OXS audio products have impressed me in the past, particularly the OXS Storm, which turned out to be an excellent headset for gaming. Even though the company doesn't have as many products in the headphones category, its speakers catalog is filled with a variety of options. The OXS Thunder Duo lineup is particularly famous for offering that rich 5.1 surround sound, but it's divided into four editions, offering a different set of speakers and woofer configuration, suiting individual needs.
Even though I love deep Bass, I think the OXS Thunder Duo X has changed my perspective on whether one should really have an additional sub-woofer if the tweeter-sub-woofer combos can deliver that punchy sound. In this review, we will take a close look at the Thunder Duo X, which promises a true 5.1.2 surround sound experience, offering an immersive gaming experience that aims to replace the traditional speakers.
Packaging and Contents
Inside the box, there are essential accessories alongside the speakers and whether you want to connect the Thunder Duo X to PC or any other device, the box comes pre-equipped with plenty of cables. Here's what you will find inside the box:
- Thunder Duo X speakers
- 1x USB Type C to C cable for tweeters
- 1x USB Type C to C/A cable for PC
- 1x HDMI Arc cable
- 1x Optical cable
- Remote control
- Power adapter
Technical Specifications And Features
Thunder Duo X is a 5.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos gaming speaker that is designed primarily for desktop gaming and entertainment setups. The system combines two bookshelf speakers with a wireless satellite neck speaker for creating a full surround audio experience while maintaining a compact footprint. The configuration offers a dedicated front, rear, center, and height channels, which OXS markets as a desktop-focused spatial audio solution.
The speakers are powered by Xspace Spatial Audio technology and Dolby Atmos processing that is designed to reproduce overhead effects, environmental sounds, and directional cues in games and music. With the introduction of the wireless neck speaker, it adds two rear surround channels and connects through a 5.8 GHz ultra-low latency wireless connection.
Each bookshelf speaker features a 3-driver design that consists of one 3.5-inch composite-material woofer, one 1.5-inch full-range driver, and one 20mm silk-dome tweeter. So, it's a powerful combination that also incorporates dedicated upward-firing Dolby Atmos height drivers to allow sound to reflect off ceilings to simulate overhead audio effects.
OXS used alloy magnet drivers, dual-DSP audio processing, and premium vibration-reducing enclosures to improve the bass response. With the help of enlarged bass-port structures, these are designed to maintain low distortions, and as per OXS, the distortion levels can be as low as 0.5%, which is impressive. Thunder Duo X delivers 110W RMS output power and up to 220W peak power for the speaker system itself.
Connectivity and Ease of Usage
Connectivity options include HDMI 2.1 with eARC support, HDMI input, USB-C audio, Bluetooth 5.3, Optical port, USB-A connectivity for the neck speaker dongle, and additional wired audio interfaces. Connecting the speakers to the PC is straightforward. Once you connect the bookshelf speakers via a USB Type-C to C cable, you will need to connect the dongle to connect the neck satellite speaker.
After pressing the power button on the neck satellite speaker for nearly three seconds, you need to press the long press the pairing button on the right bookshelf speaker to pair both. The connection LED will turn white on the neck satellite speaker once it's successfully paired. After that, you can connect the speakers to your PC using an HDMI, OPT, or USB cable, and you are good to go.
I think Bass is particularly impressive even without a dedicated standalone subwoofer. These bookshelf speakers incorporate 3.5-inch woofers that offer excellent low-frequency presence, but users wanting deeper cinematic impact may still benefit from the optional Thunder Sub expansion. Apart from that, I think the neck speaker performs amazingly as well, which I initially thought would be a gimmick. The only concern about the neck speaker is that it requires periodic charging and is only compatible with gaming-chair-style setups.
Performance
I think Thunder Duo X can be hard to beat at its price point. These bookshelf speakers are pretty powerful and deliver an extremely rich sound quality that I didn't expect initially. Through the 5.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos implementation, the sound delivery was exceptional. The lows, mids, and highs are exceptionally clear, and I could hear every small detail in the content. Through the 5.1.2 channel configuration, I could feel a true-surround sound experience, which I gave a try in gaming.
Even in games like CS2, where spatial sound matters a lot, I could see Thunder Duo X replacing my headphones. Even though headphones remain the number one choice for competitive gaming, it's literally possible to play games using the Thunder Duo X speakers if you want to accurately hear your enemies' footsteps. The sound is punchy, the details are crisp, and every sound effect is immersive.
Customizations
OXS Thunder DUO X offers some level of customization through the remote control and even through dedicated software. You can easily change the brightness of the RGB lighting from the remote control and cycle through different EQ modes in seconds. Moreover, BASS and Treble tweaks can be performed via the remote control as well.
However, if you install the OXS Omni XSpace, you can customize stuff more easily. In the Lighting section, you can choose different modes, brightness, and tweak various parameters according to your needs. In the EQ Preset, you can choose from four different EQ profiles and can even turn on the light sync. Overall, there are adequate number of tweaks, but nothing too crazy.
The Verdict
These small bookshelf speakers pack a punch, and one couldn't go wrong with what Thunder Duo X has to offer. The surround sound implementation is perfect, and the speakers can be used even for competitive gaming, thanks to the neck satellite speaker, which does a fabulous job handling rear-channel audio. The speakers create a desktop audio experience that feels closer to a compact home-theater system than a typical pair of gaming speakers. All in all, it's hard not to recommend these despite carrying a hefty price tag of $999, which I think will be the biggest hurdle for most buyers.
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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