Midiland s4: MidiLand S4 4060M Review

Specifications
(Courtesy of MidiLand)

RMS
Power

Total:
60W

Satellites: 15W

Subwoofer: 30W

Frequency
Response

Satellites:
180Hz — 20kHz (+/-3dB)

Subwoofer: 20Hz — 180Hz (+/-3dB)

Input
Sensitivity

Not
listed

Drivers

Satellites:
2. 5 inch

Subwoofer: 6.5 inch

S/N
Ratio

>
55dB

Dimensions
(WxHxD)

Satellites:
3.3″ (W) x 3.9″ (H) x 4.2″ (D)

Subwoofer: 8.7″ (W) x 13.4″ (H) x 12.2″ (D)

Control Module: 5.8″ (W) x 1.7″ (H) x 3.1″ (D)

Boom For The Buck: The MidiLand S4 4060 4-Piece
Speakers

Definitely not the new
kid on the block, MidiLand has been manufacturing computer speakers since
1990. The S series, while not new, has a most welcome recent addition: The
S4 4060. Actually a 3-piece rig, the fourth piece isn’t a speaker but rather
a control module; a module that is usually included in systems costing several
times the $99 asking price. While most speaker makers continue with the tried
and true «off white» coloring scheme, MidiLand stuck their collective necks
out—way out, and produced a strikingly good two-tone design. Whether you
appreciate the dramatically improved sound over the MLi series or not, this
S4 setup will make a very bold statement even in the off mode. Thanks to MidiLand
for providing the review sample.

Factory Specifications	The Unit
2-channel, 60 Watt system 6. 5″ Woofer, 2.5″ Tweeters 6-Button Control Module 30 Watt subwoofer, 15 Watts each satellite 100% Magnetic Shielding Wall Mount Capable satellites Signal To Noise: 55dB 150Hz-20KHz satellites and 20Hz-150Hz subwoofer Platallic material for durability and crisp tones	http://www.midiland.com

Description & Specifications

The 4060’s have a great
feature, the control module. It houses 6 buttons and a headphone jack. Yes,
a headphone jack! Sometimes, when I desire to crank the sound full-tilt-boogie
and not disturb anyone else, plugging into the headphone jack saves many a
vocal cord from having to shout, «turn it down. «

The
control module isn’t required to be installed into a blank 5.25″ slot, but
it’s sure convenient to do so—I did. The mute button comes in handy when
the phone rings.
Instead of searching for the volume and turning it all the way off, just smack
a button. The power button is a thing of beauty. When depressed it glows MidiLand
green and also lights the small LED in the control module. Installation
was so simple that I didn’t bother looking at the directions. All the wiring
is included and the package is very extensive judging by the picture. If you
are familiar with CD-ROM or hard drive installation, this S4 setup won’t pose
any challenge whatsoever.

Objective Measurements

These
measurements are completed without any bias whatsoever, hence the term «objective.»
I simply love to snoop around inside anything that I can open with a screwdriver.
Upon removing the rear connector panel, I spied a mark of quality—a rubber
seal. This seal will keep the metal cover from buzzing at high volumes just
like the MLi-490’s sub cabinet did.
The internal amplifiers
are a pair of Philips OM8383S dip units that MidiLand also uses in the MLi-490.
The AC filter cap is rated at 6800uF @ 35 volts DC. The sit-on-the-floor AC
transformer is a hefty unit, weighting in at 14.5 VAC @ 3.5 Amps. This equates
to a smidgen over 50 watts at full load. Don’t drop this piece on your foot.

Rated R.M.S. Power
Output

MidiLand
claims 30 watts for the sub and 15 watts for each satellite. While I wasn’t
able to find any info on Philip’s website (I usually can), I can make estimates
for power output. One of these days, I’m going get a hold of that elusive
OM8383S pdf spec sheet. In any case, the no load voltage across the filter
capacitor was 14.9 volts DC and the full load voltage dropped to 12.5 volts.
Using those numbers and assuming a 4-Ohm load of the subwoofer, this would
give a maximum
short-term (say 100mS) peak output of 27. 8 watts and a RMS output of 19.5
watts. This is well below rated specs; however, I may not have all the relevant
info regarding the output design, so take these numbers for what they are,
educated guesses.

