If you’re looking for a pair of $100 speakers that combines both form and function, then the Swan M10’s should rest at the top of your list. Offered in both glossy white and black finishes with gold drivers, these speakers effortlessly add class and style to any desk setup. In fact, their pleasing aesthetics may be one of the main reasons behind their rapidly growing popularity. Yet, few reviews of them exist. Several months ago, I took a gamble and decided to purchase a pair.
So are they worth it? Let’s find out.
Pictured above: The Swan M10’s resting on my desk. Two satellite speakers in the center, bass unit to the right.
What Comes in the Box
Two satellite speakers with audio cables attached, a subwoofer, and a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Sound
Sound is important, so let’s get that out the way first. These speakers sound excellent, and when you consider the fact that you only paid a hundred dollars for them, they somehow start to sound even better. Must be a psychological thing. Lows, mids, and highs are nicely separated, and you can easily discern the tunes of individual instruments. Highs and mids are where these speakers clearly excel–everything is crisp and clear, and nothing is muddled–but the bass is not bad, either. For lovers of extreme bass, these speakers may not be nearly enough, but most listeners should be satisfied with the bass output, which is tight and doesn’t leak into other frequencies.
At a combined output of 31 watts, these speakers can get loud–but probably not ridiculously loud. As a college student, I can’t even turn these up to half volume without my next-door neighbors complaining (something which has happened more than once). In short, they will easily fill any large room. I haven’t tested these speakers in extremely noisy or spacious environments, but remember that these are meant to be computer speakers, not a surround sound system.
Usability
The Swan M10’s lag slightly in the usability department. For starters, the speaker cables come attached to the satellites and are not removable. If they break, you’re screwed. The speaker cables are also only four feet long, meaning that the subwoofer can’t be placed too far away.
Now, speaking of the subwoofer. It needs to be placed on top of the desk as opposed to underneath the desk, where its bass output will be almost inaudible. (Once on top of the desk, however, the subwoofer sounds great). The volume control is surrounded by a neon blue LED ring, which Hivi must have thought was a great idea. It’s not.The blue is simply too bright and detracts from the system’s otherwise flawless design. Bass levels are adjustable via a knob placed on the back (of all places) of the subwoofer, which is also where the on/off switch is located. Fortunately, the 3.5 mm audio jack is slightly longer than the speaker cables at around five feet.
Build Quality
Build quality is commendable. The speakers and the woofer are encased in plastic, but they don’t feel cheap. Rather, they are quite sturdy. Like most users, I was surprised by how light and small the satellites were at approximately 4 inches wide, 4 inches deep ,and 6.5 inches tall.
Flaws
These speakers aren’t perfect. While none of its flaws are deal-breakers, here are a few:
- Bass output declines at lower volumes.
- When the volume knob is turned all the way up, the speakers emit slight static noise when idle. However, the static noise disappears when the knob is turned down below 80% max volume.
- As mentioned above, short audio cables! The cables aren’t of high quality, either.
- While I personally haven’t experienced any radio interference problems, I have heard reports of radio interference. Just a heads up.
- Speakers make a very loud popping sound when turned off that can be quite disconcerting.
Overall
Would I recommend these speakers? Absolutely. For $100, you’re getting an excellent price-to-performance ratio. As long as you have room on your desk for the large subwoofer, these speakers promise to satisfy with their rich sound and even richer appearance.
Where to Buy
I bought mine off Chane Music & Cinema (https://www.chanemusiccinema.com/multimedia-desktop/hivi-acoustics). The prices on this website fluctuate from as low as $99 to as high as $149. Chane offers outstanding customer service. The first pair of Swans that they shipped to me arrived with some slight defects, and when I emailed Chane about it, they immediately shipped me another pair of speakers with a prepaid return label for my current pair. Very satisfied.
In addition, these speakers go on sale on Massdrop (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/swan-m10-multimedia-speaker-system) once every few months for $99 (available in US only) by the same vendor, Chane Music & Cinema.
I hope this review was helpful!
Ming Reviews Thing 