INTRODUCTION

   When i took my first steps in the world of modern PCs back in the beginning of the 90's and audio was let's just say way simpler than it is now i didn't really pay much attention on what speakers i was using (not that there were many to choose from in the market to begin with). This of course applied for almost everyone else i knew back then and so we'd all be using low-cost stereo speakers which in many cases weren't even powered ones. The arrival of better audio cards in the mid-90's changed all that (powered 2.0 and 2.1 systems) and by the late 90's i was only using 5.1 surround speaker systems with my PCs. Fast forward today and soundbars have once again changed all that but just like with everything else in the market they are not meant for everyone and so since many seem to favour 2.1 speaker systems today with me i have the Helium 800BT by Genesis.

   Genesis brand was established in 2011. Since the brand's inception, we have been supplying accessories for players at all levels. “Genesis” means formation and continuous growth. As planets are formed from variety of elements and microelements, so Genesis arises from the connection of our products with most invaluable element - players. A community of players helps Genesis to continue to grow and supply it with an increasingly innovative and professional grade tools.

   The Helium 800BT is a 2.1 gaming speaker set so aside two stereo "satellite" speakers you're also getting a large subwoofer. All three pieces of the Helium 800BT feature RGB lighting (compatible with all the leading sync technologies including ASUS Aura, GIGABYTE RGB Fusion, MSI Mystic Light and ASRock Polychrome), cover a frequency range of 100-20000Hz, deliver a total power output of 60W RMS (15W for each satellite and 30W for the subwoofer) and as for material they are all made out of MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard). The Genesis Helium 800BT can be controlled either via its panel located on the right side of the subwoofer or via the bundled remote control and as for connectivity it can be connected both to your wired (via stereo RCA & Optical SPDIF) and wireless (Bluetooth v5.0) devices. So, let’s see what the flagship 2.1 gaming speaker set by Genesis is truly capable of.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

As expected, the front of the box inside which Genesis packs the Helium 800BT is taken by a large product picture, their logo and the main product features.

Moving at the rear we find yet another product picture used to showcase the main features just over the product specifications and a product description in 16 languages.

Packing is standard and so aside all three pieces being wrapped inside plastic bags they are also placed between to pieces of foam attached to both the top and bottom of the box.

Along with the Helium 800BT speakers and subwoofer inside the box you'll also find a remote control, RCA stereo cable, optical cable, ARGB USB cable, warranty information paper and the quick installation guide.

THE HELIUM 800BT

The bundled remote control may not be of the best quality (seen similar one’s numerous times with speaker sets) but at least it's tiny.

Genesis has used a black (MDF, grilles) and red (speaker cones) color combination for the Helium 800BT which does look nice.

The satellite speakers measure 180mm in height, 110mm in width and 113mm in depth so they can fit pretty much anywhere on your desk.

Each satellite speaker should output around 15W RMS according to Genesis, a rather good number for the size.

Typically, the subwoofer is considerably larger compared to the speakers and so it measures 240mm in height, 255mm in width and 255mm in depth.

According to Genesis the subwoofer delivers up to 30W RMS so it should be quite powerful, for its size at least.

On the left side of the subwoofer, we find the bass reflex port whereas on the right side we see the control panel.

The control panel has knobs for volume and bass levels, mode (input) button, ECO on/off button, RGB effect button, ARGB and speaker USB ports, L/R RCA ports, SPDIF port and the on/off power switch.

Pictures don't really do the Helium 800BT justice so be sure to check a quick clip i have uploaded (available in TikTok & YouTube).

CONCLUSION

   Genesis is not a name i had heard of, not until a few months ago when reader requests started coming in for me to review their Helium 800BT 2.1 Gaming Speakers and well, here we are. Now in terms of design the Helium 800BT may not be anything unique (numerous other 2.1 systems look more or less the same) but thanks to its ARGB lighting it's actually not hard on the eyes, especially in the dark. The same goes for build quality and so even though Genesis says the Helium 800BT is made out of wood it's almost certainly made out of MDF which is what most similar speaker sets are made of (so that's not really a bad thing). What matters most however is audio quality and even though the Helium 800BT doesn't bring anything new to the table it actually produces good overall results. Mids and highs are quite crisp and accurate, bass levels are good (you will need to spend time with the control knobs for the best possible results) and as for output well the Helium 800BT easily fills a large room up and then some (even at max output i didn't notice any audio distortion). The ECO mode is also a nice addition especially with electricity prices skyrocketing but just like with other similar models there's a small delay when it's time for the speakers to come out of standby so do keep that in mind.

   Currently retailing for just 109.57Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) the Helium 800BT 2.1 Gaming Speakers by Genesis are priced just around what I was expecting for one such product. Overall, there’s not much to say about the Helium 800BT, they look great in the dark thanks to their RGB lighting, they sound very good and they are priced well so for all that they deserve the Golden Award.

PROS

- Looks (RGB/ARGB)
- Audio Quality
- Power Output (60 WRMS)
- Wired & Wireless Connectivity (Stereo RCA, Optical & BT 5.0)
- ECO Mode
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Overall Build Quality (MDF Enclosures)
- General Availability