The
satellites were even more perplexing to measure. Rated at two, that’s right
two Ohms, I was skeptical of 15-watt outputs to each unit. Sure enough, I
measured 3.64 VAC RMS at clipping at a frequency of 1KHz. Next, I measured
AC current and arrived with a number of 900mA. Using E=IR, where E=voltage,
I=Current and R=Resistance, I calculated an impedance of 4.04 Ohms at 1KHz.
A quick check at 4KHz revealed a 4-Ohm impedance as well. If these are 4-Ohm
units, the calculated power is only 3.3 watts; if these were 2-Ohm units,
then it would be 6.6 watts.

Miscellaneous
Measurements

The signal
to noise is rated at 55dB but my measurements were significantly better. Relative
to 1 watt into 2 Ohms (1.41 volts), the unweighted S/N was 63dB. The maximum
attainable dynamic range relative to maximum output (3.64 volts), calculates
to just over 71 dB, which correlated to what was heard in the listening tests.

The crossover frequency,
the point at which the sub stops producing sound and the satellites take over,
measured a low 190Hz. This is a very low figure for satellites so small (2.5″)
as other 3″ units usually crossover at 150Hz or higher. The
maximum undistorted SPL (Sound Pressure Level) was 102dB from the satellites
and 106dB from the sub box at a distance of 18 inches. The sub was in a corner
position, where three walls meet. Hence, the total undistorted output from
the combo slightly exceeded 106dB.

Frequency
response

The subwoofer
had the lowest cutoff ever measured or heard. The -3dB point relative to 100Hz
is 43Hz and the -6dB point is 40Hz. The sub will produce the lowest bass notes
available from a 6.5″ driver. The highs extended well beyond 14KHz from the
satellites. They will have a significantly better output in the highest hearable
octave (10-20KHz) than all other units in its price class.

Subjective
Listening Tests

After
installing the control module and positioning the subwoofer where my old Altec
Lansing ACS-48 sub was, I was promptly kicked off the computer so the wife
could complete her regularly scheduled email spamming session. I moseyed upstairs
to fiddle and 10 minutes later I felt my feet start to buzz for no apparent
reason. Then the townhouse shook with the bass line from Mission Impossible,
a midi file that she had downloaded and was trying to hear. Keep in mind that
the sub was placed at the intersection of three walls, which gives a theoretical
bass boost of 18dB, peaking in the 100Hz range. Sweet—big, fat, round bass
notes to soothe the savageer, they sounded awfully good. And that body shaking
bass was clean, clear and flat—the control module’s knobs were all at their
center detent position (except the volume knob).

Moving on
to classical, dance, rock, pop and of course, 3D gaming tunes, proved to be
a very
pleasant experience. Once in a while, I even cranked up the boom knob to see
how far I could make my pants leg flap. The bass had a very slight «one note»
sound. The woofer’s «Q» or damping was much looser (above the target 0.707)
than the entire Altec Lansing lineup. This gives the bass an easy, forgiving
sound and considering that most sound cards sound much harsher than my reference
SB Live!, this trait will be a plus across the board for the vast majority
of users. I kept thinking, these jobs are worth at least $125 green backs,
but MidiLand doesn’t charge that much.

The satellites
are the first I’ve ever heard that reproduce acceptable quality and quantity
from a single (tweeter-less) driver. For once, I didn’t eagerly desire to
go back to my beloved 48’s. That says a lot. I would still prefer a tweeter,
but unless you’re a persnickety audiophile like me, you won’t notice the absence
of a small screecher. Cymbals and human sibilance were reproduced at a level
that is unheard of in this price class. This should equate to great high frequencies
for MidiLand’s more expensive S4 lineup if they use the same midrange driver.
If you’re particularly sensitive to hiss, the 4060’s do have some. Even with
the volume knob turned down and the mute depressed, a slight noise emanates
from the satellites at all times. Most of the time, I never noticed and besides,
if you don’t like a little hiss, put some tunes on—that will cover it up.

Conclusion

There comes
a time when a reviewer must update his or her gear and the S4 4060’s will
be staying put for an «extended» listening period. For the asking price of
just under a C-note, the four-piece setup does a best in class job of reproducing
a long-term listenable sound. For those bass freaks out there, you will be
amazed at what the sub can do. The lack of tweeters that I usually harp about
is hardly a cause to not pick up a set as highs are almost perfectly reproduced
in the 10-20KHz range. When MidiLand saturates the market more with these
babies, I could conceive a web price of under $90 and at that price, they
would be the best two-channel rig you could buy. A very enthusiastic recommendation!

William
Yaple
03/14/00

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