Spherex Xbox 5.1 speakers

Road Runner
Road Runner Posts: 106
edited August 2011 in Speakers
I just notice this review of these speakers for the Xbox game system:

Bad news for the high end. Very bad news.

Actually it’s not news because the Xbox 5.1 Surround Sound System is more than two years old. And it’s bad for the high end only because I say so; other reviewers did not have the guts, or the self-confidence, to say that it produces unmistakably high-end sound for only $180! That’s bad for business only if potential high-end customers know about it, but they don’t. Maybe they will now. (The price may have gone up a bit since I paid $180 to amazon.com for my set; the lowest price I see these days on the Web is around $210.) That unbelievable price buys you a complete system: five satellite speakers, subwoofer, amplifiers, surround-sound processor, D/A conversion, remote control, the works. Now, there’s a reason why the Xbox 5.1 isn’t widely known as a music system. It was engineered specifically as a multimedia audio platform for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 gaming console. All promotions and all reviews have been about surround sound for video games. The fact is, however, that the technical solutions for the best possible gaming audio are the same as for the best possible music audio. The circuits and transducers don’t know whether they are transmitting video-game sounds or Beethoven. I happen to know absolutely nothing about video games; during my three decades of involvement with computers I haven’t played a single video game; but I do know something about the sound of Beethoven and other music in the concert hall, and I can confidently say that the Xbox 5.1 renders a pretty damn convincing version of it. I’ll go even further. Going from the Xbox 5.1 to the very best systems known to me (represented by the Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 5 and the Linkwitz Lab “Orion”), there are very few in-between steps of improvement. Maybe only two or at most three. It’s that close. Let the high-end police come and take me away in handcuffs. ..........................................Listening to 5.1-channel SACDs, I was amazed by the utterly natural, spacious, dynamic surround sound produced by the Xbox 5.1, lacking only in “pressure bass,” as I already explained. The openness of the reproduced sound was remarkable, providing a strong argument for the geometry of the satellite speaker design. There appeared to be no obvious limitations to loudness; the orchestral climaxes were full strength in my rather large listening space. Closing my eyes, it was easy to pretend that I was listening to a costly high-end system. I find it incredible that other reviewers did not pick up on this.

This seems pretty strange to me. It's sort of like saying that the best speakers are really computer speakers or speakers on a TV or clock radio or something. The price also seems a little too good to be true. The best way to explain it seems to be what he says - they were looking for a lot of sonic realism to make the video games as realistic as possible and that also works for music. Still, it seems a little wierd.
Post edited by Road Runner on
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Comments

  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited October 2008
    Looks Like a Mirage system.
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited October 2008
    I own it. It's awesome and yes it's licensed Mirage technology.
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  • Road Runner
    Road Runner Posts: 106
    edited October 2008
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    I own it. It's awesome and yes it's licensed Mirage technology.

    Is it possible to use it as a 2 channel system?
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  • begbie
    begbie Posts: 630
    edited October 2008
    Found a brand new one on clearance not too long ago. It's strictly for video game use and it sounds awesome ! Basically Mirage speakers at a bargain price.

    I was surprised at how big and heavy the speakers really are. Especially compared to other htib's.
    Polk Rt800i -Fronts
    Polk cs400i -Center
    Polk fx500i -side surrounds
    Polk rc60i -rear surrounds
    Onkyo TX-NR 1009 (9.2) receiver
    Velodyne cht12
    Polk psw111
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  • Road Runner
    Road Runner Posts: 106
    edited October 2008
    begbie wrote: »
    Basically Mirage speakers at a bargain price.

    I wonder if its some pricing policy related to the fact that the average home theater enthusiast has more money than the average gamer.
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  • mmadden28
    mmadden28 Posts: 4,283
    edited October 2008
    Road Runner wrote: »
    Is it possible to use it as a 2 channel system?

    http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=309-400
    $40


    Whole set (no amp) for $100
    http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=309-408
    ____________________
    This post is a natural product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

    HT:Onkyo 805, Emotiva XPA-5, Mitsu 52" 1080p DLP / polkaudio RTi12, CSIa6, FXi3, uPro4K
    2-chnl : Pio DV-46AV (SACD), Dodd ELP, Emotiva XPA-1s, XPA-2, Odyssey Khartago, LSi9, SDA-SRS 2 :cool:, SB Duet, MSB & Monarchy DACs, Yamaha PX3 TT, SAE Tuner...
    Pool: Atrium 60's/45's
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited October 2008
    Road Runner wrote: »
    Is it possible to use it as a 2 channel system?

    Yes, you can set it to play in various surround settings as well as just 2 channel.
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  • Road Runner
    Road Runner Posts: 106
    edited October 2008
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    Yes, you can set it to play in various surround settings as well as just 2 channel.

