While Hercules is better know for making compact DJ consoles, it has been rivalling Altec Lansing, Creative, Logitech et al for several years with its PC speaker sets. The firm's latest product is a high-end piece of kit called the XPS 101.
Hardware & Design: excellent quality
A super-shiny 'piano black' lacquered finish with loads of glossy plastic doesn't get us excited, as it's a sure sign that a manufacturer has used low-quality paints or cheap materials. Thankfully, Hercules hasn't gone down that route with the XPS 101, which is easy on the eye and seems sturdy and well finished. We also like the fact that the satellites' connections and the audio and remote control connections are hidden away are under the subwoofer: now that's discreet! Beware of the subwoofer's cover though, as Lycra isn't the most resistant material.
All the system's controls are on the wired remote, which can be used to adjust the overall volume as well as the bass and treble (see right).
Audio Quality: high-end sound
Launching a high-end speaker set with a high-end price tag is always a gamble for manufacturers, as we're much less tolerant of faults in design, handling or sound output when there's a lot of money at stake.
However, the XPS 101 speakers do a very good job, with an output that's excellent on the whole. Treble is nicely defined and there's no shortage of medium frequencies, in spite of the satellite speakers' compact size. Voices are subject to a slight 'megaphone' effect, but this can be corrected in part by adjusting the treble, or with the equaliser of the computer's sound card.
The subwoofer offers good performances. It reaches pretty low frequencies and doesn't have to prop up the satellites in the lower-mediums. Our only criticism is that its output is a bit drawn-out, increasing the feeling of impact in heavy bass sounds (thumping bass drum, electro music, etc).
On the whole, the sound is clean, sharply defined and correctly positioned on the sound stage.
The Hercules XPS 101 is a nice piece of kit that does its job well. It's well made, easy to use and delivers good-quality sound. A couple of minor flaws cost it a fifth star, but it's still an excellent product.
Hardware & Design: excellent qualityA super-shiny 'piano black' lacquered finish with loads of glossy plastic doesn't get us excited, as it's a sure sign that a manufacturer has used low-quality paints or cheap materials. Thankfully, Hercules hasn't gone down that route with the XPS 101, which is easy on the eye and seems sturdy and well finished. We also like the fact that the satellites' connections and the audio and remote control connections are hidden away are under the subwoofer: now that's discreet! Beware of the subwoofer's cover though, as Lycra isn't the most resistant material.
All the system's controls are on the wired remote, which can be used to adjust the overall volume as well as the bass and treble (see right).
Audio Quality: high-end soundLaunching a high-end speaker set with a high-end price tag is always a gamble for manufacturers, as we're much less tolerant of faults in design, handling or sound output when there's a lot of money at stake.
However, the XPS 101 speakers do a very good job, with an output that's excellent on the whole. Treble is nicely defined and there's no shortage of medium frequencies, in spite of the satellite speakers' compact size. Voices are subject to a slight 'megaphone' effect, but this can be corrected in part by adjusting the treble, or with the equaliser of the computer's sound card.
The subwoofer offers good performances. It reaches pretty low frequencies and doesn't have to prop up the satellites in the lower-mediums. Our only criticism is that its output is a bit drawn-out, increasing the feeling of impact in heavy bass sounds (thumping bass drum, electro music, etc).
On the whole, the sound is clean, sharply defined and correctly positioned on the sound stage.
The Hercules XPS 101 is a nice piece of kit that does its job well. It's well made, easy to use and delivers good-quality sound. A couple of minor flaws cost it a fifth star, but it's still an excellent product.
Pros
- Well made, nice design and finish
- Good sound quality
- Easy to set up and use
- Wired remote
Cons
- Subwoofer sounds a bit drawn out
- Fiddly settings
Conclusion
There are very few high-quality 2.1 speaker sets out there, but the Hercules XPS 101 is definitely one of them. Although it's not perfect, it's still a great choice.
OUR SCORE
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