Armaggeddon Panzer III Elefant 2.1 speakers

PRICE $ 99.95 www.impactsystems.com.au

There’s a strange mix of new and old in the Armaggeddon Panzer III speakers. Rather than utilising a banana plug or some kind of proprietary connection between the sub/controller and the satellite speakers, like most other models you’ll find in the price range, the Panzer instead uses an old-fashioned coax connection. This connection, while still common in high end audio gear, feels a little out of place in some budget speakers. The satellite speakers don’t appear to be shielded in any way either, so you’ll want to keep your phone out of range if you don’t want static from calls or texts. When it comes to performance, the Panzer III Elefant speakers are a little bit of a mixed bag. The trebles aren’t quite as clear as you’d like and can get a little shrill. The mid-range is generally good if unspectacular. The bass is loud and punchy for the most part but it can feel overwhelming at lower bass levels and unfocussed, muddy and boomy at higher levels.

Through a bit of tweaking with the controls located on the sub, we found a pretty good sweet spot with the bass at around 15% and enjoyed some gaming time with the Panzer III speakers. Unfortunately the speakers sit at a very competitive price point, and when compared to something like the excellent (if dull looking) Logitech Z337, the Edifier M1370BT or Edifier Aurora they become a little more difficult to recommend. The design is quite appealing in an industrial way, but the performance just quite isn’t there. DANIEL WILKS