    I don't really know that much about multi-channel set ups. When I meant was, it is possible to use all five channels but have no speakers behind the listening position. From what I've heard of surround sound, I think I like it a lot better when there's no sound coming from behind me. I don't know if you need some special processor to do a lot of different speakers positions. I assume that's needed to do a regular 5.1 set-up when using a two-channel source.
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,624
    edited October 2008
    Looks like they were going for about $20/pr during the summer.....I'd buy them at that price just to have for a system down the line, but at $40 I'm going to pass......(these are NOT Mirage speakers....just speakers that use their design).......
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • begbie
    begbie Posts: 630
    edited October 2008
    OEM speakers without the expensive Mirage name on it.
    Polk Rt800i -Fronts
    Polk cs400i -Center
    Polk fx500i -side surrounds
    Polk rc60i -rear surrounds
    Onkyo TX-NR 1009 (9.2) receiver
    Velodyne cht12
    Polk psw111
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  • begbie
    begbie Posts: 630
    edited October 2008
    Road Runner wrote: »
    I don't really know that much about multi-channel set ups. When I meant was, it is possible to use all five channels but have no speakers behind the listening position. From what I've heard of surround sound, I think I like it a lot better when there's no sound coming from behind me. I don't know if you need some special processor to do a lot of different speakers positions. I assume that's needed to do a regular 5.1 set-up when using a two-channel source.

    No, placing all 5 Spherex speakers in front as a "surround bar" is not meant for that application.

    Maybe you should look at the Polk surround bar.
    Polk Rt800i -Fronts
    Polk cs400i -Center
    Polk fx500i -side surrounds
    Polk rc60i -rear surrounds
    Onkyo TX-NR 1009 (9.2) receiver
    Velodyne cht12
    Polk psw111
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  • spiktsu
    spiktsu Posts: 14
    edited August 2011
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    I own it. It's awesome and yes it's licensed Mirage technology.
    Do you still own it? Do you wanna sell it ^_^ ?
    Or anybody who's reading this post would like to sell your spherex 5.1 ???
    Thanx for those who may reply :)
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited August 2011
    Nope, its Karma.
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  • spiktsu
    spiktsu Posts: 14
    edited August 2011
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    Nope, its Karma.

    Why is that?
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited August 2011
    I gave the speakers away as Karma.
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  • spiktsu
    spiktsu Posts: 14
    edited August 2011
    What do you mean "As Karma" ? :)
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited August 2011
    You're a moron.
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  • spiktsu
    spiktsu Posts: 14
    edited August 2011
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    You're a moron.

    Dude what heck :eek:? Meaning what I said!
    What do you mean you gave away AS KARMA?!! What happened?

    Karma= Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect.

    Somehow you got offended, which I'm missing that part...
    Cause I have no effing idea on how you got there!

    Yeah ok I'm a moron, in your dreams brother!
    If you gonna type something useless, why even do it? :confused:
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited August 2011
    spiktsu wrote: »
    Dude what heck :eek:? Meaning what I said!
    What do you mean you gave away AS KARMA?!! What happened?

    Karma= Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect.

    Somehow you got offended, which I'm missing that part...
    Cause I have no effing idea on how you got there!

    Yeah ok I'm a moron, in your dreams brother!
    If you gonna type something useless, why even do it? :confused:

    I'll help. He offered the speakers as Karma, meaning he gave them away for free. As in passing them forward as a good deed to someone who could use them.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • spiktsu
    spiktsu Posts: 14
    edited August 2011
    Sherardp wrote: »
    I'll help. He offered the speakers as Karma, meaning he gave them away for free. As in passing them forward as a good deed to someone who could use them.

    Thank you Sherardp! You rock! :biggrin:
    Now I understand... See, I thought he had given them away for a
    total opposite way of what you explained...
    Thank you for explaning that.
    Spiktsu
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited August 2011
    Sorry Spiksu, I thought you were just asking questions to muck up a thread or build posts. My sincere apologies.
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  • spiktsu
    spiktsu Posts: 14
    edited August 2011
    It's okay, I'm originally from Brazil, even though I have been living in the States for 11 years now...
    I just never heard that expression before :) now I learned something new.. Thank you :)
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  • spiktsu
    spiktsu Posts: 14
    edited August 2011
    Hey guys! Thank you for all the replies! I wanted to thank everybody here, specially this
    forum.. Thru it I was able to meet "spaceman" and he sold a pair of Spherex Satellites!
    They arrived yesterday! And they rock! And also found a pair of white mirage nanoset on
    ebay brand new for a good price... Shipped from China. Didnt think twice and grabbed that!
    Soon I'd post a picture of my 2 set ups. One in the living room and the other in my bedroom
    Alright guys! ^_^ Later!
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