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MK Sound cinema speaker package seems
to be a contradiction in terms, especially
since the main front speakers in this
system comprise relatively shallow on-
wall designs.
But before we embark on a sonic journey
to find out just what the MK Sound MP7
speaker system actually sounds like, let’s
acknowledge the specific application of a
system such as this.
In a compact room, with limited floor
space, and little scope for reconfiguration
to suit an AV system installation, the
loudspeakers will have to be compact,
unobtrusive and, ideally, versatile as far
as mounting options are concerned.
No wonder that home theatre sound
standards authority THX has acknowledged
the trend by creating a new certification
programme for compact speakers, designed
specifically to ensure that even this new
generation of relatively small speakers
is able to do realistic justice to the
dynamics and tonal range of a movie
soundtrack.
The THX Compact Speaker System
programme sets a number of key stand-
ards to ensure acceptable performance
by small home theatre speaker systems in
compact rooms (see our panel). Of Note
MK Sound says its MP7 speaker system
is the first to be specifically designed
around the new THX Compact standard,
suggesting that, if used in a room of the
correct proportions, this collection of
small speakers should still deliver the
punch and presence associated with
‘real’ home theatre.
To find out if that’s indeed the case, we
installed the system in our AV Magazine
listening room, which is perhaps a little
bigger than the THX Compact standard
suggests, but not too big to render the
exercise useless.
As provided for review, the system
under discussion here matched three
M7P speakers (in a front left, centre,
right configuration) with two M4-T
tripoles used in a surround sound mode,
while a SB12 subwoofer provided the
bottom-end foundation.
COVER REVIEW
M7P (Left, Right, Centre)
Enclosure type .......................................................... On-wall, infinite baffle
Drive units .................................... 1x 25 mm polymer-coated silk dome tweeter,
1x 100 mm polymer-coated pulp mid/bass
Bi-wiring .......................................................................................... No
Impedance .................................................................................... 4 ohm
Sensitivity .................................................................................. 88,5 dB
Frequency response ................................................... 80 Hz to 20 kHz (± 2 dB)
Power handling ..................................................................... 125 watt RMS
Dimensions (HxWxD) .........................................................540 x 125 x 90 mm
Weight ........................................................................................ 3,6 kg
M4-T (Tripole surround)
Enclosure type .......................................................... On-wall, infinite baffle
Drive units .................................... 1x 25 mm polymer-coated silk dome tweeter,
1x 100 mm polymer-coated pulp mid/bass,
2x 75 mm polymer-coated pulp side-firing midrange
Bi-wiring .......................................................................................... No
Impedance .................................................................................... 4 ohm
Sensitivity .................................................................................. 84,5 dB
Frequency response ............................................................ 100 Hz to 20 kHz
Power handling ........................................................................... 80 watts
Dimensions (HxWxD) ....................................................... 188 x 152 x 171 mm
Weight ........................................................................................ 2,9 kg
SB-12 active subwoofer
Enclosure type ............................................................... Sealed, front-firing
Drive units ....................................................... 1x 300 mm long-throw woofer
Inputs ................................................................................... RCA stereo
Outputs ................................................................................. RCA stereo
Amplifier rating...........................................................................250 watt
Controls ............................................... Phase, level, low-pass (40 Hz – 200 Hz)
Dimensions (HxWxD) ....................................................... 381 x 381 x 438 mm
Weight .......................................................................................20,4 kg
SYSTEM PRICE ............................................................................. R20 000
VERDICT
A big, smoothly integrated and dynamic sound from this compact speaker system
proves that size doesn’t always matter. Truly believable, impactful home theatre.
SUPPLIED BY Signals Home Entertainment
021 703 7114
e-MAIL igshaan@signals.co.za
WEBSITE www.signals.co.za
VITAL STATS
OUR RATING: 86 / 100