The SonicGear system is BEAUTIFUL. Does it perform just as well? Let's see.
First of all, it is a 2.0 system, meaning it consists of two satellite speakers without a subwoofer. It is made of hard plastic, brushed in some areas for better aesthetics, and it is of good quality. The satellites "sit" on foam pads for better support and to absorb possible vibrations. Very practical.
Now, let's talk about the amplifiers. They have built-in digital amplification that "drives" the two speakers (one for each left and right speaker) which are full range, meaning they reproduce the entire range between 20hz and 22Khz (as supported by the manufacturer) without the need for separate units (speakers) and frequency separation filters. Each unit (speaker) for each speaker is 1.5 inches with a maximum RMS power of 3w at 4Ω impedance. The total power for BOTH SPEAKERS is 6W. The sound you will hear from the speakers comes exclusively from one speaker only for each channel (left, right). The other two "speakers" (bass reflection panels, quad bass reflex) located on the two sides of each speaker are NOT active "speakers", they are simply radiators that are tuned with the central ACTIVE unit and mechanically enhance the bass produced by it. They are two membranes made of elastomeric material that vibrate due to the "charge" of the speaker. There are neither two, nor three, nor four speakers in each speaker, there is only one and two radiators. The photo from the inside of one speaker proves this. PERFECT AND SIMPLE. Unfortunately, I am only allowed to upload 5 photos. One of them is with the radiator. The speakers are magnetically shielded to eliminate magnetic interference caused by the magnet and coil they contain, which is very convenient and practical when placing them near devices sensitive to magnetic fields (mobile phones, CRT monitors, mechanical hard drives, other unshielded speakers, defibrillators, wireless devices, etc.).
The system can be connected to ANY device that has a mini jack plug and a USB type A port (any generation, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and type A, the larger one), as it has a 3.5mm stereo mini jack plug for the audio signal and USB for power supply (5v-5.2v) of the digital amplifier that drives the speaker units. The volume can be manually adjusted with a small wheel on the corresponding plastic volume control section. Simple and practical, nothing impressive. Prefer connecting to USB 3.0 for higher power output in amps and even better, connect to a charger with a 1.2A power output for effective reduction of noise (hissing) and coil whine that the system may produce. Normal in this price range.
The sound of the system depends more on the quality of the source it is connected to and less on its own capabilities. Keep in mind that a source with a signal purity exceeding 100db s/n ratio (102, 104, 108, 116, 124) and an output voltage of 1.2v - 1.4v is ideal for the system. For example, If the source is a mobile device with a low output signal from the headphone jack, then the sound will be weak, lacking intensity, dynamics, bass, and will sound distorted (sound from the source) due to the speakers being unable to synchronize the radiators and the speaker cabinet "distorting" the sound. Also, in music tracks with low bit-rate such as some mp3 files at 128bits, the sound will sound shrill and "electronic" with a lack of dynamics and clarity. Especially at high volumes, the sound will have significant harmonic distortion and will sound altered. Laptops, desktop PCs, digital players, devices like iPads, mobile phones, tuners, and any device with a high output signal and clarity will help the SonicGear system perform better.
When connected to a desktop computer with the Asus Xonar D1 sound card (a relatively old sound card with a Signal-to-Noise Ratio of 116db) and FLAC audio files (24BIT/192KHZ), the sound was good. Strong, clear, with good performance in the mid and high frequencies, moderate bass in both performance and range (logical since the speaker units are full range, there is no exclusive low-frequency unit). In some music tracks that use multiple instruments with different frequency ranges, you will notice a loss of separation between the sounds of each instrument, "blurriness" (blurry sound), the sound will be distinctly "artificial". This is logical because a speaker that handles and tries to reproduce the entire frequency spectrum from a single speaker unit, especially of this category, cannot perform as well. However, what impressed me is the stereo imaging of the sound it creates when the speakers are placed at the correct distances from each other (50 centimeters) and at the correct angle from the listening position (each central unit radiating directly towards the listening position). I also recommend, when possible, placing them on a bookshelf or in a location with a wall behind them and on the sides, in order to enhance the bass and allow the sound to "fill" the surrounding space and the listening area. As for the volume in relation to the clarity of the sound, make sure it does not exceed 2/3 of the total from the system's volume control and 8/10 from the source. If you notice that the sound becomes "harsh", irritating to the ears, and distorted, then it is time to lower the volume because the speakers seem to exceed their safe operating limits and distortion begins. Equalization for better sound according to personal preferences is necessary in each corresponding case. Personally, I reduce the mid frequencies and the high frequencies so that the sound is sweeter and less sharp.
The speakers require at least 40 hours of continuous operation at low to medium volumes to break in. Let's not forget that they are primarily a mechanical system and then an electrical-electronic one. The speaker membranes need to soften in order to gain the elasticity that allows them greater forward-backward movement, thus better "driving" and sound performance. Be careful, never have the volume too high as it may cause the membranes to detach and the speaker to lose its sound fidelity. The photos provided in the manufacturer's advertisement palette show clear deviations and do NOT fully correspond to the actual product, as the speaker in each speaker is not in this form of the baffle.
1) Build quality: 7/10
2) Sound: 6.5/10 (bass 5, midrange 8, treble 7, stereo separation 7, imaging 8, dynamics 6, clarity 7)
At a price of €9.00, it is good for the sound it offers and its build quality. I recommend it in the price range from €9.00 to €12. In a higher purchasing cost, skip it!