Rating: 
Summary: Monsoon's effort to get high end audio to common users
Review: I currently own multimedia speakers made by Monsoon (planar media 9) I own the mm-502 series. These speakers although relitively low powerer at only aboout 16 watts (rms) per speaker, have an impressive spl level of 99 db. I do like some of the other competition such as klipsch, logitech etc., but none of the speakers i have tested compare to these.
If you like slamming overly booming bass these speakers are not for you. If you like bass that blends in well with the rest of the audio than these speakers are for you.
I want to mention that these speakers really must be posistioned correctly to give the best performance. Meaning do not put your subwoffer any where but in between the satalites. This goes for all mutimedia speakers with no exception. The sub's on multimedia speakers are usually crossed over at around 100-200 hz. Must sub base is nondirection i'd say anything below 70 hz or so. Since these speakers produce sound from 200 hz and lower they are very directional. Meaning if you put it off to the right your soundstage will pull to the right. Not good for accurate soundstaging. Which by the way these monsoons have. They accurately produce a soundstage, i'd say better than it's comp.As far as bass and treble controls know this. If a speaker is designed correctly there should be no need for treble controls and the bass controll should only be used to blend the volume of you subwoofer so it seemlessly integrates with the satalites. The reason why the add bass control is to allow you to compensate for different envirements that the subwoofer may reside. That said here's a breakdown. pros: Very accurate soundstage. High quality sound. Planar transducers produce very clean accurate treble. The model I own MM-502 Has a combo planar transducer and midrange speaker this simply produces slightly better mid range than the Planar Media 9 speakers I am reviewing They can play loud. Great set of controlls on this model Reproduce very clean accurate bass (when adjusted correctly) cons: Not Quite as good reproducing mid-range frequencies as previous models. Can't compete with other company's overall stomping bass (if that's your preference)certainly not mine. It cost far less than it's competitors (no wait thats a pro) Well that's it, Just buy them at half the cost of worhty competitors it should be a no brainer (unless you're a overly saturated bass supporter).
Rating:
Summary: Very good value for the money
Review: I got the Monsoon Planar Media 9 (PM-9) setup to replace an old Altec Lansing ACS-31 2.1 system on my home computer. I only have room for a 2.1 system; the PM-9s have been a good upgrade for me. I don't claim to be an audiophile. I like my music to sound good, but spending beaux coup bucks on top end sound has never been high on my priority list. "Good enough," for a decent price, has been what I've looked for, and the PM-9s fill the bill. With tonal quality set neutral via the computer sound properties and remote settings, the treble is clear without getting harsh at high volume levels and the bass is tight -- plenty of thump, but not "boomy," which I can't stand. The system makes a good illusion of the bass coming from the satellites, and the sound stage is well defined and reasonably wide for a desktop system. There does seem to be a small bit of emphasis, maybe around 500Hz, that is not just like what I want to hear. What the PM-9s put out may actually be closer to a flat response, but it's not totally what I "like." A slight cut at 500Hz per the Windows Media Player EQ improves things, especially for male vocals. But overall, the sound is a great improvement. Comparing the sound from the PM-9s to our current home sound setup, I like the home system just a bit better. But that uses much larger 3-way speakers, which are running off a 10-band EQ, with the sound adjusted to what I like. Now that I've heard the PM-9s, the ACS-31s are just about unlistenable to me -- no amount of playing with bass and treble render them clear enough to compare well with the PM-9s -- and the ACS-31s, adjusted for inflation, would be higher cost today. The power transformer in the sub unit makes a low hum when running, which I notice sometimes during silences between tracks. But normally it's not noticeable over the computer fan noises, and cuts out when the "mute" switch is pressed on the remote (the main power switch is on the back of the sub). The remote is nice, and has a headphone jack in it (there is noticeable hiss at low volume levels -- the hiss seems independent of volume level, which becomes not-objectionable at higher volume levels when music is playing, when listening with my Sennheiser HD-280 Pro headphones through this jack). Sub adjustment is on the remote, and allows plenty of bass emphasis away from the neutral setting. The PM-9 has a single line input (which under normal circumstances is plenty, but the ACS-31 had two line inputs -- useful for adding a portable unit on occasion). Hope my ramblings will help somebody's decision. These are worth a listen.
Rating:
Summary: Great Computer Speakers
Review: I took a chance on theses and couldn't be happier. The sound is full regardless of what I'm listening to and I love the remote with volume, mute, and bass. For less than [money] it's a steal.
Rating:
Summary: Great Computer Speakers
Review: I took a chance on theses and couldn't be happier. The sound is full regardless of what I'm listening to and I love the remote with volume, mute, and bass. For less than [money] it's a steal.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent speakers!
