Mirage suggests that
another approach to surround speakers is to use a second UNI-Theater in the back
of the room to make a 6.1 system, which is certainly an interesting
option.
This system is a lifesaver if you want surround sound, but can’t
convince the powers that be that those big floorstanding towers will actually
enhance the decor.
RATING: ELEVATED
Description: Mirage UNI-Theater; Nanosats
High Points: Soundstage extends
well beyond the box; clear and powerful sound; sleek modern styling; versatile
mounting options
Low Points: Needs separate surround speakers; slightly peaky
sound; fiddly connectors
Contact: Audio Products International,
416.321.1800, www.miragespeakers.com
Price: Mirage UNI-Theater $999 (black or
silver); Nanosats $250 pair
M&K MP-4512
Trying to get convincing stereo
reproduction from a single speaker has long been a quest for many speaker
designers, so imagine the thought processes involved in trying to get 5-channel
sound from a speaker no bigger than a Duraflame log. M&K has crammed what
are essentially three of its Xenon LCR-25 speakers into a single cabinet, and
then added wide-range drivers for the surround channels into each end of the
box.
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The front three speakers of the MP-4512 are similar to the company’s Xenon
LCR-25 bookshelf speakers. The side-mounted surround channels use single,
wide-range drivers. Though the sound isn’t incredibly spacious, it is quite
refined. |
The resulting speaker won’t exactly win any sexy design awards, but it
might still get your spouse or decorator excited simply due to its diminutive
size. Whether it’s sitting on top of a regular TV set, or mounted on the wall
above or below a flat-panel screen, the MP-4512 will often pass unnoticed, at
least until you crank up the volume.
While five channels all coming from the
same spot sounds a bit like a fancy name for mono, M&K has employed what it
has dubbed Tripolar technology. By flipping one of the side firing drivers to
run out of phase, the speaker can separate the sound of the surround channels
away from the main front stage, creating a surround effect that can be quite
convincing with the right material. Because of the way they are used, you need
to crank up the levels of the surround drivers somewhat, and I found that there
was a fine line between what gave the most realistic surround effect, and what
would cause surround material to stand out unnaturally. M&K suggests a four
to six db boost compared to the front channels, and I found that keeping it
toward the lower end of this range worked the best in my system.
