Mirage MX 5.1 review

If you want speakers that can be tucked away almost anywhere, these tiny speakers could appeal Tested at £750.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Far from the complete package but its dimensions mean it will appeal to plenty

Pros

  • +

    Compact

  • +

    easy to accommodate

  • +

    good sound dispersion that fills the room

  • +

    good integration

Cons

  • -

    Lacks precision

  • -

    dynamics and power can’t compete with larger speakers

  • -

    gives away detail to rivals

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We're really not sure if the picture of these speakers properly conveys the diminutive dimensions of this Mirage MX 5.1 package, so let's run through its particulars.

The MX satellites are the smallest speakers Mirage has ever made, standing just 10cm tall and with an 8 x 9cm footprint.

The cute little subwoofer weighs 4.6kg, measures just 20cm cubed and packs in a 6.5in driver. If ever a speaker system looked like it had been left in the dryer, it's this one.

Mirage's ‘Omnipolar' technology sees a deflector resting above the 16mm tweeter, which is housed in another deflector over the 2.5in woofer. These deflectors mean the MX satellites are using your room's walls, ceilings and other surfaces to create the soundstage.

Fill the room with sound
The speakers can be tucked away almost anywhere or mounted with the supplied bracket. It's worth pointing out that the compact dimensions do mean you can't use standard terminated speaker cables, so you'll need bare wire or smaller-sized speaker terminations.

Listening to Watchmen on BD, we're certainly impressed at the job these speakers make of filling our good-sized room with sound.

Those MX satellites certainly know how to disperse, though as is often the case it's clear that there is some loss of focus and precision to sound effects as a result.

Still, integration across the front three, and to a slightly lesser extent the whole five, is impressive.

A touch on the lean side
However there's no denying that when the going gets tough, the MX satellites have to strain. Piercing strings and dynamic crescendos see the Mirage lacking scale, detail and composure.

The sub does its best, but the overall balance is on the lean side. Placing the speakers closer to the wall would help a touch.

There are inevitable sonic caveats, but for the size there's next to nothing else out there like this.

If the style and size appeal, and you only have a smaller room to fill, the MX 5.1 could well do the job.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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