Kenwood is perhaps best known for their home stereo and home theatre equipment. I can still remember my first monster amplifier back in 1975: a 100 watt technophile unit that allowed me some advanced filtering at 32 dbs per octave.

Recently Kenwood has released a multimedia speaker system in addition to a hot new CD ROM that reads at a consistent 40X. I've been testing the 701 multimedia speakers on my back up test system, a PII 300 with 64 meg of SDRam. My primary applications for test purposes have been Falcon 4.0, European Air War, WW2 Fighters and some music CDs.

701 Features and Technical

• Power: 12W + 4W + 4W (RMS 10%)
• Impedance: 4 ohms
• Adapter Output: 12V DC, 2.7A
• Dimensions: Subwoofer: 7.4" W x 10.4" H x 8.7" D
• Satellites: 4.2" W x 9.7" H x 6.3" D
• Weight and size: Subwoofer 4": Approx. 5.7 lbs.
• Satellites 2"x3": Approx. 1.8 lbs.
• Input Power Maximum: 30W Sub, 7W Sat.
• Frequency Response:
• Subwoofer: 40Hz - 75Hz
• Satellite: 75Hz - 20kH

The rated power output of the subwoofer is 30 watts to a 4 inch active woofer. Each of the satellites uses 3 inch full range speakers at 7 watts, and the sys frequence response is 40 Hz to 20 kHz. The subwoofer crossover is at 75 Hz, a bit lower than average. Consider that the Microsoft system crossover is at 180 Hz.

What this means practically speaking is that a lot of the low end is actually produced on your desktop. This is both good and bad, depending on your perspective. On the plus side, you may be surprised at how well you hear the low roar of your engines in EAW. On the down side, if you have any light objects, like pens, lying on a hard desk, you may find them vibrating!

The system is not USB, but instead plugs directly into the output of your sound board. No matter, installation was a cinch and the sound output is clean. Unlike the Microsoft or PCWorks systems, the controls for output reside on the subwoofer. Naturally, if you have the space you can place this thing high instead of low, but most users will place it on the floor, which means that volume and subwoofer output controls are a bit inconvenient to access.

Typically, Kenwood has omitted a headphone jack on the system. To date the only system I've seen that incorporates this feature is the PCWorks FourPoint system.

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Kenwood didn't send me the typical marketing package with this system, so I can't tell you the intricacies of the technology behind it. What I CAN tell you is that the bass is solid and doesn't distort at high volume levels. In addition, in spite of the relatively low power output (30 watts) of the sub, it will lift you off your chair if you crank it up. I don't think it is QUITE as solid at high volume levels as the Microsoft system, but most gamers would find it more than adequate.

As for music, Kenwood has applied their own Sound Retrieval System (SRS) technology. This seems to be an advanced loudness eq type enhancement, increasing primarily volume and midrange. When I engaged the SRS via the button on the sub while running a music CD past 75% volume I could hear some distortion, perhaps a result of the small speaker having to push bass at 75Hz as well as the mid and high range at high volume.

Kenwood is looking into USB technology, and I would bet we can expect a five speaker surround sound system from them sometime in the new year. In the meantime, the 701 Multimedia system could be the answer for you if you don't have need for a high powered PC system.