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Micromega MySpeaker with MyAmp Inside

Micromega MySpeaker with MyAmp Inside

Micromega’s ever-expanding “MyRange” of compact and affordable electronics has in just a few short years grown to encompass the MyDac (TAS’ 2012 Product of the Year), MyAmp, MyGroov (you guessed it, a phonostage), and a headphone amp, the MyZic. Still, the French company, known for its full-fledged electronics, realized there was something missing from the overall picture, and created the MySpeaker. Or, for those who desire to bundle the entire, er, MyCaboodle, there’s the MySpeaker/MyAmp Inside—the subject of this review.

At its core the MySpeaker is a conventional compact two-way in a bass-reflex configuration. It’s outfitted with a one-inch soft-dome tweeter sporting an anti-reflective surround and a 5.25″ mid/bass driver. The molded composite cabinet is available in a black satin or white finish. It appears durable to the touch and nicely finished to the eye. Some may look askance at the apparent economy of these enclosure materials but it’s really all about the implementation. Micromega knows this territory. The fact is, there is no consensus on what material necessarily guarantees the best sonic and functional results. I’ve heard great results from materials ranging from marine plywood, MDF, and solid woods to aircraft aluminum and Formula One exotics. They can all work to varying degrees of success.

The reflex port is downward-firing rather than the more typical front- or back-firing. Micromega believes that this not only aids placement options but also offers the smoothest and most linear launch of bass reinforcement into the listening space. To give the port room to breathe, each speaker is fitted with chrome footers that elevate the ported bottom panel. This makes the MySpeaker ideal for bookshelf or tabletop placement, but the user will need to carefully consider speaker stands to ensure the stands’ top plates are big enough to accommodate the woofers. To take the guesswork out of choosing stands, Micromega offers a dedicated stand.

Micromega MySpeaker with MyAmp Inside

Today’s wireless speakers are available in a wide array of configurations. For example, Dynaudio’s Xeo series (see the Xeo 2 review in Issue 270) represents the fully wireless/actively powered school whereby only a pair of power cords are required. On the other hand Audioengine’s HD6 (Issue 262) installs most of the wireless connection electronics and amplification in one speaker that connects to the passive speaker with an umbilical cable. This latter approach, taken by Micromega with the MySpeaker, is less costly but has its own virtues including simplicity of set up. Another of these virtues is a rear-panel switch that allows you to choose left or right placement of the amplified speaker. This is a huge benefit during setup, making it easier to connect source components, or when there’s only one awkwardly located AC outlet.

The active channel contains “the brains of the operation” (the wireless electronics, decoders, and DACs) as well as the MyAmp amplifiers. The MyAmp section is built around a Class AB output stage that delivers 30Wpc into 8 ohms, a figure that commendably doubles into 4 ohms. The amplifier is powered by an advanced resonant-mode power supply, a variation of switch-mode technology that reduces switching losses common to traditional switching supplies. The communication section accepts streams via the ubiquitous aptX Bluetooth module. MySpeaker offers one stereo pair of analog inputs along with coaxial and optical digital inputs. These two digital inputs can accept sampling rates up to 192kHz. The USB input is limited to 96kHz sample rate. A subwoofer output rounds out the connection jacks.

Convenience is a must with speakers of this segment, and the Micromega didn’t disappoint. MySpeaker arrives packaged with a pre-stripped bare wire speaker umbilical to run between the multi-way terminals of the active and passive speakers. Once connected, double-check to make the sure the correct voltage (110V/220V) is selected. Then using the remote control, “pair” your phone or tablet via Bluetooth with MySpeaker. A blue LED flashes to indicate that MySpeaker is pairing with your device. Up to eight devices can be paired. Another nice feature: a rear-panel USB port for recharging handheld devices.

 

Sonically, MySpeaker put on quite a display of solid midbass/midrange dynamics and output. In balance it had a slight forward lean but possessed an openness that was arresting in this price class. Images were depicted with physical weight and dimension rather than as mere cardboard cutouts. Unusual for a speaker of this size, I could discern the actual physical presence of musicians behind the music—a greater realization of the live performance.

Vocals were smooth, and revealed a nice degree of air and lift that enhanced their expressiveness. I would have preferred a hint more chestiness with male singers, baritone sax, or cello, but you’ll hear no real complaints from me on that score. There were traces of vocal sibilance during Holly Cole’s cover of “I Can See Clearly” but in general the tweeter was nicely integrated into the frequency spectrum with only minor hints of localization. This slight discontinuity was most likely due to a small energy dip near the crossover point.

