November 28th, 2000
Monsoon iM-700 Speakers Introduction The way computers are perceived changed dramatically with the introduction of Apple's iMac. No longer were personal computers judged simply on functionality, but also rather on appearance and style. Another major change over the last four years has been the introduction of high quality speakers to computer systems. The rapid rise in popularity of MP3's, combined with improved sound in 3D games, has made computer sound almost as important as computer displays. One of the most recent entries in the personal computer speaker market are the Monsoon iM-700's. Encased in graphite and ice colored enclosures, and supporting a stunning flat-panel design, the iM-700's look as good as they sound. You Look Marvelous, Darling The iM-700 speakers include two flat-panel satellite speakers, and a monstrous sub woofer. The satellite's achieve their near flat design by using a dipole radiating planar magnetic transducer. Essentially this technology allows speakers to be designed without the traditional large magnet and cabinet, and also produces remarkably clear sounds at higher frequencies. The casing for the satellite speakers is also designed to fit in with the latest industrial design developments from Apple. The satellites are graphite and ice, and in a world where style points count, the iM-700's score high marks. Other than the Sound Sticks from Harman/Kardon, these speakers are the clear favorites for the Most Likely To Make People Look At Them And Say, “Cool!” award. This is all well and good, but how do they sound? You Sound Pretty Darn Good, Too These speakers had us baffled at first. They came highly recommended, and had received great praise from other's in the industry. At first setup, however, we were greatly disappointed. The sound was very muddy, and the higher frequency tones were lost in the thunderous bass. We tried moving the speakers farther away, angling them out, turning the subwoofer down (which was difficult to do with the hidden volume control), all to no avail. They just did not sound very good. After continued manipulation, and continued frustration, we found that if the speakers were held in such and such a way, such and such a distance from the listener, and we didn't move our heads, the sound was glorious. However, moving the speaker ever so slightly, or even turning our head a tad degraded the sound quality noticeably. It was akin to having headphones on, and then pulling them away from you ears and turning your head. The sound difference was that dramatic. Confused, we contacted Sonigistix and asked for some assistance. It was granted. According to Woody Jackson:
Ah ha! Heeding Mr. Jackson's advice, we changed the angle of the satellites to indeed be “toed in” so the sound crossed directly in front of us. Keeping this tip in mind while continuing to manipulate the direction and location of the speakers, we finally found the “sweet spot.” Yes, getting to that point is a major hassle, and is a matter of continually moving the speakers a tiny bit, and changing the direction they are aiming a tiny bit, but the results are worth it. It Is The Music, Man Not only do these speakers produce brilliant sound, they do so over a wide range of applications. MP3's have rarely sounded better. One problem, though, is the hidden volume control for the subwoofer. This is a hefty speaker that kicks out plenty of crisp bass…too much, in some cases. Being able to easily control the volume level of just the sub alone is necessary sometimes, and a handy control would have been welcome. With that absent, however, one is much better off with a full-featured MP3 player, one that presents users with an equalizer to tweak the sound that way. More often than not, however, the thunderous bass is welcome. To truly appreciate the flexibility and precision of these speakers, we suggest listening to live, acoustic music. Hearing The Eagles croon Hotel California from the live Hell Freezes Over disk will be enough to take your breath away.
And The Games? The iM-700's huge subwoofer and crisp highs make for a wonderfully enjoyable gaming experience. Songistic's suggestion that the dipole planar transducers produce stunningly realistic 3D effects is accurate. In Unreal Tournament, one is able to hear a rocket roar down a corridor from one side and fizzle off into the distance the other way. Echoes and footsteps ricochet off walls, and explosions shake you to the foundation. Don't be afraid to turn these puppies up as loud as they go and play Death Match. It really does add a whole new experience to the game. Even more enjoyable are the subtle sounds, such as running water or voices in the distance. The superior high tone quality created by the flat satellites gives even greater depth to most games. The best example of this are the outdoor level's in the original Unreal. The ambient sound, combined with phenomenal background music, help make that one of the greatest games ever made. With these speakers, you don't miss a cricket.
Conclusion Once you fiddle with the positioning of the satellites, the sound is amazing. Still, however, these are definitely speakers geared toward one person sitting in one spot at a computer. Sound becomes remarkably bass-ish when not right in the sweet spot. You better believe, however, that the sweet spot is fantastic. Combining style, sound, and price, these speakers are difficult to beat.
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