| Eagle Arion ET-AR504LR-BK 2.1 Soundstage Speakers |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Audio | |||||||||||
| Written by Dan Ferguson - Edited by Olin Coles | |||||||||||
| Friday, 06 November 2009 | |||||||||||
Eagle Arion ET-AR504LR-BK ReviewIt doesn't require a music-prodigy to appreciate good music on a nice set of speakers. But how can the average Joe distinguish a nice set of speakers from manufactured junk? Does the presence of a subwoofer, multiple speakers or a list of features guarantee a set will be high quality? Or can you be assured good performance by sticking to name-brands? At Benchmark Reviews we reviewed the Eagle Arion ET-AR504LR-BK 2.1 Soundstage Speakers using some objective, repeatable tests. These tests helped screen those factors that are important to sound quality from those factors which are insignificant. The most obvious sound test entails listening to music with which you are familiar, and which you like, on multiple sound systems. This type of approach, while subjective, may be the most important since the experience depends upon the listener. Fairness and objectivity, however, require a more quantitative approach.
This review marries both approaches, without venturing into extreme practices, by analyzing the Soundstage Speakers' response to a wide range of audio inputs. Workmanship and user interface were also evaluated since they contribute to the overall user experience. About Eagle TechEagle Tech Computers, Inc. is a trusted OEM supplier of power supply, rack mount chassis, network attached storage NAS (RAID, Gigabit LAN, Wireless 802.11a/b/g), external hard drive enclosures and other storage related products. Our extensive experience in designing, manufacturing and marketing high quality PC components that meet and exceed customer application requirements has enabled us to grow beyond manufacturing. Our core competence is in innovative external storage solutions. Recognizing the needs of modern computer users to store and share digital files across multiple platforms, Eagle Tech constantly monitors consumer needs to ensure timely development and introduction of innovative external storage products into the consumer market. We remain a high quality technology solutions provider dedicated to satisfying the demands of modern computer users - mainstream, enthusiasts and SOHO professionals. Eagle Tech understands the importance of your data and strives to provide customers with reliable and easy to use products that are backed with responsive technical support staff. If there is a more innovative way to store and access your important data, you can count on us to make it happen for you - at affordable prices, rugged constructions and stylish designs. Eagle Tech also provides product solutions in game accessories, multimedia, power supplies and PC chassis. Source: Eagle Tech Soundstage Speakers Features
ET-AR504LR-BK Specifications
Closer Look: Soundstage SpeakersThe ET-AR504LR-BK box conveys a sense that you've purchased something nice. Eye-catching graphics and high-contrast text make the specs and features easy to read and easy to tell what you are buying. Transparency in communication rates high in my personal opinion of producers.
The speakers, subwoofer and miscellaneous components were packed neatly between formed cardboard shells on top and bottom. Inside the shells the speakers were additionally wrapped in bubble-wrap. Good packaging will protect your investment during shipping.
The subwoofer was very light when I pulled it from the box. Textured wood makes for a nice appearance, and the raised panels on the front also add some style and accent the LCD display and control panel. A plastic film also protects the LCD display during shipping and unpacking. The right panel of the sub-woofer contains one large port also styled glossy black. The port on the side indicates a "reflex" style enclosure which allows louder sound with lower power consumption.
On the back of the woofer several screws hold a panel made of pressboard which allows access to the internals. The power switch, power cable, and the audio jacks are all located on the back of the subwoofer.
The satellites each have three speakers, two plain black midrange drivers and one shiny metal tweeter. For style (and sound quality?) the cones are exposed. The cone materials are very light and could easily be dented or otherwise damaged. If little-ones will be playing nearby then these speakers need to be kept up high. I prefer the open look of these satellites as opposed to the bland mesh covers used on most speakers.
A port and input cable can also be found on the back of the satellites. As with the subwoofer, the satellites are also textured wood and very light. The components are sealed up securely without evidence of access screws. I like the high contrast of the silver, black and neon green, similar to the boxing. This makes for a seamless transition from store to home; what you see is what you get. ET-AR504LR-BK Detailed FeaturesMost of the features touted by Eage Tech are small external additions to make the speakers more enjoyable to use.
