Written: 12/10/99
Written by:
John "Moto"
Chow®
Price: $84.98
S-2000 supplied by:
AVB Tech
The first thing I thought to myself when I
open the box of the SONIX S-2000 was "Wow! Pretty slick!" The thing that really
got my attention was the price. At $84.98 these speakers are an amazing bargain!
The SONIX S-2000 are "flat panel" speakers.
For the most part, flat panel speakers are diffuse direct radiators. That is,
they produce sound by vibration of a panel. This vibration generates a complex
random ripple of wave forms on the panel surface which in an ideal model radiate
sound in a circular pattern from the panel.
This is different from a standard cone
speaker that if we consider as a piston produces a beam of sound which in a
stereo field creates the so called "sweet spot". The circular wave form of the
AVB panels means that the product has a very wide sound stage. That is, the
sound levels are equal across a large listening area. That's how it's suppose to
work anyway. In real life, it's not even close.
The "large listening area" that AVB likes to
point out really isn't needed in computer speakers because the user doesn't move
from his/her seated position. It's not that hard to position any speakers to put
you in that "sweet spot"
The panels are nice and light, making them
very easy to position so you can get all those great game sound effects. Flat
panel's main problem is lack of bass production. This is because it takes a lot
of air movements to create great bass. AVB tries to fix this problem by
supplying a "Sub woofer". The "Sub woofer" is a 5.25 inch cone speaker powered
by a 20 watt amp in a ported enclosure. Its claimed Frequency Response is
50-200hz. Now I don't know about you, but I don't consider any speaker that
can't get below 50Hz a sub woofer. Then again, you have to consider that I come
from an audio background and use to compete in IASCA car audio sound offs. My
current ride is having a pair of 15" sub woofers installed and they're powered
by 1000 watt amps.
My current computer speakers are Cambridge
Microworks from Creative Labs. They are the only computer speakers I've came
across that sounds like a decent home audio system. I was going to compare the
SONIX S-2000 to them but decided that would be unfair since the Microworks sells
for quite a lot more.
So what does a die hard audiophile think of
the SONIX S-2000? You're about to find out....
Next page: The setup & specs
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