Founded in 1998, Microlab was created by a group of high-quality sound enthusiasts. Over the next two years, her innovative design skills and experience were recognized by the largest professional speaker manufacturers worldwide. Model by model, the company dictated fashion and standards in the speaker industry. Microlab continues to lead the way in innovative audio products for quality and performance. Does the low-cost FC330 meet the high standards of the company?
First impressions
For a relatively small 2.1 system, the Microlab FC330 speaker box is surprisingly cumbersome, suggesting reliable protection for its contents. The packaging itself is no different from the packaging of other modern electronic devices.
Standard information is printed on one side in many languages, which provides an overview of the key features of the Microlab FC330. On the opposite is a list of contents indicating a specific type of finish.
Opening the lid, you can see that the inner packaging is made in the form of the good old honeycomb cardboard used to transport eggs. Such a solution is a reasonable departure from the industry standard - polystyrene. Polystyrene loses its strength if broken, and cardboard does not crack. According to users, this material is not used enough, although it protects the columns just as well, if not better than conventional materials, especially since it is a product that is 100% recyclable or biodegradable. The instruction manual is at the very top so that it can be quickly read.
After removing the filler, you can see the FC330 itself, each part of which is individually packed in plastic and a layer of super soft foam.
Microlab FC330 Design Overview
The speakers installed and ready to work look great, each component of the set carries a silver logo of the manufacturer, which looks great against the background of the finish of the MDF body imitating wood. There is nothing outlandish. The speakers are very practical and resemble classic home acoustics made of wood. The style is interrupted only once by the integrated master volume control, which also resembles classic models. The front panels of all three speakers are removable, although removing them is a little awkward. In the open state, the speakers look more modern with polished secondary cones, protection for tweeters and the most modern materials that can only be used in speakers, rather than cheap paper.
The weight of the entire system is 7.8 kg.
Subwoofer and amplifier
The sturdy construction and wood finish certainly highlight the Microlab FC330 subwoofer enclosure. The amplifier circuitry provides an output power of 56 W (24 W + 2x16 W), a frequency of 35–20 thousand Hz, and a signal-to-noise ratio of 80 dB. The 5.25 ”speaker is made in the form of a dual magnetic system made of magnetic alloy, the characteristics of which provide fast and structural bass even in conditions of a significant linear stroke of the diffuser. In the manufacture of the subwoofer, technology is applied that allows you to reliably reproduce the bass.
The overall appearance of the subwoofer is of high quality. The finish of the case is also saved under the front cover, which gives out a thoughtful design that allows users to choose between two options for appearance without risk of loss in style. Although speakers with removable panels are not uncommon, those that would look good in different situations are rare, since a bare panel usually looks a bit messy and rude, and in some cases is just so strange that the only suitable place for them would be a command cabin from TV series Star Trek.
The side surfaces have no decorations or accents, providing all its space with a spectacular wooden finish.
The tree is also present on the rear panel, which is not quite standard, and this is nice, because usually lower-grade materials are used here, because who is going to arrange the speakers so that they can be seen from the back? Microlab seems to feel that even the back deserves a first-class look. In the upper part there is an interface (2 input and 2 output RCA), placed on a high-quality plastic panel flush with the wooden surface of the case. The main external radiator is clearly visible from behind - it is incorporated along with the power and input panel.
Here it is impossible not to say that the bass tuning knob is also installed at the rear. Although this is a reasonable idea to prevent accidentally changing settings, it may be too inconvenient if this column is located in a limited space (for example, under a table), which often happens with PC users. The switches, controls and connectors are well marked, soundly made and installed securely. An easily accessible module with replaceable fuses is located just above the power input. A stable position is ensured by four soft rubberized legs that reduce extraneous vibrations.
The dimensions of the subwoofer are 205 x 275 x 250 mm.
Satellites
Microlab FC330 two-way satellite speakers are produced with exactly the same build quality and attention to detail as the subwoofer case, also finished in wood on all sides. There are no wall-mounted devices on the back, which limits the possibility of placement only on a flat surface. This can be a problem for those who have little free space, but the back panel material is thick enough to be drilled for fastening (this is not recommended, but certainly there is such a possibility). As in the case of subwoofer cushioning, there are 4 rubber legs at the bottom, which perfectly perform the damping function.
The kit includes a cable with a 3.5 mm jack for connecting to any device with a standard headphone output. Although the gilded contacts would have looked more solid, its quality is quite high.
The dimensions of the satellite are 110.5 x 132.5 x 195 mm.
Testing
There is no need to talk much about the installation, since it is enough to connect the satellite speakers to the corresponding output ports on the rear panel of the subwoofer, connect the 3.5-mm plugs to the corresponding connectors and connect the speaker system to the headphone output of any existing sound reproduction device.
Darude. Sandstorm
Users who tested the Microlab FC330 2008 speaker system while listening to this composition chose it because it requires powerful bass, and is also rich enough in high frequencies to make the main speakers work out the money spent on them properly. The bass plays very well, but the perception is a little difficult due to the lack of an answer below 50 Hz, although most listeners will not notice this drop, which becomes noticeable at a volume above 80%. Treble frequencies are very clear and precise without significant distortion at high volume.
Metallica One
This track resets bass and most of the mid-range and can be very demanding on speakers, forcing them to quickly change frequency. As a result of the bombardment by the generated sound, many speakers produce very large distortions at maximum volume levels. Users are very pleased that in this model in the middle ranges the distortion is so low that they cannot be heard up to 90% of maximum volume.
Queen I want to break free
Tracks like this, with a large share of synthesizers and serious abuse of high frequencies, can really emphasize some malfunctions in sound systems, consisting in the inability to correctly transmit sounds. This leads to the fact that at high volume, when the top notes begin to sound, the composition will be physically painful to listen to.
According to user reviews, the Microlab FC330 treble range is very, very good, although its power slightly overpowers the bass, if you do not resort to manual bass adjustment. However, a small correction is enough to balance the whole composition.
Advantages and disadvantages
Speakers Microlab FC330 user reviews praised for its high build quality, favorable price, excellent sound, ease of installation and excellent aesthetics. Complaints are caused only by the location of the bass control, which is located on the rear panel of the subwoofer.
Conclusion
The owners are very impressed with the attractive Microlab FC330 system, which has something to offer. The build quality is excellent, and the price (around £ 35-40) is incredibly low for such a clear sound reproduction. The speaker system is a great example of a well-made product that will be an ideal purchase for students, schoolchildren, home office, etc. Of course, these are not the best speakers in the world (and they should not be like that), but they are some of the best that you can Buy for less than £ 50.