Hello all!
So, I recently bought some Swan M10 speakers from AudioInsider, after much deliberation. My indecisiveness stemmed from the fact that there is SUCH a lack of reviews/information regarding this speaker system. And so, I figure I should contribute a review!
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Background
First off, I have a limited budget when it comes to personal audio equipment, but I try to search for the best quality I can get within my range. I've been using M-Audio AV30s with my computer for about two years now, so I'll be loosely comparing the M10s to those. I do audio professionally now and then for various theaters and whatnot, so I have an idea of what sounds 'good,' although 'good' is definitely up to personal preference. Anywho, the M10s appealed to me on account of the smaller subwoofer -- I live in an apartment building, and buying a huge sub would simply be discourteous.
Packaging & Unboxing
Well, it was double-boxed with molded styrofoam. In the box there was a gratuitous pamphlet from Hivi, those silly white gloves, and a stereo to RCA cable. It all got here from across the country in one piece, so I guess they did a good job.
The Speakers
Initially, I was surprised at both how light and how small the satellites are. All three of the speakers look very beautiful, and the overall aesthetics are quite appealing, at least for my tastes. All of them have four little rubber feet, which I rather appreciate, as my AV30s were bare on the bottom.
On a somewhat pedantic note, the logo on the sub (upper-left) is neither 'Hivi' nor 'Swans.' When doing the research on these, I thought it was rather strange that there were differences anyways, but this set has a logo I didn't come across. Fortunately, I prefer this one.
Additionally, the fascia is not a matte/plain white (as I expected), but ... sparkly:
Set-Up & Performance
At first, I tried centering the monitor/computer on top of the subwoofer, but it was comically tall. So I opted for this set-up. It works out just fine acoustically and I think it looks great.
As far as performance goes, overall, I'm impressed! Despite their size, these speakers can pack quite a punch, if you so desire. I would describe the sound as open, separated, and clean. The mids and highs are vivid and sound just great. In comparison, the AV30s (which are now connected to the TV and are working brilliantly there) sounded somewhat boxed-in and ... heavy. The Swans bring a certain levity to the music, approaching on bright.
It took a little tinkering with the knobs and EQs to get the subwoofer at a preferred volume. I find this sub works rather well for my applications and is a vast improvement upon my old AV30s. It's no house-shaker by any means, and I wasn't expecting that. It drops off at around 40hz. Above that, I would describe the bass as deep. It's definitely not 'boomy' as with bigger subs, but it's rich nonetheless.
Inertia Creeps by Massive Attack sounds wonderfully complex, Beyonce's voice sounds both refreshing and buttery simultaneously, M.I.A.'s tracks simply shine, and Metallica takes on a new edge.
That said, despite these romanticizations, there are MANY speakers that sound better, much better, than the Swans. However, those speakers also cost hundreds more. For the price, the M10s are a great value. Some will find these speakers underpowered, perhaps even 'thin' sounding. But I say to them, in the best sense, caveat emptor.
All in all, I highly recommend the Swan M10s. Just know what you're looking for.
Happy listening!
^-^
So, I recently bought some Swan M10 speakers from AudioInsider, after much deliberation. My indecisiveness stemmed from the fact that there is SUCH a lack of reviews/information regarding this speaker system. And so, I figure I should contribute a review!
------------------------------------------------
Background
First off, I have a limited budget when it comes to personal audio equipment, but I try to search for the best quality I can get within my range. I've been using M-Audio AV30s with my computer for about two years now, so I'll be loosely comparing the M10s to those. I do audio professionally now and then for various theaters and whatnot, so I have an idea of what sounds 'good,' although 'good' is definitely up to personal preference. Anywho, the M10s appealed to me on account of the smaller subwoofer -- I live in an apartment building, and buying a huge sub would simply be discourteous.
Packaging & Unboxing
Well, it was double-boxed with molded styrofoam. In the box there was a gratuitous pamphlet from Hivi, those silly white gloves, and a stereo to RCA cable. It all got here from across the country in one piece, so I guess they did a good job.
The Speakers
Initially, I was surprised at both how light and how small the satellites are. All three of the speakers look very beautiful, and the overall aesthetics are quite appealing, at least for my tastes. All of them have four little rubber feet, which I rather appreciate, as my AV30s were bare on the bottom.
On a somewhat pedantic note, the logo on the sub (upper-left) is neither 'Hivi' nor 'Swans.' When doing the research on these, I thought it was rather strange that there were differences anyways, but this set has a logo I didn't come across. Fortunately, I prefer this one.
Additionally, the fascia is not a matte/plain white (as I expected), but ... sparkly:
Set-Up & Performance
At first, I tried centering the monitor/computer on top of the subwoofer, but it was comically tall. So I opted for this set-up. It works out just fine acoustically and I think it looks great.
As far as performance goes, overall, I'm impressed! Despite their size, these speakers can pack quite a punch, if you so desire. I would describe the sound as open, separated, and clean. The mids and highs are vivid and sound just great. In comparison, the AV30s (which are now connected to the TV and are working brilliantly there) sounded somewhat boxed-in and ... heavy. The Swans bring a certain levity to the music, approaching on bright.
It took a little tinkering with the knobs and EQs to get the subwoofer at a preferred volume. I find this sub works rather well for my applications and is a vast improvement upon my old AV30s. It's no house-shaker by any means, and I wasn't expecting that. It drops off at around 40hz. Above that, I would describe the bass as deep. It's definitely not 'boomy' as with bigger subs, but it's rich nonetheless.
Inertia Creeps by Massive Attack sounds wonderfully complex, Beyonce's voice sounds both refreshing and buttery simultaneously, M.I.A.'s tracks simply shine, and Metallica takes on a new edge.
That said, despite these romanticizations, there are MANY speakers that sound better, much better, than the Swans. However, those speakers also cost hundreds more. For the price, the M10s are a great value. Some will find these speakers underpowered, perhaps even 'thin' sounding. But I say to them, in the best sense, caveat emptor.
All in all, I highly recommend the Swan M10s. Just know what you're looking for.
Happy listening!
^-^
