Antec has set up a new division just for audio products called SoundScience, and are offering a 2.1 speaker system designed to emulate the personal theater experience — the all-new SoundScience Rockus — using phased 3D sound together with the clarity of hi-fi audio in a small package. Featuring a dedicated music mode for “organic” stereo sound reproduction as well as its default “3D” mode ideal for movies and gaming, the anodized aluminum satellites and powerful sub-woofer combine to give the listener crisp highs, spacious middles and deep, visceral bass.
Base of the system is a tall, 100W subwoofer, which uses passive radiator technology to give a much larger bass sound that would normally require bulkier subwoofers. The system features both analog and optical connectivity and a remote-control pod for volume adjustment, mode selection, muting and input selection. Complementing the commanding subwoofer are two satellites made from aluminum which reduces distortion caused by enclosure vibration or rattling, making midrange and high-range sounds clearer.
In music mode, SoundScience’s 3D audio technology is turned off, allowing for pure reproduction. For games and movies, however, the 3Dsst employs a suite of digital signal processing techniques to analyze sound signals and intelligently place them in a 3D sound field, adding an immersive quality. Frequency response on this 150W total output system ranges from 10Hz to 20kHz.
The SoundScience Rockus 3D 2.1 speaker system is available now from the company’s website, or Amazon.com or Fry’s Electronics, comes with a 2-year limited warranty, and retails for $249.99.
