There is no such thing as 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 form of picket field, with a entrance fascia that may be eliminated to see a pair of drivers beneath.
The ECLIPSE TD307 MK3 audio system aren’t just like the others. They’re a pair of audio system that look extra like one thing you would possibly 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, should you hook them as much as the proper {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 checks gear each in a HiFi and a desktop setting, ensuring to get the most effective out of the equipment in query.
ECLIPSE TD307 MK3: Worth and availability
They gained’t be accessible from the same old sources, so as an alternative you’ll have to take a look at extra devoted HiFi retailers, resembling Richer Sounds (opens in new tab) within the UK, to seek out them. If 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 possibility. If you wish to get the most effective out of them although, you’re going to should spend a little bit 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 don’t seem to be low cost, however they’re greater than price it.
ECLIPSE TD307 MK3: What I preferred
I really feel I have to 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 metallic arm jutting out like an airplane mannequin on show. The audio system themselves appear like teardrop-shaped spaceships, conjuring photographs of sci-fi from the Nineteen Fifties and the cartoon present The Jetsons. Actually, that is in all probability one of the simplest ways 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 vast. They’ll simply match onto any desk, both subsequent to a laptop computer or underneath 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 high as a way to change the place they’re dealing with with out having to maneuver the bottom round.
When you’ve discovered the proper spot for these flat bases, you needn’t fear about rearranging your desk. That’s good as a result of as a way to get the most effective 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 high as a way to change the place they’re dealing with with out having to maneuver the bottom round.
As soon as they’re nicely positioned, you may 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 snug 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 nicely.
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 often make issues analytical and a little bit ‘boring’, however the mid-range punch as an alternative permits for a extra partaking pay attention. They’re not a ‘reference’, in order 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 monitor dominated by Bruun’s echoing vocals surrounds you want a haunting Scandinavian mist, giving method to the punch of the strings. It’s a phenomenal, 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 types sound nice. Excessive Contrasts Racing Inexperienced strikes alongside at tempo, the drums and melody retaining you transferring. 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 capability to position you on a soundstage.
Whereas I discovered the ECLIPSE at their strongest with extra atmospheric music, they’re proficient in making different types sound nice.
Nonetheless, watch a film at your desk with them and also you gained’t be dissatisfied both, though you would possibly want for a little bit extra bass. Dialogue sounds superb, and the stereo imaging places it in simply the precise place. They’d make for chic encompass audio system as nicely should you don’t thoughts your own home cinema not matching in regard to the producer.
ECLIPSE TD307 MK3: What I didn’t like
As I’ve constantly eluded to, the ECLIPSE are a fussy speaker to get positioned completely proper. Get them unsuitable, and so they gained’t sound dangerous, however you’ll marvel why you spent a lot cash on them. They should 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 as a way to get the complete advantage of their soundstage and sonic proficiency. When you’ve acquired all of them set as much as your regular desk sitting place, nevertheless, you gained’t have to the touch them once more, and so they’ll keep precisely the place you set them with that tightening pivot on the high of the stand.
The one place you would possibly discover them missing is within the decrease frequencies and the bass extension. I fairly prefer it – however when listening to some music you may discover it. For instance, taking part in a film, explosions lack oomph, or bass strains in dance music that battle to be extra ahead within the combine. What bass is there’s 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 may plug them into your MacBook. These are passive desktop audio system, so there is no such thing as a built-in DAC or Amp – you’re going to wish to supply your personal earlier than you may 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 system that converts the tracks to an analog sign that the amp can ship to the audio system.
You possibly can skip the DAC on this setup, and plug the headphone output from the Mac into the amp, however I wished to offer 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. A very good instance is likely to be one thing from Schiit, which makes cheaper desktop HiFi gear. No matter occurs, you may’t simply jam a speaker cable into your MacBook Professional and hope for the most effective.
ECLIPSE TD307 MK3: Competitors
There are some nice choices on the market that price rather less than these and have the power to hook up with your Mac by way of Bluetooth or a wire with out the necessity for a separate amp.
We actually preferred 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 various.
ECLIPSE TD307 MK3: Do you have to purchase these?
You should purchase these if:
- You need wonderful sound on 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 wish 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 may take pleasure in them – however after getting all of them arrange, take pleasure in them you certainly will. They sound beautiful, with particular consideration given to Classical music and feminine vocals. Additionally they look unimaginable, actually setting off a desk setup with their otherworldly seems to be.
They is likely to be missing a little bit 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 unimaginable 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 a little bit additional effort to get them at their greatest. When you’ve made that funding, nevertheless, you’ll have some excellent-sounding music at your desk.
