Razer is a company that prides itself in designing products for gamers, by gamers. We’ve already seen what Razer is capable of when it comes to crazy computer mice and “gaming surfaces”, but what about something a little more substantial? Well, the speakers that are built into my Dell laptop are pretty anemic at best, so I approached the newly launched Razer Mako THX speakers with completely open arms. And the 2.1 system absolutely blew me away. Yes, they are that good.
First Impressions
Like most other Razer products, the Mako THX 2.1 speaker system comes in a matte black box with a few green highlights and stylized font. Opening up the box, you discover that everything has been packed very carefully, meticulously protected with a styrofoam skeleton.
Diving deeper into the box, I came across at least a couple of pleasant surprises. First, the speakers themselves are highly attractive, boasting a brilliant matte black finish that can be discretely hidden away on your desktop or amongst your home theater components. At the same time, the design is decidedly high-end and any visitor to your home will be drawn to your proudly displayed speakers. They’ll know that they’re expensive just by looking at them.
The speakers themselves are shaped almost like down-turned bowls. Others may say that the speakers look like little black mushrooms (Nintendo fanboys and fangirls probably prefer that analogy). Whatever you think they look like, I think that the Mako speakers look great. The faint Razer logo on the top of each speaker is an especially nice touch. The subwoofer is essentially a larger version of the two satellites, so you get a very “complete” package. Everything fits together perfectly. Oh, and the speakers have been individually protected in foamy bags of their own.
The other significant surprise is the connection configuration for the Razer Mako speaker system. While most systems of this kind make use of standard speaker wire, the Mako actually connects the subwoofer (which also serves as the digital amplifier) to the two satellites via flat CAT5 cables, not unlike those you’d use for your wireless router. In fact, there is a clear note on the provided cables that reminds you not to connect the speakers to your computer’s LAN port.
I wasn’t brave enough to find out what what happen if I were to do that, but I did try using generic Ethernet cables to connect the satellite speakers to the subwoofer. What happens is that the middle section of the control pod starts to blink and no sound is pumped out of the speakers. Looks like they’re using some sort of proprietary solution.
The provided controller, which I will discuss in a moment, also connects to the subwoofer in an interesting way; it’s a VGA/RGB cable. Like the CAT5 speaker cables, there is a warning not to connect the controller to a monitor or your computer’s graphics port.
Technical Specifications
The Razer Mako’s come with an impressive set of features…
- THX-certified quality and performance
- ClassHD™ digital amplifier technology with digital DSP control
- Higher efficiency curves, improved SNR and EMI, and lowered distortion levels
- Patented THX® Ground Plane and THX Slot Speaker™ technologies
- Downward-firing design with optimized acoustic enclosure
- All-in-one remote control pod with touch-sensitive LED dial
- 3.5mm auxiliary input minijack
- 3.5mm headphone minijack
- RCA audio input
- Frequency Range:25-20,000Hz (+/-2.5dB 40-18,000Hz)
- Total system power: 300W RMS
Overall, a laundry list specifications that are most enviable…
Installation and Setup
Getting started with the Mako THX speaker system is a walk in the park. The number of cables can appear to be a little daunting for the uninitiated, but the process is extremely intuitive. If you look at the back of the subwoofer, you’ll find all the connections that you’ll need. Razer even has little pictures to help you out.
Going from left to right, you have the ports for the control pod (VGA-like cable), the 3.5mm stereo input (line 1), the two RCA inputs (line 2), the right and left ports for the satellites (CAT5 cables), the on/off switch, and the port for the power cable. After everything has been connected the way it needs to be, you can place the two satellites on just about any flat surface. The speakers are omni-directional, making use of the flat surface to distribute sound in a 360-degree manner. You don’t need to find a “sweet spot” for placement to get a great aural experience.
From there, you can flip the on switch to give some juice to the subwoofer and amplifier. Then, the center of the control pod will light up dimly and you simply hold this center touch-sensitive “button” to boot it up. Now you have access to 300 watts of pure audio enjoyment.
