Antec soundscience rockus 3D Speaker System

Product Name: rockus 3D Speaker System
Model Number: 0761345730006
Manufacturer: soundscience, a division of Antec, Inc.
Price As Tested: $250 at Amazon, Newegg, or PriceGrabber

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Antec.

Antec has dominated the computer chassis market for more than a decade, and with many of their customers slowly converting to portable platforms it makes good business sense to diversify the product portfolio. Enter soundscience, a subsidiary of Antec, that is dedicated to audiophile-level products for use on multiple platforms. The soundscience rockus 2.1 speaker system features 3Dsst sound technology, which makes use of 3D-audio optimized solid aluminum satellite drivers and an active subwoofer with passive radiator to create an extended low frequency response. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Antec soundscience rockus 3D speaker system against the Logitech Speaker System Z623 and see how well it works for gaming consoles.

Of all the competitive market segments within the computer hardware industry, audio products are one of the most rarefied. Most component manufacturers hit a ceiling when they design multimedia speaker systems, and the barrier is usually product price. It's difficult to market a single-purpose computer speaker system for a premium price tag, especially in an age when earbuds and MP3 music are the standard. So it takes a little vision to overcome these limitations, and design an audio system that works on many platforms, including home theater. This was the approach Antec has taken with their all-lower case soundscience brand, enabling the rockus 3D speaker system to function equally well for PC, gaming console, and home theater equipment.

Long before computers were a part of my life, I was an audio enthusiast. Living near Tokyo (Japan) afforded me the opportunity to experience the best equipment and audio components any audiophile could ask for. Unfortunately, very few consumers appreciate quality sound reproduction, and will often settle for anything that makes noise. In this article, I will share some of my insights with you and investigate the soundscience rockus 3D speaker system. This isn't a review for the uninitiated, because unless you're familiar with band-pass filters or active/passive driver systems, some of the audio terminology could be confusing. I'll do my best to keep you up to speed...

What sets the rockus 3D system apart is it's unique features. There are three primary features that the soundscience rockus 3D speaker system offers:

1. Multiple input sources: digital TosLink, analog RCA, and 3.5mm analog auxiliary audio. This enables functionality with any platform that can connect, from disc players and A/V receivers to PCs and gaming consoles.
2. Active subwoofer unit with passive low-band radiator paired to anodized aluminum satellite speakers. Having the ability to reproduce deep low bass tones without weakening the high's is difficult, but rockus achieves.
3. Remote control pod with full system management. Adjust or mute the volume, and enable 3D mode on the fly.

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