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Eagle Arion 2.1 Soundstage Speaker with Subwoofer (ET-AR504LR-BK)


Date
: 07/28/09 – 03:11:37 AM

Author
:

Category
: Speakers and Sounds Cards

Page 1 : Index

Manufacturer
: Eagle Tech Computers, Inc.

Eagle Tech Computers has been making a wide range of accessories for PC's for over 10 years. They offer everything from hard drive enclosures, PC cases, game accessories and power supplies to name a few.

Each of Eagle Tech's product lines has its own name. Some of these names are Voltas for power supplies, Forte for cases and what we have today is their Arion speaker line.

While they have a wide range of product lines, even within each product line they have products for various needs. Today we have one of their 2.1 speaker systems, the ET-AR504LR-BK 2.1 Soundstage Speaker with Subwoofer. The Soundstage speakers look to bring you quality at a reasonable price.

Page 2 : Package and Specifications

The front and back of the package shows the speakers with some key features highlighted.

On the sides are a list of the features, specifications and contents in the box.

Inside the speaker set is protected by cardboard and bubble wrap.

Accessories include a user manual, 3.5mm to RCA cable, and remote. On the remote are treble, bass and master volume adjustment buttons along with reset and mute buttons.

Next I grabbed the features and specifications for the ET-AR504LR-BK 2.1 Soundstage Speakers straight from Eagle Tech's product page here.

Features:

• Exceptional tonal fidelity and low harmonic distortion
  
  
• Dedicated subwoofer, midrange and tweeter drivers for high decibel output
• LCD with digital equalizers
• Raised crossover points of midrange and tweeters
• Stiff and light cone materials for precise vibrations
• Smooth response over broad frequency so you hear the music at exactly the same way it was recorded
• Solid wood enclosures accurately amplifies overall sound level
• Great for MP3 player, CD, PC, video gaming system, home audio system or just about any other audio sources
• Full function remote control
• Multiple audio inputs

Specifications:

• Total RMS Power: 35 Watts
  -Satellites: 10 Watts RMS x 2 (into 4 ohms, @<=1% THD)
  -Subwoofer: 15 Watts RMS x 2 (into 4 ohms, @<=1% THD)
  
  
• Total Peak Power: 70 Watts
• Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz
• Drivers:
  -Satellites: Dual 3-inch midrange and 1-inch tweeter with solid wood enclosure
  -Subwoofer: 5.25 inch driver with solid wood enclosure
  
  
• Speaker Dimension:
  -Satellites: 4.33′ x 9.65′ x 4.77′
  -Subwoofer: 6.7′ x 11.03′ x 10.25′

Page 3 : Speakers and Use

The speakers themselves are black with the Eagle Arion logo on each piece. On the front of the subwoofer housing is a lighted EQ, and five buttons for adjusting the different sound levels.

On the back you can see that each satellite is hard wired and connects via an RCA jack to the subwoofer. The wires on the satellites are 50 inches long, so they are somewhat on the short end. Inputs include a 3.5mm jack along with RCA audio jacks. The power switch is located near the bottom next to the power cord.

Each piece has four rubber/foam feet on the bottom to help absorb sound and prevent surfaces from being scratched.

Once powered up the front has a bright display that pulses with the sound. Since you typically will place the subwoofer on the floor, this really is almost a lost feature if you plan on using these for your PC.

The wires on the satellites are somewhat on the short end, so there could be problems if you have a larger desk. On the flip side, RCA extensions are easily found.

With them connected and setup, it was time to take them for a spin. Everyone focuses so much on the latest video cards or processors, that often speakers are overlooked and the quality of the sound that comes out of them as well. Unlike a lot of the PC speakers made, the Arion Soundstage's are made with wood cabinets and the quality of the sound shows through. The remote has a good range and while having a remote is nice, if you are using these speakers for PC, I would prefer to have a volume adjustment knob on one of the satellites. Another bonus to having a volume knob, is that you can easily see what the volume is set to beforehand. With the ET-AR504LR-BK set, you really don't know until something plays. These speakers get very loud, and only began to distort at the top.

I played a wide range of songs, everything from Avenged Sevenfold to The Black Eyed Peas to some John Williams compositions. Overall the sound was great, though things sounded just a little off at times but using the remote I was able to adjust it for the most part. The highs came out high and the lows were low, base response is good throughout the entire range.

Games also sound wonderful on the Soundstage set, with the scream of the Hunter in Left 4 Dead coming out crystal clear right before the pounce. While a 2.1 speaker setup can't match the positional sound of a 5.1 or 7.1 setup, the quality of the Soundstage's are good at home with games.

The last bit of testing was watching a few movies. After watching both Eagle Eye and Gran Torino using the Soundstage's, sound was good without having to make any adjustments. Both sound and voice came through clear, I came away quite impressed with the quality of sound.

Page 4 : Conclusion

Eagle Computer's may not be the most well known name, but the ET-AR504LR-BK Soundstage Speakers with Subwoofer certainly have a lot to offer. You can expect excellent sound from these speakers whether you are listening to music, watching a movie or playing your favorite games. They have excellent range, you get a wireless remote and a built in equalizer display. The wood cabinets give it a more natural sound than you get with the typical plastic materials used.

As much as I really enjoyed the sound of the ET-AR504LR-BK Soundstage's, there are few things that bring them back down a bit. The wires on the satellites are a bit short, so a larger desk may pose an issue unless you have some RCA extensions. Also the lack of a volume knob on the satellites makes them a little less PC friendly.

Even with these few minor disadvantages, ultimately the sound a speaker creates is the deciding factor and the ET-AR504LR-BK Soundstage Speakers with Subwoofer offer excellent sound a decidedly low price. Whether you are looking for a new speaker setup for your PC, or looking for a set to connect your MP3 player too, Eagle Tech's ET-AR504LR-BK Soundstage Speakers with Subwoofer should certainly get a glance.

Advantages

• Wood cabinets
  
  
• Wireless remote
• Good sound

Disadvantages

• Short wires
  
  
• No volume control on satellites

I would like to thank Eagle Tech Computers for making this review possible.