 is a budget speaker system that doesn't pretend to special regalia and really works for its money ($40). It is quite suitable for family watching a movie, as well as for a visit from a neighbor who will come down to shake your hand for a wonderful taste in music at 2 am.

Sven MS-1085 is the epitome of minimalism and style. The design of the MS-1085 is very memorable due to its simplicity and style.

The body of the satellites is made of MDF and covered with a decorative film under natural wood. The front side is decorated with a black glossy overlay made of plastic. The speakers are silver, and their frame is made "under the metal". The buffer is slightly flattened and its front side is decorated with a decorative silver circle with the company logo. Like the satellites, the front panel is glossy.

One of the interesting features of this acoustics is a wired volume controller, to which you can connect headphones or a headset, and also, with its help, you can adjust the volume.

The total power of the Sven MS-1085 is 46 watts. Of these, 13 watts each falls on the satellites and 20 watts on the subwoofer. The acoustics are quite loud, and it is enough for the eyes to sound not only a large room, but also a medium-sized office space. The satellites sound clean and natural, and the subwoofer produces a nice, deep bass that can be adjusted to your liking using a separate bass control.

Putting together good looks, decent sound quality and an extremely affordable price of $45, we get one of the best entry-level 2.1 kits. The speakers fit perfectly in both work and office environments.

The Microlab M-600 speaker system is a small work of art from a Chinese brand, made in Hi-tech style. Light silvery plastic in combination with metal looks practical; both the satellites themselves and the low-frequency amplifier unit are decorated with it. Externally Microlab M-600 leaves only pleasant impressions. The acoustics are ergonomic, have an interesting design, and the build quality is at a high level.

The total power of the speakers is 40 W, of which 12 are for satellites and 16 for the subwoofer, respectively. The output power is more than enough to sound a large room. True, it is worth noting that at maximum volume, the sound is distorted and the acoustics, depending on the track being listened to, may begin to wheeze. In principle, any acoustics is subject to distortion at maximum volume, but the Microlab M-600 is lower than we would like.

And this is the only negative of this system, as it sounds great. The bass, for such dimensions, is pleasantly surprising - it is quite powerful and at the same time soft. The mids also sound very good, which surprise with depth and detail. But the high ones seem slightly washed out, which in general does not change the pleasant impression.

In general, the Microlab M-600 is a speaker system that does not leave much to complain about. It is executed very solidly, has an interesting design and compact size. And if you add to this excellent sound for this class, the speakers will appeal to many, and will become an ornament for almost any room.

The original SoundSticks model was created back in 1999 and turned out to be incredibly successful in terms of sales. Therefore, years later, Harman Kardon did not reinvent the wheel, but simply updated the model by adding Bluetooth support to it.

When you first look at SoundSticks Wireless, you get the impression that it was designed in some kind of scientific laboratory. Acoustics is made of transparent plastic and has an unusual, memorable shape. The subwoofer looks like an aquarium, and two satellites are elongated and rise above the table on rubber expanders. When the system is plugged in, the backlight inside the subwoofer lights up, which works regardless of whether the acoustics are paired with any device or not. It looks very cool.

Looking at the SoundSticks Wireless for the first time, it seems that this is just a beautiful accessory, but when you connect them, it becomes clear why this model has been in demand for more than a decade. The acoustics sound good, the volume and quality are felt. The satellites have great mids and highs, and the sub gives out a deep and juicy bass. As for the volume, there is a prohibitively large amount of it to sound the room, so you don’t have to turn it up to the maximum when listening. Moreover, the total power of the system is standard for the class of 40 watts.

In fairness, we note that SoundSticks Wireless has some disadvantages. The fact is that at maximum volume the subwoofer vibrates decently and if there is a lot of bass in the sound track, then the objects on the table literally start to dance. In cases where the subwoofer is really powerful, it is placed under the table, but in the case of SoundSticks Wireless, you don’t really want to hide such beauty under the table.

In general, thanks to its "cosmic" design, adequate price and cool sound, Harman Kardon SoundSticks Wireless will appeal to people who want not just an audio system, but a real work of art. Indeed, due to their unusual design, the speakers will look cool in 2019 and 2029.

The Edifier S350DB speaker system is actually an elite computer speaker system with a thoroughbred sound, an impressive power reserve, maximum functionality and an appropriate price.

The system has a presentable, classic design. The body of the speakers is made of dense MDF and covered with vinyl film. Due to the absence of grills, the aluminium and titanium diffusers of the satellite speakers please the eye. There is a phase inverter on the back of the speakers. Tellingly, the satellites are connected to the subwoofer with different wires. And all because on the right satellite there is a control panel with tone controls and volume control, combined with an input selector. By turning the last knob, you can change the volume, and if you press it, the system inputs will switch. Thanks to this, in addition to the main source, an additional signal source can be connected to the acoustics.

The subwoofer impresses with its size, its front part is decorated with an 8-inch speaker, and on the right there is a bass-reflex port output. Connectors are located on the rear panel: 2 pairs of inputs for RCA, XLR, optical and coaxial input. You can not ignore the wireless remote. With it, you can both adjust the volume and switch between the active outputs of the system. Also, the “puck” has track rewind buttons, a Play / Pause button, a Bluetooth switching key, a system on / off button.

The total power of the Edifier S350DB is 150W, of which 40W for each satellite, and 70W for the subwoofer. By the standards of computer speakers, this is a very serious margin. For comparison, most 2.1 systems have a total power of 40 watts. And then 40 watts from one satellite. The flip side of the coin is that it's a decent size and weighs 17.4kg, which can make installation difficult.

The acoustics sound great, and its volume is enough to rock your and your neighbor's apartment. The sound from the satellites is clear and pleasant, and the bass pleased with its depth. A definite plus is the presence of Bluetooth with support for aptX codecs, which allows you to listen to music wirelessly while maintaining quality. It is only necessary that the portable gadget from which the playback will be supported supports this function.

In general, these acoustics from Edifier leave an excellent impression on all fronts, from the material and build quality to the sound itself. The price/quality ratio is also excellent. These speakers are perfect for listening to music, watching movies or make a worthy accompaniment when playing computer games.