Touch-Sensitive Controller
Following in the theme of looking good, the Razer Mako comes with a unique touch-sensitive control pod. This is used to control every aspect of your audio system, like adjusting the volume, bass, selecting the input line (there are two), and mute.
Because it has a glossy black finish, like so many other touch-sensitive devices, the top of the control pod can be a bit of a fingerprint magnet. I also found that it wasn’t as responsive as it could have been, but this appears to be an issue with touch-sensitive controllers in general. That’s the price you pay for such a svelte appearance.
There is a rubber “grippy” texture to the bottom of the control pod, ensuring that it doesn’t suddenly go sliding off of your desk. The same grip can be found on the base of each of the speakers; coupled with the distinct weight of the speakers, you can be sure that there is absolutely no “rattle” when you decide to dial up the volume a notch or three.
For added convenience, you’ll find two additional ports on the control pod itself: headphones and line-in. Audio sources connected to this line-in port override anything coming through the two main lines (which are found on the back of the subwoofer). This is evidenced by the blue-lit indicators on the top of the control pod: both the Line 1 and Line 2 indicators turn off when something is connected to the direct line-in.
Performance
All these great looks and added functionality would be meaningless if the $399.99 Razer Mako speaker system didn’t perform in the audio department. Thankfully, it comes through with flying colors and absolutely blows away any other 2.1 system on the market. The omni-directional speakers provide an absolutely crisp and clean sound that is unparalleled in this segment. The subwoofer rumbles and pleases without giving off any unpleasant vibration or rattle. The bass is just strong enough to shiver your heart.
One thing that you should note is that these speakers need to be placed on a flat surface in order to work properly. That’s because they incorporate THX Ground Plane and THX Slot Speaker technologies. The mushroom-shaped speakers actually fire downwards, using the flat speaker as a means to spread the sound. This eliminates distortion caused by the “desk-bounce” phenomenon with normal speakers. In this way, the Mako is much better suited for shelves and desks than it is for speaker stands and mounted on the wall.
Razer worked hard to get the hard-to-attain THX certification, and the resulting quality really shows. There is no way that you are going to appreciate the Razer Mako with slow-moving ballads or daytime talk shows. However, when I decided to pipe Kanye West’s “Stronger” from my iPod, the whole room filled with energy. I was also particularly pleased when I played “Go with the Flow” by the Queens of the Stone Age. Playing Medal of Honor 2: Heroes on my Wii with the Razer Mako was a thoroughly enjoyable experience too. The gunfire is crisp and the foreboding music really set the mood. The Mako easily handles both the highs and the lows.
In terms of numbers, each of the satellites pumps out 50 watts, whereas the subwoofer shakes the room with 200 watts of power. These are RMS figures and not max outputs.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
There is no doubt in my mind that the Razer Mako THX 2.1 speaker system could be the absolute best 2.1 speaker system available on the market today. Because Razer is a very gamer-centric company, I would recommend use of the Mako with your PC, especially if you are into first-person shooters, action-adventure titles, and other games where sound plays a major factor. That said, the THX-ness also makes it thoroughly enjoyable for watching movies and listening to music.
Realistically, there are only two barriers to entry for me when it comes to the Mako. First, it’s not a 5.1 or a 7.1 system, so anyone seeking surround sound may have to look elsewhere. That said, the Mako is versatile enough to be used with just about any audio source, because it handles both standard 3.5mm and dual RCA inputs. Second, the relatively high $399.99 price tag may serve as a deterrent to some potential buyers. It’s a little pricey, but believe me when I say that it’s totally worth it.
The Razer Mako THX 2.1 speaker system, with its beautiful and absolutely smooth sound production, is positively orgasmic. If you’ve got $400 to blow and you’re happy with 2.1, the Mako is the system for you.
Pros
- Absolutely brilliant and clean sound production
- Powerful bass without nasty vibrations or jarring
- Exceptional build quality and high-end appearance without looking gawdy
- Versatile applications: 3.5mm, aux-in, RCA stereo
- THX certified for optimal aural experience
Cons
- Not a 5.1 or 7.1 system
- Price point may deter some buyers
- Touch-sensitive controller can be a little finicky
