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The MM700s proved to be quite capable in games. Overall gaming audio quality itself was above average, but what stands out the most is the realism of the 3d sound field in A3D and EAX enabled games. In terms of in game sound effects, the MM700s could be considered appropriate, but not necessarily the most exciting or detailed gaming speakers. I would rate these flatpanels somewhere between above average and good for pure gaming audio quality - but once you factor in the amazing surround effect of the wrapparound 3d sound field in any 3d audio enabled game, you can NOT but look at these speakers in complete awe.

If you're a fan of Aureal's A3D API, or even the EAX API, you will find that the surround environment of the two flat satellite speakers to rival a full surround sound gaming setup. In fact, quite to our surprise, it is even more convincing than multi point speakers in some circumstances. The clarity of the surround effect was so pronounced that we were taken aback. In particular, the side to side positioning and the sheer width of the field was considerably more convincing than any other two speaker setup, and better than some 4 speaker setups. Up and down positioning was also strong, especially compared to the same positioning from cone speakers.

Monsoon's explanation for this amazing 3d clarity brings us back to the original discussion of the speakers' unique direct audio projection properties - because your ears are receiving very little interference from deflected sound waves, you are hearing a more accurate image as intended by Aureal and Creative engineers. With conventional speakers, the 3d soundfield is "muddied", so to speak, by the audio reflections off your desk, off your monitor, and even off surrounding walls. Each of these reflections confuse the ear because the very nature of audio 3d positioning is through the delays of sound waves reaching your ears, and the HRTFs that create the surround effect. With additional reflected sound waves, the HRFs lose effectiveness as they compete with "real" reflections.

Since the speakers will radiate sound both to the front and back, there is the chance that sound waves hitting the wall behind the satellites will affect the 3d quality, but Monsoon points out that if the satellites are at least 12 inches from the rear wall (and other objects), the resulting 2millisecond delays in the rear reflections would be enough that it would not interfere with HRTFs, crosstalk cancellation or pinna cues.

The overall effect is an amazingle clear, and noticeably superior surround effect from A3D and EAX algorithms.