The S4 MidiLand 7100 Plus is a solid system. The sound quality is very reasonable, although perhaps lacking in the treble department. In terms of overall volumes, the system can pump out high pressure levels with the best of them, and maintain reasonable clarity in the process. You can also rest assured that this system will have no trouble producing for a very long time, given the impeccable construction quality.

The original S4 MidiLand 7100 (essentially the 7100 Plus without the digital decoder module), can be purchased for about $170 USD. The higher-end S4 8200, which features twice the output power, currently runs for about $300 US. Given that, the 7100 Plus has a relatively small price bracket into which it must fit. Quite honestly, at a price any higher than $240-250, we see little reason to opt for the 7100 Plus, when the 8200 system is only $50 more, and offers much better sound. If you’re about to drop $250 on a set of PC speakers, you may as well throw another $50 on the pile, and step up to the high-end 8200.

If you can find the system somewhere in the $230 range, or below, however, it becomes a much greater value. The 7100 Plus brings impressive sound and even better quality to the table, making it an solid competitor, if the price is right.

Dan Mepham.

UPDATE: MidiLand has informed us that they're currently running a promotional offering which sees the 7100 Plus priced at $199. At $199, the 7100 Plus weighs in at only around $20-30 more than the original 7100, and considering you're getting true Dolby Digital sound with the Plus, we feel it's the better option. So long as MidiLand continues to offer the 7100 Plus at the $199 price point, the system is a decent value, and a much smarter buy than the original 7100. For more information on MidiLand's promotional offer, look here: http://midiland.com/hotnews.asp?linenumber=32