Bells, Whistles and SPEAKERS? (Cambridge Soundworks Megaworks 510D)

Member Name: andycharger

Product:	Cambridge Soundworks Megaworks 510D
Date:	18/03/03 (588 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great sound quality, Sound levels

Disadvantages: price

So you have a top spec pc with all of the added features? Trouble is, when you go and pump up your favourite tune the underpowered and frankly, cack speakers supplied are letting down your computer badly.
Pumping bass has turned into tweeter-rattling noise. Treble clarity has turned into ear-screeching pain. Its time for some new speakers and you know it!

For those of you out there that upgrade your computer form time to time, this review is for you too. I am as guilty as the next man at neglecting both sides of the audio coin when it comes to computers. We are happy to spend £100 plus on a top rate sound card but more reluctant to match the payment on the purchase of speakers. Its like buying a brand new Ferarri and putting a Reliant Robin engine in. It will look good but it wont beat the boys from the lights!!!
So respect the sounds, man. Treat yourself well and go out and spend that spare £240 you have lying around on a set of Megaworks Speakers from Creative labs......
OK, have you now scraped yourself off the floor? Yes, £240!!!
If you are simply demanding unrivalled sound, this is one to consider. However, if like so many boy racers, your sound system is going to be worth more than the object you are putting it into, then reconsider. It won't turn your 486 running a 16 bit soundcard into the Royal Albert Hall on its own, believe me.

Right, so you have decided to add this to your shopping list. Can I first tell you your options?
I suggest checking out some similar systems in the same price range. Bose, who are a reliable home HiFi maker have entered the market with a stonking system for similar money and it might be worth buying this instead. However, the shop assistant told me that the Cambridge Soundworks factory people were making an absolute monster with this system so I decided to take his advice and buy it.

Removing the system from the box, I decided to set it out and look what I had.
Sitting on the
desk were 6 little speakers and one monster sized subwoofer.
But....
There is no sound card included. This is to compliment a card and does not come with one. The manufacturer claims it is to be run with their Audigy Sound Card range.
However, I run it with my Soundblaster live 128 and it works fine. In fact, its a bit of a waste unless you have a decent sound card.

The finish of th eproduct is wonderful in a modernistic black plastic with rounded corners being th eorder for the design. Each speaker carries the logo of the maker and comes with a little stand.

The subwoofer looks like something out of a boy racers boot. A black finished box with a monster sub stuck in it. All covered over by a tidy black grille. Looks functional if a little basic.

Connectivity is nice and simple via a single digital cable. Not hundreds of wires hanging around. This makes for a very tidy job and looks much neater. The single cable design also helps with the digital sound clarity.

Space? Well, only the subwoofer needs allowing for. The small satellite speakers take up no room at al land can be wall mounted.

BOOM BOOM BOOM goes the system. Yep prepare for your house to fall down. The sound levels delivered by this system are like nothing I have heard before. In fact, it pumps out 150w of power via the satellite speakers and that is rated at RMS. Real Music output as opposed to the Max levels quoted on lots of underpowered speakers.
The Sub will go lower than the Stock Market prices and the level it delivers this too without distortion is truly amazing. It does not just deliver unrivalled sound it does this in 5.1 Dolby Digital Format as most home theatres and DVD players offer.
Play anything through it from MP3's to Games and it wont give up on you. In fact, it brings to life, sounds not normally heard under normal gameplaying conditions.
The small satellite speakers deliver true 3d surround sound and this is ne
ver more evident than during movies.
Example?
Sound test time.
Insert something like Saving Private Ryan into the DVD player on the computer. Watch th eghastly opening sequence on the beach. There are mortars exploding in the corner of my room by the door and bullets whizzing past my left ear. I feel like im actually there with this sound breakdown. Even the sea sounds so crisp than I can almost smell it.
10/10 for sound realism and quality.

Whats great is that its not just restricted to the PC. You can hook this up to a Playstation 2 and most HiFi and DVD systems too thanks to its mini jack inputs. This is the same size as your normal PC speaker inputs. So it can be used elsewhere to deliver unbeatable sound.

OK, it is a little expensive but it does deliver one of the best sound systems on the market. I recommend it to anyone.

Summary: