Home : Hardware : Reviews : Razer Mako 2.1 Advanced Desktop Audio System
We stretch the Mako's sonic legs.
When Razer's recent audio hardware descended on our doorstep, we nearly phoned Will Smith. Why? Knowing the actor's extensive encounters with aliens, we'd think he'd offer some insight on how to handle Razer's UFO-shaped speaker set. Luckily, it doesn't take a Man In Black to tell that Razer's Mako 2.1 system delivers some spacious, extraterrestrial sound.
To the unacquainted, Razer develops PC hardware that aims to accommodate gamers - mostly mice and keyboards, but their stab at an audio setup is surprisingly spot-on in the Mako, beginning with beautiful design. The duo of 3.5-by-5.3-inch satellite speakers that flank the 17 pound, big brother subwoofer all sport a orblike, rotund shape that's eye-catching and attractive - their symmetry expresses the system's simplicity and emphasis on sonic substance over style. Grippy pads keep the otherwise smooth, durable plastic in place, while a grill rings around the lower section of each speaker, and it's here that Razer's appealing aesthetic translates into excellent audio.
Where conventional speakers are generally geared to output toward the user or a small area, the Mako integrates THX's Ground Plane and Slot Speaker tech to disperse sound evenly through the room. The grills that encircle the subwoofer and speakers allow sound to exit the system at 360°, meaning speakers can conform to whatever multi-tiered Swedish desk or entertainment center you're housing them in. Elevation of the speakers does affect how you'll hear them (especially over a distance), but otherwise, they're function comfortably in any position you're likely to put them in.
The stipulation to this is the aforementioned Ground Plane tech from THX, which utilizes surface area around the speakers to reflect sound by firing it downward. Razer claims this eliminates any "desk-bounce" distortion as long as you allow six inches of open area around each satellite. Likewise, the subwoofer asks to be near a wall or floor for ideal bass performance. In use, the satellites are dynamic, powerful outputters as long as they're given some breathing room; they sound a shade better on a harder, thicker surface like stable wood that reflects sound cleanly. The satellites push out their share of low tones, too -- more than capable of keeping up with the subwoofer and supplementing it nicely.
