There isn’t a scarcity of desktop audio system on the market, connecting to your laptop computer in quite a lot of methods. The issue is that all of them look the identical – a type of picket field, with a entrance fascia that may be eliminated to see a pair of drivers beneath.
The ECLIPSE TD307 MK3 audio system usually are not just like the others. They’re a pair of audio system that look extra like one thing you may see zooming down from house in an episode of the X-Information, with some smooth enclosures and candy little driver covers on the entrance. Additionally they occur to sound actually actually good, in the event you hook them as much as the right {hardware}.
Tammy loves excessive finish audio, be {that a} pair of audio system or tremendous cool pairs of costly headphones. She’s reviewed the likes of the Nothing Ear (2), all the best way as much as the mega costly and ridiculously good Meze Empyreans. She exams gear each in a HiFi and a desktop setting, ensuring to get the very best out of the equipment in query.
ECLIPSE TD307 MK3: Worth and availability
They gained’t be out there from the same old sources, so as a substitute you’ll have to take a look at extra devoted HiFi retailers, akin to Richer Sounds (opens in new tab) within the UK, to seek out them. Once you do discover them, you pay $300/£300 per speaker, thereby shopping for them individually. There may be extra details about inventory on the ECLIPSE web site (opens in new tab).
This locations these pair of audio system within the $600/£600 vary, making them a reasonably costly choice. If you wish to get the very best out of them although, you’re going to should spend just a little extra on a desktop amp and even perhaps a desktop DAC – these needn’t be too costly, however they nonetheless add to the monetary outlay. They are not low-cost, however they’re greater than price it.
ECLIPSE TD307 MK3: What I favored
I really feel I must reiterate how cool these audio system look. They’re sat on a smooth stand that’s the identical colour because the speaker itself, with a steel arm jutting out like an airplane mannequin on show. The audio system themselves appear like teardrop-shaped spaceships, conjuring photos of sci-fi from the Fifties and the cartoon present The Jetsons. Actually, that is in all probability the easiest way to take a look at them – these are how the individuals of the previous thought that audio system would look sooner or later, with smooth strains and compact measurement.
And compact they’re – they’re round 212mm excessive, and solely 135mm large. They’ll simply match onto any desk, both subsequent to a laptop computer or beneath a raised monitor. They’re tremendous adjustable too, with these arms that droop the audio system within the air having tightening pivot factors on the prime with the intention to change the place they’re going through with out having to maneuver the bottom round.
When you’ve discovered the right spot for these flat bases, you needn’t fear about rearranging your desk. That’s good as a result of so as to get the very best out of them you’re going to should fiddle round with their positioning – however extra on that later.
They’re tremendous adjustable too, with these arms that droop the audio system within the air having tightening pivot factors on the prime with the intention to change the place they’re going through with out having to maneuver the bottom round.
As soon as they’re properly positioned, you will get began. They hook up with easy speaker connectors – the crimson plug goes to the crimson socket in your amp, and vice versa for the black one. Play some music, and also you’ll discover the sheer quantity of element on show right here.
It’s a stunner, and also you’ll hear all of the small aspects of the music you’re listening to. For instance, the conductor shuffles their notes between items, with musicians discovering extra comfy seats in quiet sections, with the scrape of a bow on violin strings. It is stirring and brings new life to music you might need in any other case thought you knew properly.
After all, that element is available in completely when listening to one thing like Gershwins Rhapsody in Blue. The primary slide of the saxophone crooning because the orchestra picks up, the piano delicately picked out notice for notice. The muted trumpet raspy because the participant hits his keys. Such element would normally make issues analytical and just a little ‘boring’, however the mid-range punch as a substitute permits for a extra participating hear. They’re not a ‘reference’, so that they’re pleasing to the ear.
The readability of the excessive register and higher mids comes into its personal when listening to feminine vocals, and nothing like Myrkurs Gudernes Vilje highlights this higher. The opening of the observe dominated by Bruun’s echoing vocals surrounds you want a haunting Scandinavian mist, giving strategy to the punch of the strings. It’s an attractive, terrifying expertise, and the ECLIPSE, when arrange correctly, smothers you from all sides in a blanket of sound, layer upon layer of harmonized voices picked out with outstanding precision for a tear-rending sonic efficiency.