Review: I'm no audiophile, but these speakers sound great. I love the bass, and the 19 watt speakers go very very loud, just off of my PC. The remote is a nice thing, although a longer cord would have been appreciated. These things are very thin. The sub is big and heavy, as it incorporates the power supply as well. I love the look, and the fact that they play through the back and front. Really cool. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Monsoon is the best!!
Review: I've looked for a good set of P.C. speakers for a long time. I checked through multiple different sites and stores and Amazon has the best deal by far. These speakers are the best you can buy for under $... I've tried Altec Lansing, Logitech, and various other brands and they don't compare to the Monsoon PM9 system. Great all around sound with a great sub woofer. My house is rocking everyday now! Buy these if you want your money worth!!
Rating: 
Summary: Go for PlanarMedia 14
Review: Indeed, PlanarMedia 9 provides great flat panel speakers. I suggest you spend a little extra to get the PlanarMedia 14, which will give you much better performance.
Rating:
Summary: Get these cheap before they're gone!!
Review: More and more I have been using my PC as a home entertainment system. I don't really watch TV, but I love movies and listen to a lot of music. I am also a musician and have been experimenting with electronic music creation software. Being on a limited budget and not wanting to invest in a 5.1 yet, I started looking at quality 2.1's. These speakers are being phased out and I just picked up the last set at my local circuit city for [cheap]. I feel like the cat that ate the canary!! I had no idea flat panel technology was so good. These things are absolutely amazing. If you are looking for a 2.1 set and don't want to spend the big bucks, look no further. Don't even worry about it, these things rock. Remote has headphone jack on it (great design) and separate bass volume (great for apartment dwellers like me that want to be considerate to the downstairs neighbors.) Also the wattage on these things is twice what I was finding on comparably priced sets. Anyway, I'm pleased...They are PC speakers, so if you know what you are shopping for don't waste anymore time reviewing, ...
Rating:
Summary: Get these cheap before they're gone!!
Review: More and more I have been using my PC as a home entertainment system. I don't really watch TV, but I love movies and listen to a lot of music. I am also a musician and have been experimenting with electronic music creation software. Being on a limited budget and not wanting to invest in a 5.1 yet, I started looking at quality 2.1's. These speakers are being phased out and I just picked up the last set at my local circuit city for [cheap]. I feel like the cat that ate the canary!! I had no idea flat panel technology was so good. These things are absolutely amazing. If you are looking for a 2.1 set and don't want to spend the big bucks, look no further. Don't even worry about it, these things rock. Remote has headphone jack on it (great design) and separate bass volume (great for apartment dwellers like me that want to be considerate to the downstairs neighbors.) Also the wattage on these things is twice what I was finding on comparably priced sets. Anyway, I'm pleased...They are PC speakers, so if you know what you are shopping for don't waste anymore time reviewing, ...
Rating:
Summary: Planar Media 9 - Wonderful Speakers!
Review: PROS
Wonderful sound, loud without distortion, strong tight bass, quality construction, re-designed controls. CONS
No treble control. SUMMARY
The PM-9 speakers have clean sound, tight bass and very high volume capability. I believe they are as good as the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 at just half the cost. Very highly recommended! FULL REVIEW
I've had these speakers for a month and have used them daily. I loved them from the start and the feeling hasn't changed. I purchased these speakers to use for watching DVD's on my computer. I intentionally chose not to buy a surround speaker set because I'm in an RV with limited space. These speakers are well built and have a very unique look. But their real strength is THE SOUND!!! I haven't found any weaknesses. The bass is never muddy. It can be cranked without distortion. The mids are strong and the highs are pure. The overall balance of sound is, in my opinion, just about perfect. I just finished watching my T2 DVD with the volume loud and the bass boosted. No distortion - no regrets. At first I didn't think I'd like having the controls on a separate wired remote (my last speakers had controls on the right speaker). But now that I've used a remote for a month, I actually prefer it. And this particular remote is EXCELLENT. It contains volume, bass and mute. I wish it had treble, but that seems to be left off a lot of computer speakers these days. The volume control is large and easy to control. The feel as it moves is perfectly fluid. The bass control has a distinct center detent and plenty adjustability. It can add some serious kick to the bass! The mute button can be used as an on/off button (the actual on/off is on the back of the subwoofer). The remote also has a headphone jack which too many computer speakers are missing these days. For those of you looking for digital input, this speaker set has it. However, I don't use it so cannot comment on it. I spent over two weeks auditioning computer speakers in various stores and at friend's houses. The only other speakers I liked as well were the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1. In my opinion, the Planar Media 9 speakers sounded every bit as good as the Klipsch, but for only half the price. EASY DECISION! My advice - BUY THESE SPEAKERS!
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