MidiLand S4 7100 Plus 5.1 Speakers

Final Words

The 7100 Plus system is definitely a step up from its predecessor. The addition of a Dolby Digital decoder brings it fully into the surround sound category as a full package that is ready to go out of the box, instead of needing to shell out cash for additional parts to finish the system off. With that step, it’s important to look at the features and quality of the system, offered at a street price of $299.95.

Most pure surround sound systems, i.e. those that offer only access to the full surround package via encoded digital information, are tailored more to computer based home theatre than gaming. For gamers with four, and now six, channel sound cards, they will not be able to get the full multichannel gaming experience with a solely surround sound system. As the 7100 Plus is designed as such a system, it is shooting towards a more targeted market.

The sound quality on the system is fairly good for reasonable listening levels. As the volume goes up, the bass remains consistent, though it will not shake the room, while the satellites go from being crisp to harsh. For higher intensity listening environments, the system could fall a little short.

The features the system offers are tailored towards sonic adjustment. With a little time, the system can really be brought into its own through tweaking. The graphical interface on the decoder box is very effective at communicating what is going on with the processing. However, all of the features other than power must be accessed via the remote control. There isn’t even a physical volume control, which is a little disappointing. Having to lean back from the desk while working to get line of sight on the remote is a little frustrating, though when sitting back to watch a movie it is a decent feature.

Part of what is interesting to consider is what features aren’t included. Some surround sound systems are now moving towards a more gaming like system while still supporting the Dolby decoding. This allows for both multichannel gaming and DVD playback in full AC-3 mode. As a result, anyone that is doing an extensive amount of gaming might want to consider systems more like the Cambridge SoundWorks DTT 3500, at roughly the same price as this system and with features more designed for gaming.

The overall impression of the system is that while it is a fairly quality sound system, it’s price tag is coming out a little high for what it can and can’t do. It isn’t the highest powered system out on the market, and the satellites are the same ones that come in their 2.1 systems, so the money hasn’t been added into new designs there. The decoder box definitely is a quality piece of equipment other than its dependence on the remote, and constitutes a fair part of the systems value. If the price drops on the system, it’s worth some consideration for those seeking Dolby Digital surround sound with some quality.