Viewing page 8 of 8 pages.
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
MP3 RECORDINGS
- Moneual Moncaso 932 — Config 1 (System default) @ idle: 33 dBA@1m:
One Meter
- Moneual Moncaso 932 — Config 1 (System default) @ load: 34 dBA@1m:
One Meter
- Moneual Moncaso 932 — Config 2 (Reduced Fan Speed) @ idle: 25
dBA@1m: One Meter
- Moneual Moncaso 932 — Config 2 (Reduced Fan Speed) @ load: 27
dBA@1m: One
Meter
- Moneual Moncaso 932 — Config 3 (Media Drive Enabled) @ HDD seek:
30 dBA@1m: One
Meter
Sound Recordings of Comparative Systems
- Antec NSK-3480 — 42~85W 24 dBA@1m: One
Meter
- Antec NSK-3480 — 135~193W 25 dBA@1m: One
Meter
|
HOW TO LISTEN & COMPARE
These recordings were made
with a high resolution, studio quality, digital recording system and are
intended to represent a quick snapshot of what we heard during the review.
Two recordings of each noise level were made, one from a distance of one
meter, and another from one foot away.
The one meter recording is
intended to give you an idea of how the subject of this review sound in
actual use — one meter is a reasonable typical distance between a
computer or computer component and your ear. The recording contains stretches
of ambient noise that you can use to judge the relative loudness of the
subject. For best results, set your volume control so that the ambient
noise is just barely audible. Be aware that very quiet subjects may not
be audible — if we couldn't hear it from one meter, chances are we
couldn't record it either!
The one foot recording is
designed to bring out the fine details of the noise. Use this recording
with caution! Although more detailed, it may not represent how the subject
sounds in actual use. It is best to listen to this recording after you
have listened to the one meter recording.
|
CONCLUSIONS
The Moncaso 932 certainly has potential. Its large size and colorful touchscreen
make it a showpiece rather than an unobtrusive box, but in a high-end home theater
(the target market), that may be desirable. The thermal design is probably its
best feature. It is well ventilated, and there are vents in all the right places.
There should be no cooling issues with the case if the rest of the system is
properly built. And, if the fans are replaced with quieter models, it shouldn't
be too tough to silence, though the hard-mounted hard drives could cause problems.
Our recommendation: Network storage, with the system installed on a quiet, suspended
notebook drive.
While the touchscreen was a nice gadget and a useful addition for audio applications,
it was not the solution to navigating-by-remote that we hoped it might be. The
FrontView software provided with the screen was clearly designed for use with
a remote, not a stylus. Even if our sample had been working, it's difficult
to see how it would have improved usability. What's really needed is a small,
wireless touchscreen that can take the place of a remote control, but
VGA-over-wireless is still a pipe dream at the moment. (Side note: Apple's
iPod is currently the best known interface for navigating media in a handheld
device. The iPod Touch had Bluetooth. Sooner or later, someone will figure out
that the iPod touch would make an excellent HTPC remote control and write an
appropriate application.)
Even without the touchscreen functionality, the LCD screen minus the touchscreen
is a nice feature to have. A secondary screen to display metadata while the
main screen shows a video is a feature worth paying for, as is the ability to
navigate without using an external screen. A full size LCD is vastly superior
to a four-line VFD in this regard. Our advice to Moneual: Lose the touchscreen
until software support improves and go with a regular LCD.
All in all, the Moncaso has enough good points that it will probably do well
in its target high end market, but it needs better fans to win us over completely.
A more advanced mounting system for the drives would also help. Moneual has
already tweaked the case before our sample revised, so our hope is that they
are listening and will release a new revision at some point in the future.
Many thanks to Moneual
for supplying the Moncaso
932 sample.
* * *
Articles of Related Interest
Zalman's HD135 HTPC Case: Gasping
for Air
Zalman TNN-300 Fanless PC Enclosure System
Antec NSK2400 / Fusion Media PC Case
Zalman HD160 Home Theater Enclosure
Cases: Basics and Recommendations
* * *
Discuss
this article in the SPCR Forums.
| Help support this site, buy the Moneual Moncaso Home Theater Enclosure with 7 Inch Touchscreen from one of our affiliate retailers! |
|