The feet on the bottom of the speaker are made of foam. I was hoping for a higher quality material like rubber. The foam makes these speakers slide all over my veneer finish desk. They slide even worse when it gets dusty.
The mini-jack to RCA cable is a welcome addition to the set, but there is nothing special about the cable or connections. The length is adequate and the connectors are standard.
The input/output panel is simple and performs exactly what is needed with little extra. One nice feature is the option to use either mini-jack or RCA connector. This also allows two different audio sources to be simultaneously connected.
Again, like the I/O panel, the remote contains enough buttons to cover the basics; treble, base, volume. There is a reset button and mute button which may also come in handy. The reset button sets the treble, bass and volume back to the standard settings. For my setup the default volume was too loud which caused startling moments. The remote has decent range allowing changes from across the house.
Control buttons on the front of the subwoofer provide an alternative to using the remote. Instead of individual buttons for treble bass and volume, the front panel uses a menu button to toggle between modes. The buttons have a nice physical click when pushed. Because the buttons are all part of the same plastic mold, I frequently had issues getting the wrong command. Quite often I'd push the menu button but get a reset instead.
Above the front buttons sits the LCD display which shows various modes and settings. The top left section shows whether the speakers are using the auxiliary or CD input. The top right section shows the current adjustment mode (volume, treble or bass). The top middle section contains a large set of concentric circles which seem to be for appearance. From original product photos it appears that these circles were meant to display the level of the current mode. For example in volume mode it would show the volume level. The unit we evaluated had no level indicators. As a result, the only way to know the current settings is to frequently hit reset. The middle section of the display contains two vertical bars. I hoped that these would show volume, bass or treble levels during adjustment, but this was not so. The bars respond to the volume of sound being played through the sub-woofer. Finally, below the bass bars is a subwoofer symbol. This supposedly shows when the woofer is being used, but mine is always on. Testing & ResultsTesting MethodologyAs mentioned earlier, the first test is a subjective test of listening to various types of music to see how I like the "feel" of the sound. I listened to several songs with a large range of instrument types including vocal. In this test I played particular attention to irregularities in the sound. I first tested with wav quality music then listened to the same track compressed to mp3. Compression often causes "glitchy" sounding high-frequency distortion, though any noticeable distortion depends upon the actual track. For a more objective battery of tests I used several computer generated tones to measure several properties of the speaker set. First I tested the lower range of the set by playing 20Hz, 30Hz, and 100Hz tones. Next I tested the upper range using 10000Hz, 15000Hz and 20000Hz tones. Then I used a 1000Hz tone to check the midrange drivers. Finally, pink noise was used to test any gross dips or spikes in the crossovers. A crossover point is the frequency range where sound generation transitions from one driver type to the next, for example the sound range between the subwoofer and the midrange drivers. When frequencies are too high to be played by the subwoofer the midrange driver must take over. Well designed speakers will make this transition region as flat as possible so that all frequencies are generated at the same volume. In practice, pink noise consists of a range of frequencies all at the same magnitude. Poorly designed crossovers could result in distortion, an uneven sound in some ranges, or other undesirable sound qualities. Test System
ResultsWAV Music: Overall I was pleased with the music I heard from the speakers. I especially liked listening to piano and guitar music. Vocals also sounded excellent. I think this highlights the strong midrange driver performance. Nothing stood out about the higher range indicating good performance. The bass tones were clean and solid, but they felt weak. Drums also seemed to lack punch. The subwoofer weren't hitting very hard. During games and action movies I like to feel the explosions. In this case the explosions sounded great, but did not rock me back in my chair. The subwoofer and satellites performed well under loud volumes. Some speakers will buzz and vibrate when the volume gets too high. Even though the studs in my walls were vibrating, the speakers remained quiet. MP3 Music: The other day I watched a movie in a nice home theater. During one section the DVD sound was overlaid with MP3 voice tracks. The