Micro-Satellite Speakers
Do you really like the small stuff? Didn't think so
Micro-Satellite speakers are very small speakers designed for the front left and right, center surround channels. Usually the driver inside the micro-satellite includes a tweeter that might be an inch or so in diameter. The lowest frequencies might come from a driver under 3", this makes it a midrange at best. A micro-satellite system is heavily dependent on a subwoofer for the rest of the frequency range that it cannot fulfill.
The micro speaker set is particularly popular in this current digital audio age because of the sheer number of speakers required for a Home Theater system. The biggest reason for small satellite speakers is what we call spousal approval factor. Since most homes are shared by an entire family, it's usually only one member who wants to fill the biggest room with speakers, and a spouse who can take it or leave it. Spousal approval factor is what you get from tiny speakers you barely notice are in the room until the sound kicks in.
Unfortunately regardless of marketing hype, you can only get decent frequency response from micro-satellite speaker systems in a very small room. Because speakers move air to produce sound there is only a finite of sound that will be moved with tiny drivers found inside a tiny speaker. This will mean reduced dramatic impact of a soundtrack when they're used in too large a room.
There are ways sound is augmented or processed using clever digital signal processes (DSP) settings. These are usually employed by receiver manufacturers in an effort to compensate for speakers that are too small for the room, or to mask the fact that the speakers are just garbage in the first place. The thinking with most DSP settings and also with poor quality speakers, is that if your speakers boost the 200Hz range you mask the speakers inability to dip down into sub 100Hz territory. These are found in processes like SRS and WOW.
Speakers whose specifications rate them at 50Hz can usually only reach this frequency in a lab environment and shouldn't be taken seriously from a satellite speaker. They're not going to reproduce sub 100Hz frequencies at volumes to keep up with the rest of the frequencies they'll be reproducing. You'll need a sub for those tones. DSP settings designed to mask a speaker's inadequacy are best turned off. They can be fun to experiment with if you're into playing with available switches and dials while you do some serious critical listening.
If you've got a small room to fill with sound roughly the size of a bedroom or a dorm, you'll have very little trouble staying inside a modest budget with a complete micro-satellite system. There are complete 5.1 speaker systems you can buy for under $500 that will get you by with good sound. A budget up to $1000 will move you into some really nice sounding micro-satellite speaker systems. Micro satellite systems that have garnered respect in the industry are by Energy, Athena, and Hsu Ventriloquist series. These are all very affordable and will fill a smaller room with high end sound. Avoid Sony speakers. One search on Google on "micro satellite speakers" and Sony's are practically shoved down your throat. This is indicative of high profit margins from retailers. Sony makes very reliable products, but you won't find high end Sony speakers.
Speaker companies are interesting in the world of fine audio. The best sounding speakers are made by dedicated speaker companies because of the unique skill sets required to create fine speakers. Manufacturing a good quality speaker is a closer relative of producing a fine woodwind instrument than it is manufacturing a TV set. Sony makes fine TV sets. Another speaker manufacturer famous for micro-satellites is Bose. Bose is a controversial name in speakers, some people love them but most experienced speaker aficionados will tell you that Bose products are over priced for what you get and made with poor materials. It's always best to shop around, trust your own ears when auditioning speakers. It's always best to give at least three similarly priced speaker systems a listen before making your decision.
