The story of “Home Theater for all” is always a topic for our mention. It is not required in details so much, but system 5.1 in price of “cheap” must show the clear surround effect through connect coaxial or optical and easy to setup. SoundMax Hero and Intelligent is two newest models are mentioned so much in recent due to both three factors:  eye-catching design, standard sound, and especially impressive price.
 
SoundMax Intelligent
When we contact SoundMax for request of supplying 2 test samples, one week later, Intelligent was in testlab of the newspaper houses. The system is packed into 2 packages, one is for subwoofer and another is for satellite. Intelligent’s satellite is designed for hanging on the wall (you still can get one more base) includes 5 same size ones with the style of surround speakers and 2 poles with 110 mm in thick. The box is produced from MDF having an eye-catching cover. SoundMax uses 2 sub-speakers in design of satellite including silk treble dome 35mm and mid/bass propylene 125mm with a jack as clip.

Subwoofer has configuration  with outside cover and box’s material is same satellite. Using bass 225mm, put in the bottom to down firing, the front side of subwoofer is the statement of control keys as power, increase/decrease volume, select output and LED showing signal input. The rear side includes a heat-relieving piece, jacks to connect speaker to signal gate.  SoundMax Intelligent is allowed to connect with many different device sources  such as TV(via Jack RCA), CD(via jack RCA) and DVD with 2 options: coaxial or optical cable. Without speaker cable, SoundMax also encloses fully some other cables, even optical cable. Remote UV is designed slimly to carry out more tasks as increase/decrease volume surround channels, reset and especially that is boost function helping increase overall volume of the speaker in case of output has a very small signal.

Performance
It is easy to set-up Intelligent. The cable is marked on both two sides help it connect conveniently with center subwoofer. We select source system is DVD Samsung HD-860 and use optical cable for transmittance digital surround signal.

Experience with CD test gained standard DTS 5.1, through the phase “X2 – Xmen United”, Intelligent evidenced the ability of re-create surround of multi-channels system. The jet airplane takes a team of “extraordinary man” going around is also in which the system shows the sound around listeners. However, it’s time for disadvantages of the system are “disclosed”. At first, the volume of Rear is rather soft compared with overall, but this one can be made good easily by increasing volume of Rear to 1 or 2 marks (on remote)”. When taking this task, you will feel as soon that Intelligent is lack of a LCD screen to show volume of each speaker or general volume when editing.
In addition, the details of system is not high when shows metal’s sound. However, when mention to surround effect, SoundMax Intelligent really created home theater with full of 5.1 separated channels along with the low sound effect is also good.

SoundMax Hero
At present, SoundMax Hero is the highest level system 5.1 of SoundMax but being sold at a reasonable price. It includes 5 satellites and a subwoofer integrated ampli as well as surround signal microprocessor. The satellite is designed by SoundMax as a modern column with cover by aluminum and 4 main speakers have separate base by glass with the height to 15 mm and ground edge carefully. The below side of glass base is 4 rubber buttons which will stick to the wood or brick surface. But, if you put speakers on a carpet, you must remove those buttons so that the speaker will be stuck more to the surface. Each of satellite is configured by 5 sub treble 22.5 mm placing at center position and 4 mid/bass 55 mm. Center speaker, in particular, is also similar design but less than a few of sub speakers (2 mid/bass, 1 treble), the length is a half compared with satellite and the leg of speaker is horizontal.

SoundMax Hero has a subwoofer rather big, the box is made by wood with the face of leather. The control system in top is designed very “hi-tech”. Besides of Standby key, you can adjust volume of general, every front, surround, center, sub, and power supply and reset key help the system default volume level as manufacture’s direction. Although is not still designed LCD for showing volume level, but the manufacturer had inserted blue LED showing capacity level which is effective and can be reduce cost. The Woofer speaker has diameter of 165 mm, is designed according to down-firing with air-hole to beside.

In addition, SoundMax Hero also has slim remote as same with design of Intelligent.

Performance
It is still that power supply is DVD Samsung HD-860 via connection Optical. After arrangement and adjustment positions of satellite as well as subwoofer, we “start” a phase in film “Casper” (default DTS). With the price at USD 200 – 300, you will have a set of high standard performance. Under conjecture, costs for design and material must be “spent” about half of a product’s value, therefore it is difficult to make sure sound quality is good with the rest of cost. However, this though is appeared when “Hero” is launched. The phase that the girl was laid by Casper to auto-clean system including stages of hair-cutting, shaving, drying, etc, the system had showed a sound quality very good. The highlight point is details and clean performance, and incorrect language level is low, surround speaker is strong, the bass is good.

We continue experience with China DVD in film “S.W.A.T” by Collin Farrel playing as main actor. Only with the beginning, we are absolutely able to affirm that SoundMax Hero is one of systems 5.1 which is rare in market performs lively surround sound as ones that have price at more expensive than 2 or 3 times. Sounds from AK 47, M16…of S.W.A.T, sound from helicopter propellers, sound mixed between action scene and strong music background, are performed very excellent and clear by surround microprocessor and Hero audio system. About bass, although is played at big volume, but subwoofer has no any mistakes. Continuously, we, test team, are surprised by exciting particulars of S.W.A.T and audio support from Hero “theater” more than 2 hours in test lab.