Bass response extended confidently into the fifty-cycle range with little apparent effort. As I listened to tracks from Ray Brown’s Soular Energy and Jen
Chapin’s ReVisions I was able to follow acoustic bass lines with notable timbral accuracy, a tightly controlled attack, and a feeling of room-filling weight. Even big fanfare music like the National Symphonic Winds Winds of War and Peace didn’t ruffle this game little speaker. Still, size matters. Although MySpeaker never shied away from higher sound-pressure levels, it ultimately revealed its econo-roots nature with a little bit of port overhang—a sensation of looseness and over-bloom in the midbass that could mask high-frequency detail. In most smaller settings however, MySpeaker could deliver more than enough low-end impact to satisfy all but the most sadistic head-bangers.


Micromega MySpeaker with MyAmp Inside

One thing I’ve got to say for the MySpeaker: It’s got guts. While it has limits, it doesn’t shrink from orchestral crescendos. It dug into the crunch-groove of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” with plenty of gusto. During the Manhattan Jazz Quintet’s rendition of “Autumn Leaves,” brass transients were swift, and solo piano was reproduced with good note-to-note articulation, although some of the finer elements of ambient information and harmonic air seemed a little squeezed. As one would expect with a loudspeaker of this spec, there was some dynamic compression. But with a few exceptions MySpeaker adeptly handled just about every example of sonic firworks I could throw at it, from Dire Straits’ “Telegraph Road” to the histrionics of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture courtesy of André Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Versatility and convenience define the wireless game. Whether it’s a small den, dorm or desktop, music or TV, Micromega’s MySpeaker/MyAmp excels in this role—happy to perform for one person or an entire Eight Is Enough family. The fact that it’s also a superior sonic performer makes it a complete musical bundle. Micromega’s wireless wonder is a one-outlet winner.

Specs & Pricing

Type: Two-way, powered compact, bass-reflex enclosure
Drivers: 1″ tweeter, 5.25″ driver
Frequency response: 50Hz–20kHz +/- 3dB
Sensitivity (at 1W/1m): 90dB 
Impedance: 4 ohms
Dimensions: 12.4″ x 7.5″ x 12.5″
Weight: 25 lbs./pr.
Power output: 30Wpc into 8 ohms
Price: $999

AUDIO PLUS SERVICES (U.S. Distributor)
156 Lawrence Paquette Industrial Drive
Champlain, NY 12919
(800) 663-9352
audioplusservices.com
micromega.com

Neil Gader

By Neil Gader

My love of music largely predates my enthusiasm for audio. I grew up Los Angeles in a house where music was constantly playing on the stereo (Altecs, if you’re interested). It ranged from my mom listening to hit Broadway musicals to my sister’s early Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Beatles, and Stones LPs, and dad’s constant companions, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. With the British Invasion, I immediately picked up a guitar and took piano lessons and have been playing ever since. Following graduation from UCLA I became a writing member of the Lehman Engel’s BMI Musical Theater Workshops in New York–working in advertising to pay the bills. I’ve co-written bunches of songs, some published, some recorded. In 1995 I co-produced an award-winning short fiction movie that did well on the international film-festival circuit. I was introduced to Harry Pearson in the early 70s by a mutual friend. At that time Harry was still working full-time for Long Island’s Newsday even as he was writing Issue 1 of TAS during his off hours. We struck up a decades-long friendship that ultimately turned into a writing gig that has proved both stimulating and rewarding. In terms of music reproduction, I find myself listening more than ever for the “little” things. Low-level resolving power, dynamic gradients, shadings, timbral color and contrasts. Listening to a lot of vocals and solo piano has always helped me recalibrate and nail down what I’m hearing. Tonal neutrality and presence are important to me but small deviations are not disqualifying. But I am quite sensitive to treble over-reach, and find dry, hyper-detailed systems intriguing but inauthentic compared with the concert-going experience. For me, true musicality conveys the cozy warmth of a room with a fireplace not the icy cold of an igloo. Currently I split my time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Studio City, California with my wife Judi Dickerson, an acting, voice, and dialect coach, along with border collies Ivy and Alfie.

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