Review: Surround Speaker System Teufel Motiv 4 You

Reviewed by Carsten Rampacher, August 8th, 2003

Equipment

The one who owns a DVD-Player with Dolby Digital-/DTS-decoder or a PC with corresponding performance features and is looking for a suitable completion in order to build up a complete 5.1-equipment will succeed in the range of Berlins loudspeaker producer called Teufel. Motiv 4 You is a fully-active 5.1 speaker set with five identical oval satellites and an active subwoofer M3100/6 with all amplifiers, necessary for operating. Its purchasing price of EUR 790 is at first glance not really cheap. The price appears in a different light regarding the considerable impulse power of 370 watts, which the system is offering. Therefore, as the data looks like, Motiv 4 You is no temporarily solution, but a complete system with all relevant performance-features.

Already the optics of Motiv 4 You is not daily, the five oval loudspeakers are looking pretty progressive. The housing is consisting of plastic material, however it seems to be high-graded and long-lasting. A lot was done for an excellent sound reproduction: The arrangement of loudspeaker chassis is similar to the THX-certified loudspeaker systems: the tweeter was put in the middle between the cone loudspeakers. According to the opinion of Teufel this arrangement shall enable very good emitting characteristics. Qualitatively seen also the connecting terminal of the loudspeaker cables is convincing, without any difficulty also bigger ones can be used compared with the delivered, a little bit thin loudspeaker cables. With a long-termed possible maximum loading of 110 watts and a short-termed possible maximum loading of 150 watts the “loudspeaker-eggs” are providing with excellent values. 

Motiv 4 You is taking its power from the active subwoofer M3100/6SW with six built in amplifiers. The one, who is possessing a DVD-player with integrated DD/DTS-decoder or a PC with corresponding decoding-abilities and connectors will not require a separate AV-receiver anymore. The finish of the active subwoofer is, as we are used from Teufel, excellent. On the upper part of the housing there is an elegantly looking operating field for all control functions. Here it is also possible to adjust the level of the single loudspeakers to the requirements. On the back-side of the subwoofer a 5.1-input can be found, where the six cinch-cables are connecting from the DVD-player-decoder. The five satellites will be fixed on the terminal of the loudspeaker cables. The supplied remote control for the master volume and the cross-over frequency does not seem very high-graded. Happily Teufel is providing with qualitatively high cinch-cables for the connection of a DVD-player with internal decoder.

Acoustical performance

We have to admit that we started our sound-checks with a certain scepticism as above all concepts like Motiv 4 You can hardly realise real home cinema feelings. We have been very surprised when we inserted “Independence Day" and "Charlies Angels" into our DVD-player. Above all in smaller testing rooms between 12 and 15 square meters Motiv 4 You succeeded with a totally convincing performance. The M3100 subwoofer presents the sound of the space parent ship of the Aliens in “ID4” ( dangerously flying through the space) pleasantly good and with a low frequency. The active subwoofer reacts very quickly and doesn’t produce unsuitable supplementing effects at higher levels. Also the precision of the subwoofer is praiseworthy. 

Never the feeling of a lack of performance is arising. It is impressing how sovereign also the egg-loudspeakers are acting, which the level-strength and the dynamically surround-sound scenery could also be heard at "Saving Private Ryan". Although the egg-satellites are produced of plastic material at the high frequency reproduction no audible cuts have to be made, which also shows a thought-out construction. A weary, inexpressive high frequency range could not be noticed during our tests, which is often the case at such sets. 

Even in the multi-channel music operation Motiv 4 You could demonstrate its appealing performances. Roy Orbisons "Pretty Woman" was presented by the package of Teufel with spirit and freshness in the testing room. The voice-reproduction was able to achieve all scores with its natural and living kind and the suitable volume. The active bass loud-speaker provided with a respectable foundation also at “Hotel California" presented by the "Eagles". Motiv 4 You perfectly expressed the mood of live-concerts, which was supported by the natural-spatial homogeneous surround-sound scenery.

Concerning the quality of Teufel’s offer in the stereo use, we expected an audible collapse compared with the remarkably good performances in the multi- channel mode – as above all at the suitable stereo production such solutions like Motiv 4 You are hardly prepared to supply with convincing audible experiences. The performances, which the system achieved, have however been surprisingly good. We have above all been glad about the perfect co-operation between the satellites and the subwoofer – an harmonious sound picture was the result. The one who sometimes prefers to hear music in stereo will be surprised that the sound of Motiv 4 You is far better than is was presumably expected. 

Summary

Motiv 4 You of Teufel was in a position to completely convince during testing process. The customer receives an efficient 5.1 complete solution for a reasonable purchasing price. 

Extraordinary
Starter Class
August 08th, 2003

Value

Pro:

• Very good power reserves in testing rooms with scarcely more than 15 square meters.
• Surprisingly complete and very pleasant sound
• Bass reproduction with a good precision 
• Clear voice reproduction
• Surround-sound scenery with respectable volume
• Precise finish
• High-graded cables in the delivery extent
• Reasonable purchasing price compared with the performance

Contra:

• Cheap-looking remote control 

Specifications:

Front-, center- and rear loudspeaker called „The Egg“
• compact housing with 1 litre capacity 
• two loudspeakers for the middle frequency range with 100 mm polypropylen-membrans and neodym-magnets 
• 25 mm - Titan Tweeter with Neodym-Magnet 
• Loading capacity according to IEC-Norm : long-term 110 W / short-term 150 W 
• Dimensions (H x B x T): 155 x 250 x 115 mm 
• Weight 1,2 Kg 

Active subwoofer M3100/6SW with 6 integrated amplifiers
• Chassis-diameter: 260 mm 
• Adjustable cross-over frequency: 40 - 240 Hz 
• Switch on automatic mechanism 
• Remote control 
• DPU for a clear bass reproduction
• Magnetical shielded 
• Level regulator for all channels and master volume 
• 250 watts sinus power
• 370 watts musical power 
• 5.1 input 
• Phase switchable 0° / 180° 
• Variant of the housing: black/silver metal cover 
• 5.1 cinch cable for the connection between M3100/6SW and the pre-outs of the amplifier/receiver or DVD-player, length 5 meters, in the delivery extent 
• Dimensions (BxHxT): 355 x 355 x 380 mm 
• Weight: approx. 21 kg 
Total price: EUR 790,-- (suggested retail price on the German market)

Reviewed by: Carsten Rampacher
Assistent: Matthias Walther-Richters

2003/08/08

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