Cambridge Soundworks any good?

    Maybe you can help me, I'm considering buying a Dolby decoder box from CSW,
they have
2 models 1 with an amp and one without. These boxes are expensive $300 and
$200, but they do include 5 satellite speakers and sub woofer so they might be
worth it. I already have a receiver, it's a Denon DRA-345-R I have no clue as
to the watts per channel. I ran out of inputs so I use a
small amp like an audio switch box so I can use my tape deck, Mac, and soon my
PC in addition to 2 VCRs an LC player, a 5 disk CD player, and a phonograph. Do
you know if it's true that most new receivers that would have a decoder built
in don't include a phono input? I've tried posting a similar post in several
audio newsgroups and every time my message is never posted and then there is a
message in the news group saying go away spanner. Is it incorrect to list my
model number so people with knowledge could give me advice. I almost forgot the
most important question, can the Dolby decoder boxes which are marketed to
computer users perform as well as a standard dolby system, and would you
recommend only using the speakers via the box, or would the addition of the 4
speakers I already use with my receiver add to the surround effect?

    Thanks a lot, I'm still learning a lot here.

Actually, in an integrated powered speaker system so called specifications
are more fog than reality. It is a tribute to Cambridge that they do not
play that game; yes it is. With an integrated system it is the clean output
at max volume that matters (what difference does the wattage make?). Same
goes with a sub. People tend to get sucked into numbers and not reality.
The only real way to judge a speaker system is to take it home, play it on
your hardware, play your music at your chosen typical level not untypical
high levels, at your usual sweet spot. Any other comparative listening
experience is close to meaningless.  I love my Dalquist DQ-10's and often
place other speaker systems beside them to compare. Some do a very good job
some show their coloration and other limitations. My PC Cambridge integrated
power system that only cost $99.00 holds up fairly well considering its
price. I have auditioned some fairly expensive systems that did not sound as
good.

I had bought the Cambridge Soundworks MovieWorks 308 speaker package
this past June when I upgraded my decrepit old shelf system to a Kenwood
VR-3090 receiver.  The MovieWorks II you are considering is quite
similar to the package I tried, with the main differences being the 10"
sub rather than the 8", and the bi/dipole surrounds instead of the
Surround IV rear speakers.  I felt content at the time of purchase, with
what I thought was a good quality speaker package for my small home
theater room; not top of the line, but nowhere near low quality either.  

However, after I had hooked everything up and had a chance to start
testing it out, with less than two hours of total use on them, I had
burnt up both front speakers to a crisp.  I did have a strong signal
going to them, but I don't believe they should have curled up and died
like that.  Everyone I have talked to has never heard of speakers
becoming physically hot to the touch, but that is what happened with
those fronts.  The metal and plastic casing on one of them was even
beginning to warp from the heat.  

I returned the whole package a couple of days later to the Cambridge
outlet I had bought them from, and checked out the Tweeter store across
the street.  I went with their Klipsch Quintet Micro Theater and have
never regretted it.  A point to the folks at Cambridge: they do supply
better than average service and were very accommodating with my problem.
I may have just been unlucky with mine, but I now consider Cambridge
Soundworks speakers in general, barely average at best.  A tipoff should
have been the "made in china" label on the back of them, and the great
difficulty in finding any speaker specs (just try to find wattage or
sensitivity ratings).  

I will say that Cambridge makes some nice speakers (I really liked the
BassCube 8), but if you are going to spend near or over $500 for a
sat./sub. package, there are better options available to you.  If you
are not a fan of Klipsch, I would suggest checking out the small Mirage
surround sound package (AVS500/FRXS8, I believe).  Boston Acoustics'
System 9000 also looked like a good setup, but I didn't do extended
research on it or the Mirage package.  My best advise is to do a lot of
research and know what you are buying, but most importantly, be sure to
buy from a reputable dealer that you are comfortable with and that can
take care of you if you have problems.  Good luck.

APS
~~~Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec~~~

Richard----Ist use I know of a dome diaphragm was in the Western
Electric 555 driver by Wente and Thuras, late 1920s, diaphragm was a 2"
aluminum dome. By the 1930s dome diaphragms were used in drivers made by
WE, Lansing Mfrg. (ancestor of JBL) and RCA. Olson at RCA described the
acoustic suspension speaker several years before Vilchur made the AR, as
a result AR couldn't patent the idea.
Regards       Tom Brennan                                                                                                                                                                        

http://community.webtv.net/iri shtom/TommysHornSpeaker
http://community.webtv.net/iri shtom/MoreLinks

Cambridge (now owned by Creative, the sound card people), likely offer some
of the very best speakers for the money, and the best customer support in
the industry. They do not appeal to the ego in us but their designs are very
very sound. If you want the very best at any price there are better places
to look, and the list provided in this string is a good place to start. The
guy who started Cambridge is the same guy who started AR, KLH, and Advent
(and the guy who invented modern projection TV), and was a partner of the
guy who started Alison Acoustics, the inventor of the dome speaker and the
sealed box speaker back in the 50's). Very sold and a true hero in the
industry; really.

Well lets add the Tannoy Mercury m4/mC/m1 setup :)
Mission packs...
There are more options but I'm to tired to think :)

"Dennisgg" <denni @mediaone.net> schreef in bericht

The CSW speakers are pretty good, but you can do better for sure.  Here is
some brands to look at:

Psb Alpha Intro or Alpha AV setup (www.psbspeakers.com)
Sound Dynamics Cine Series (www.sound-dynamics.com)
Paradigm Cinema or Atom setup (www.paradigm.ca)
Definitive Tech Pro Cinema 80 or 100 (www.definitivetech.com)
Atlantic Technology T-70 setup (www.atlantictechnology.com)
B&W 302 setup (www.bwspeakers.com)
Energy Take 5 or Encore setup (www.energyspeakers.com)
Gallo Acoustics Nucleus setup (www.roundsound.com)
Mirage AVS-500 setup (www.miragespeakers.com)
NHT Super Zero setup (www.nhthifi.com)

All these are about the price range you are looking at or below, but all are
better than the CSW and Bose.

Dennis