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Review 3 of 19
Price Paid:
$1000.00
from used Summary:
This review is more like two reviews in one. First, I've always been impressed with Cambridge Soundworks speakers ever since I first got some for my computer. I have a set of CSW microworks hooked up to this computer now, and the sound quality is fantastic, always enjoyable. So when I upgraded my Home Theater setup, I purchased a CSW MC500 center channel. BIG improvement, dialog much clearer and effects really grab you now, set your center speaker to LARGE, and you will be impressed! It also matched quite well with my vintage EPI Monitor 1 mains. After that, I decided to improve my surround speakers to the CSW S300. Wow, even if your seated close to them, it is hard to pinpoint the sound source, as the dipole speakers spreads the sound out so well. I was quite happy with this setup until I had the chance to purchase a lightly used set of CSW T-500s. Went to pick them up, and the first thing that strikes you is their impressive looks. I've been around HI-FI for quite some time, and to get a speaker that looks nearly as good, your going to have to spend a fortune; think B&W Nautilus, and NOT the small ones! So on LOOKS you've got a speaker that's in the top classes. After hooking them up I was prepared to hear a top class speaker, but that wasn't my first impression. Let me qualify this; My EPI's that they replaced were horn loaded, and quite bright. I had the setting in the tweeter turned all the way down on the EPI's and they were quite nice like that, but still bright. Also they were very efficient, something like 94db, so I never really pushed my receivers amp much. The T-500's were not as satisfying to me as the EPI's in the top end, kinda disappointing. For the good news; I got to toss my subwoofer! The T-500's have PRODIGIOUS bass. They will shake your walls, floors, windows. Amazing power, it's like having two 12" powered subs, I cant ever see needing more bass for ANY LF-effect. I was happy with that, but at a loss to understand the rolled off treble from these speaks. I mean, all the info says they are pretty flat to ~20, so they shouldn't sound like this. Just today I decided to hook them up to my HI-FI system. I'm a bit of a geek in that I have TWO separate sound systems, an HT setup, and a HI-FI setup which consists of PS-Audio preamp and 200 WPC PS-Audio amp, with a CD/DVD-Audio player as source. These are hooked up to a pair of Magnepan series III-a's. My maggies kick ass, but I wanted to give the T-500's a last chance to prove themselves. Well, was I in for a shock. Put on Sarah McLaughlan and what do you know, the highs are THERE, so is the air, and staging; Hello Sarah! Tried some Bach organ music, and WOW the room vibrates with the bass pedals, really visceral. Tried some Alice in Chains MTV unplugged, and it sounds "live" oh yeah! What's going on here? I was unimpressed with the speakers in my HT setup, but in my HIFI setup they rock. Looks to me I've found my problem, and they are not the T-500's. It's my reciever. Turns out the T-500's are VERY revealing of upstream components. I should have know this. Now I'm on the hunt for a better receiver. Thanks T-500's, I really needed to dump another grand or so into this setup. Strengths:
Thunderous bass; enough to scare small children and old ladies. Brings a smile to my face though... Looks like a million bucks. OK, maybe not a million, but you'll have to spend like 5 grand to get a speaker that looks as nice. Very revealing. Hook them up to top quality equipment, and you'll know you've got top quality equipment Weaknesses:
Very revealing. If you hook these up to your average reciever, be prepared to be unimpressed. Similar Products Used:
Magnepan, Advent, KLH, EPI, ect, ect. I've been at this a few years now.
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