high-pitched distortion was obvious. I was unable to use that same video for testing on the Soundstage Speakers, but I expected I might hear the same effect using other voice tracks. During all my testing I never heard any glitchy sounding audio. The only difference I noted was that classical music sounded hollow on the mp3 tracks. To me this means the speakers are nice enough that the difference in quality could be heard, but perhaps not nice enough to hear more subtle errors in quality. Depending on your needs this may be good or bad. Lower Range Tones: This subwoofer can go low. Every bass tone played without distortion or problems. When tones go that low they seem to be felt more than heard. Upper Range Tones: With the 10000Hz tone a low frequency harmonic could heard. The 15000Hz tone played better but also had some low frequency distortion. The 20000Hz tone played, but was badly distorted in the high frequencies. To find the true upper limit I played tones of 19000Hz, 18000Hz, 17000Hz and 16000Hz. All were unacceptably distorted. I would say that 15000Hz is the upper limit of acceptable quality sound. Midrange Tones: The 1000Hz tone is a common tone used to calibrate sound equipment. You may have heard this tone during the middle of the night when TV stations go off the air. This midrange tone played just fine on the Eagle speakers. Pink Noise: While listening to various ranges of pink noise I didn't hear any imperfections. There seemed to be a slight dip between the bass and the midrange, but it was small enough that it could simply be due to my ears rather than the speakers. The transition between midrange drivers and tweeters sounded fine. Soundstage Speakers Final ThoughtsWhile using the speakers I noticed a few nuances. Placement can be an issue. The set is designed to be set in plain view with all three speakers in close proximity. The cables to the satellites are short. For some this could require designating some valuable desktop real estate. I like to hide my subwoofer away in a drawer, behind a door or some other out of the way place. But doing so would make adjustments impossible using either the subwoofer buttons or the remote. It would be really nice to have a volume knob on one of the satellites, and a power button on the remote. When transitioning between sound and no sound there was always a loud clicking sound. For example, when I began playing a song the speakers would click or pop. Then when the song was done the speakers would click again. It was annoying at first but after a day I only notice when the volume is really loud. The LCD display could be more informative. At least a volume indicator, but equalizer indicators would make things easier. Personally, I also prefer the reset button to adjust everything BUT the volume. Fixing these few things would greatly improve the overall experience.
Eagle Arion ET-AR504LR-BK ConclusionWith strong midrange performance and a well-designed crossover the system performs strongly for most applications. The subwoofer does not "hit" very hard, but the bass notes are clean and solid. IT can definitely produce any frequency that you need to hear. In the highest range the tweeters get distortion, but this was not noticeable in any practical application. The high contrast color scheme looks great. The speakers use a nice blend of hard angles on the subwoofer and smooth contours on the satellites. The LCD display is nifty but provides minimal functionality. It made me question whether my unit was defective. From the box to the desktop, this system is definitely meant to be put on display rather than hidden away. Possibly the best features are the quality of construction. The speakers and subwoofer are light, sturdy and durable. The exposed driver cones risk getting poked, but they add to the appearance. Each speaker is well sealed and can handle loud volumes without buzzing. A remote is a convenient feature often neglected for stationary speakers. I use it frequently because the buttons on the subwoofer are prone to activating the wrong command. The remote also allows quick equalizer adjustments for personal preference. An engineered crossover balances the sound across 7 speakers to further enhance the listening experience. Price-wise the set runs in the middle of the pack costing $49.99 from NewEgg.com. Prices from more online retailers can be found using the Benchmark Reviews price comparison tool. Other 2.1 sound systems in this price range offer one or two similar features. Only the ET-AR504LR-BK provides a designed crossover, remote, equalizer, LCD display, wide frequency response, solid construction and multiple drivers in one package. Combined with a few minor issues this provides a good overall value. Pros:
+ Excellent Wood Construction Cons:
- Weak Bass Ratings:
Final Score: 7.5 out of 10.Questions? Comments? Benchmark Reviews really wants your feedback. We invite you to leave your remarks in our Discussion Forum.
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