Whereas I discovered the ECLIPSE at their strongest with extra atmospheric music, they’re proficient in making different kinds sound nice. Excessive Contrasts Racing Inexperienced strikes alongside at tempo, the drums and melody protecting you shifting. The ECLIPSE audio system emphasize the house within the recording, placing you in a membership room circa 2004, with a wonderful soundstage. Once more, when you’ve acquired them arrange proper, these ECLIPSE audio system are downright magical of their skill to put you on a soundstage.
Whereas I discovered the ECLIPSE at their strongest with extra atmospheric music, they’re proficient in making different kinds sound nice.
Nevertheless, watch a film at your desk with them and also you gained’t be disillusioned both, though you may want for just a little extra bass. Dialogue sounds superb, and the stereo imaging places it in simply the appropriate place. They’d make for chic encompass audio system as properly in the event you don’t thoughts your house cinema not matching in regard to the producer.
ECLIPSE TD307 MK3: What I didn’t like
As I’ve repeatedly eluded to, the ECLIPSE are a fussy speaker to get positioned completely proper. Get them mistaken, they usually gained’t sound dangerous, however you’ll surprise why you spent a lot cash on them. They have to be positioned with what’s often known as a slight ‘toe-in’. You’re going to need the drivers within the entrance pointing in direction of your head with the intention to get the complete good thing about their soundstage and sonic proficiency. When you’ve acquired all of them set as much as your regular desk sitting place, nonetheless, you gained’t have to the touch them once more, they usually’ll keep precisely the place you place them with that tightening pivot on the prime of the stand.
The one place you may discover them missing is within the decrease frequencies and the bass extension. I fairly prefer it – however when listening to some music you possibly can discover it. For instance, enjoying a film, explosions lack oomph, or bass strains in dance music that battle to be extra ahead within the combine. What bass is there may be tight, managed, and tremendous dynamic, however there’s not a lot of it. It’s no shock, given their measurement and form – but it surely’s there, and price noting.
The bass is tight, managed, and tremendous dynamic, however there’s not a lot of it.
Lastly, you’re going to wish to make at the least one additional funding in these audio system earlier than you possibly can plug them into your MacBook. These are passive desktop audio system, so there isn’t any built-in DAC or Amp – you’re going to wish to offer your personal earlier than you will get going.
I used the Chord Anni, a $1000/£1000 desktop amp that additionally must be plugged right into a desktop DAC earlier than the music begins popping out. That honor went to the Chord Mojo, a $400/£400 machine that converts the tracks to an analog sign that the amp can ship to the audio system.
You could possibly skip the DAC on this setup, and plug the headphone output from the Mac into the amp, however I needed to present the audio system each likelihood they may get. You additionally needn’t spend over $1000 on gear to get these to sound good.
Plug them right into a small desktop amp that can set you again extra like $100, and also you’ll nonetheless be good to go. instance is likely to be one thing from Schiit, which makes cheaper desktop HiFi gear. No matter occurs, you possibly can’t simply jam a speaker cable into your MacBook Professional and hope for the very best.
ECLIPSE TD307 MK3: Competitors
There are some nice choices on the market that value rather less than these and have the flexibility to connect with your Mac via Bluetooth or a wire with out the necessity for a separate amp.
We actually favored the M20 HD from Qacoustics, a really good pair of picket audio system that stun with wonderful sound high quality. They don’t fairly have the element and separation that these do, however they’re nonetheless a wonderful different.
ECLIPSE TD307 MK3: Must you purchase these?
You should purchase these if:
- You need wonderful sound in your desk
- You need one thing that appears like a sculpture
- You’re invested in desk HiFi
You shouldn’t purchase these if:
- You need powered audio system
- By extension, you don’t need to purchase any additional gear
- You’re actually into Michael Bay motion pictures, and love bass
ECLIPSE TD307 MK3: Verdict
The ECLIPSE TD307 MK3 are going to require some additional fine details earlier than you possibly can get pleasure from them – however upon getting all of them arrange, get pleasure from them you absolutely will. They sound gorgeous, with particular consideration given to Classical music and feminine vocals. Additionally they look unbelievable, actually setting off a desk setup with their otherworldly appears.
They is likely to be missing just a little within the bass, so motion motion pictures and dance music may not be fairly as particular sounding as different purposes, however you’ll nonetheless discover an unbelievable pair of audio system to place in your desk.
UFO audio system that aren’t from Mars
The ECLIPSE are a few of the best-sounding desktop audio system, however they do require just a little additional effort to get them at their greatest. When you’ve made that funding, nonetheless, you’ll have some excellent-sounding music at your desk.
