TCL is a big name in display technology and, if the TM2100 audio system is anythign to go by, might soon be forging a name for itself in the multimedia audio market.

At the heart of the system is, unsuualy at this price point ($349), a valve amplifier claimed to output 2x 15 watts RMS for the three inch satellite speakers, plus 35 watts RMS for the subwoofer. Valve amplifiers are ssynonymous with rich, warm sound and that is what the system delivers. The down side of valve amps is they lack outright beef, which is telling in the 6.5 inch woofer performance (adequate but hardly ground-pounding).

The satellite speakers have a quality feel about them thanks to an aluminum housing. They present spacious and accurate sound quality that is clearly enhanced by a decent audio decoder that handles digital formats.

Real-world listening tests left us with the impresion of a revealing and delicate system that holds its own at decent volume levels.

The main unit's upright design is unique and (in black, at least) rather attractive with the pleasant glow of the valve on prominent display. Also housed in aluminum, the unit conveys air of class.

A remote control at this price point would take the system beyond its most likely role as a PC speaker system. It's still, however, a strong contender to enhance gaming and MP3 systems such as Xbox 360 and iPod.

The TCL Moonrise TM2100 system won't provide cinema-level audio performance but punches well above its weight as a multimedia speaker system (its primary design) and certainly surpassed our (admittedly moderate) expectations. Its valve amplifier provides a signifcant advantage over other similarly priced systems and the system is especially adept at decoding compressed digital sources. Let your ears be the judge but we recommend it.

See www.tclelectronics.com.au

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Spec s:

Vacuum tube technology
Audio decoder with optical input
Headphone output
Line out
RMS power L/R Amplifier(1 Khz0.1%THD,6ohm) - 15W+15W
RMS power SW Amplifier(1 Khz0.1%THD,8ohm) - 35W
Frequency Response L/R Amplifier - 100Hz-50KHz
Frequency Response SW Amplifier - 8Hz-150Hz
THD L/R Amplifier - 0.20%
THD SW Amplifier - 0.10%
S/N L/R Amplifier - 85dB
S/N SW Amplifier - 70dB
Remnant noise L/R Amplifier - 0.8mv
Remnant noise SW Amplifier - 5mv
Channel Separation 30dB
Tone Control 10dB
Input Sensitivity 500mv
Decoder Sampling rate - 48,44 1.32KHz(BRM) 88.2.64KHz(HRM)
Decoder Digit bits - 16bit, 24bit
Consumed power 70W
Size Amplifier - 95x285x257mm
Size subwoofer - 155x290x328mm
Size Main speaker - 100x130x115mm
Gross weight about 12.5kg