Microlab M1910, 5.1 Speaker system void
Up Close: The Satellites
Each of the four Satellite speakers are to intents and purposes identical, measuring 95x218x103mm (WxHxD). Unlike the Sub which is made from 9mm MDF the sats are constructed from a much thinner 4mm MDF. Where the Sub is reassuringly weighty, the satellites give the impression that they would need to be tied down in a strong wind. This though is nothing unusual for satellite speakers, with the sub outputting all the bass, they don’t require big drivers with heavy magnets to output the sort of volume required of them. Microlab don’t give much away in terms of the specs for the drivers in the sats, but what we appear to have is a foam covered midrange unit with a much smaller tweeter sitting above it. The speaker body is matte black, with the front surface and leading edges being resplendent in high gloss piano black.
The Phono wires are hard wired into the rear of the speakers making it difficult to extend their lengths without either cropping into the existing wiring or buying adapters and addirional cable lengths. Thankfully though microlab have been very thoughtful with the cable lengths, with the speakers intended to be used as fronts having 175cm and the rear surrounds a much longer 575cm. This extended reach on the rear sats should make it easier to use them in a lounge where they will be required to reach either across or around the room. Each of the speakers is angled very slightly upwards by means of a small raised chin at the front. Both this chin and the rear corners of the base have foam isolation pads to give them a firmer more secure base to rest upon.
The centre speaker measures 198?106?103mm and like the sats is constructed from 4mm MDB. The body is painted matte black with the front face and leading edges being finished in high gloss piano black. eschews the tweeter, instead sporting two of the same mid range units found in the sats. As with the sats, each of the speakers is covered in a non removable foam baffle with a nice brushed metal effect rim encircling it.
Round the back it’s a similar story to the sats, with the cable being hard wired in. This time though we get 180cm of cable length to play with, which, for a centre speaker should be plenty.
