The black vinyl-covered medium-density fiberboard sub has a black, perforated metal grille covering its front panel and front-mounted port. The sub's 8-inch cellulose/graphite driver and 100-watt amplifier are hidden inside the cabinet. It's a relatively large subwoofer for this type of system, especially compared with the tiny satellites. The sub's connectivity runs to stereo speaker and line level (RCA) inputs. Size-wise, the sub measures 16.7 inches high, 9.6 wide, and 16.5 deep.
Unfortunately, the owner's manual setup info isn't all that helpful in finding a perfect harmony between the satellites and the subwoofer. During our test, we were happy with what we got from a 120 Hertz crossover setting in our Denon AVR-1909 receiver. We did, however, have a hard time settling on a single subwoofer volume setting. We found ourselves continually adjusting the sub volume whenever we changed movie and music discs because the bass was either too loud or quiet after a change in source material.
Performance
The Canton Movie 120 MX produces a detailed, big, highly dynamic sound. One thing is for sure, the system definitely sounds bigger than it looks. With the subwoofer volume level adjusted just right, bass had plenty of punch and impact. As long as you're not listening at too high a volume, the Movie 120 MX is an impressive performer.
We started our auditions with the There Will Be Blood DVD. Jonny Greenwood's orchestral score was quite vibrant, but the Movie 120 MX's remarkable clarity sometimes crossed over the line and sounded a tad bright. Dialog was crisp and articulate, but when an oil well suddenly erupts like a geyser, the subwoofer's bass turned out sounded muddy. It was only when we turned down the Denon receiver's volume did we get the subwoofer back under control.
Lucinda Williams' Little Honey CD sounded lightweight, as if the Movie 120 MX had been replaced with a small table radio. If you're going to be playing a lot of music then we'd recommend moving up to the Canton Movie 150 QX. Its much smoother sound is better in every way than the Movie 120 MX's.
If the 150 QX isn't what you had in mind, why not consider the Energy RC-Micro 5.1 ($999)? Its sweeter, more forgiving treble response is easier on the ears than the Canton, however the sound from the 150 QX is more detailed. It's also more dynamically alive, as home theater jolts from Blu-ray discs like The Dark Knight will be more exciting over the Canton system. We think the Energy system's subwoofer is a little more capable performer, with superior low-end punch and power.
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- subwoofer,
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- center channel speaker,
- cabinet
Where to buy
Canton Movie 120 MX (black):
$799.00 - $899.00
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$899.00 | Yes |
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$799.00 | Yes |
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