MORDAUNT-SHORT M20, Compact Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Black

Product Information

The quality of the centre speaker is refl ected closely with the smaller 302 satellites that complete the rest of the system. Older versions of the 302 tended to be fairly relaxed, even distant-sounding thanks to a somewhat recessed midrange balance. The current model has gone some way to putting this right, and the system now sounds more even and expansive. This change of mind return policy is in addition to, and does not affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law including any rights you may have in respect of faulty items.

This change of mind return policy is in addition to, and does not affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law including any rights you may have in respect of faulty items. To return faulty items see our Returning Faulty Items policy. The bass end of this system has an attractive quality, and blends in better than with many small sub/sat systems where the subwoofer is forced to handle frequencies which make its location all too obvious when listening. Before setting up the amplifier in 5.1 I tested these speakers as just stereo speakers with a variety of music. They struggled to fill the room when listening off axis, but when listening in the ideal position they gave a good sound. Mounted in the corners of the rooms they gave very good bass response, a bit peaky from the positioning in the room, but not too boomy despite the bass reflex design. It benefits in this regard as the port is forward facing.

Review Ratings

A heavy, cast metal base completes the enclosure and allows the use of spikes when the speakers aren't used on their dedicated stands. Some of the drama of the rather oppressive Watch the World Burn from The Dark Knight OST is diluted, for instance.

You'll notice the drilled metal cone that sits behind the metal dome tweeter and exits at the rear of the cabinet.

It's been well worth the wait, too – and not just for the sound (though that's impressive enough), but for the approach Mordaunt-Short has taken to the Performance 2s' design.

The centre, now a Tannoy Mercury 7C struggles to get as low as these speakers, but benefits from a higher sensitivity. The most obvious way these speakers differ from the competition is in their cabinet shape. It's rare to come across a speaker that doesn't have a wooden carcase: most manufacturers use MDF or particleboard, with a handful stretching to plywood. I've set the subwoofer, an XLS200 down firing, positioned next to the listening position and crossing over at 80hz. The mordaunts could handle lower, but the Tannoy struggles a bit more. They don't ignore such things, but do underplay them to the point where excitement suffers a little. The truth is that it goes from quiet to loud with the minimum of fuss and no small amount of skill.As part of the 5.1 system they match the sound of the fronts (a set of inherited 80's Mordaunt Short MS35Ti's) very well in tone, sensitivity and response. Considering the M20's are probably a quarter the internal volume/size, I'd call that quite an achievement. You can add exceptional agility, terrific low-end control and superb stereo imaging to the long list of plus points, too – and let's not forget the excellent build. That's nowhere near the whole story, though: the engineering shines through everywhere else, and we doubt whether you'll find a more detailed speaker for this money. Let's get the weaknesses out of the way. These aren't particularly large speakers. They're just 49cm high, so deep bass is out of the question – but we aren't worried simply because they do well for their size, if not their price.