TDK Tremor xa60

The TDK Tremor xa60 system is a futuristic-looking set of desktop speakers that packs quite a punch in terms of sound quality--all for a fairly low price.

The Tremors have NXT technology built into the two satellite speakers. TDK claims a larger "sweet spot", which means that users don't have to be seated directly in front of the speakers to hear their full quality. After a full week's use, we can say that we were very impressed with the overall sound quality. Sound levels remained clear and crisp even when we were quite a distance from the unit.

The xa60 system includes two extremely thin and light satellite speakers and a subwoofer that can be placed either horizontally or vertically. The rear of the subwoofer houses colour coded inputs for all wires, which makes the Tremors very easy to set up. Also included on the subwoofer are a headphone jack and LED light on the front and a power switch on the rear. Our gripe with the power switch is its location, and we feel it would have been better on the front of the subwoofer for easier access. Additionally, for those who keep their subwoofer down below on the floor or at the bottom of a computer desk, it will be quite a hassle to reach behind the unit to switch it off all the time.

TDK has included a handy auto-off system, which may solve the above issue to some extent. After several hours of inactivity, the xa60 switches to standby mode.

The subwoofer provides a substantial amount of bass without overpowering the satellite speakers. We couldn't help but feel it probably lacked a little punch, but considering its size and power, it does a good job. The bass level is adjustable via a large dial at the front of the subwoofer, alongside a much smaller dial for treble control. Whether you are playing games or simply listening to music, it is worth spending some time adjusting the bass and treble levels to deliver the best quality sound.