These little spherical speakers are one of the better examples of how to approach the lifestyle market without sacrificing audio quality. They will appeal to people who don't want the bulk of a full surround system, but still want the sound of one.
The generally accepted rule in the audio world is that you can't break the laws of physics, and to get legitimately big sound you need big speakers in big enclosures. However, with enough time, effort and research, you can wring better, more efficient sound out of small, well engineered enclosures that can and do compete with larger designs.
On this note, we're happy to report that in spite of their diminutive size, the Micro Ti’s don't sacrifice much fidelity or punch, and their sound is on par with larger speakers.
Although the drivers can’t shake the small speaker curse (the mid-range isn’t as emphasized as it should be) they respond smoothly without overcompensating for any specific frequency. This produces a smooth, slightly treble-heavy sound that is very clear and bright.
They're tiny, look great if you want to make a feature out of them and are discrete enough that if you don’t, a little creative placement can make them look like little more than oversized alarm motion sensors. You can also mount them in the ceiling, on the wall or on floor or table stands. They come with small rubber rings that will let them sit on flat surfaces, until you nudge them and send them sailing to the ground. That’s one of the few complaints we have with them.
The five satellites are paired with a powerful subwoofer which delivers controlled, punchy bass that fills in what the speakers can’t hope to achieve on their own. It’s very heavy, due in part to the solid enclosure and the amplifier’s huge heatsink, which is attached to the back of the unit. You can hook it up to your hi-fi system in a number of ways, but the best method is to use an RCA lead to supply it with a dedicated low frequency signal from your receiver.
You do pay a price for the set of course: $3,199. However Anthony Gallo Acoustics is confident enough in its manufacturing and engineering that it provides a 25 year warranty.
