6. Creative Labs FPS 1600

The FPS 1600 system has four speakers of 6 RMS watts each and a subwoofer of 17 RMS watts. It comes with all the requisite connections and a small wired remote control, which is very handy for turning it on and off and changing the volume. This is actually the only setting control available on the FPS 1600, apart from low frequencies on the subwoofer. Medium and high frequencies cannot be adjusted, which is typical with entry-level systems. Still, we would have liked a few more options, if only for front-rear distribution.

These small cubic speakers do not dispense sound of amazing quality but are quite adequate for games. They are powerful, and the high frequencies, though not perfect, are quite respectable. The medium frequencies, on the other hand, lack presence and clearness. The subwoofer does its work fairly well and is powerful enough to make explosions and gunfire sound right, but don't expect miracles. The threshold specified is 40 Hz, but this is optimistic, because no sound comes out properly below 50 Hz on an FPS 1600. When they are plugged into a 3D sound card, they distribute the sound satisfactorily over the four speakers, so you can distinguish whether the enemy is coming from the left, right or behind you; you can detect the source of any sound in a game. The Diablo II and Alien vs Predator 2 tests gave good sound in games. Musical quality has not been neglected either, and the FPS 1600 renders it quite well, at least for the money you pay. If need be, you can use it to play MP3s or CD Audios on a PC but, there again, don't expect miracles.