the hook up on the ensemble II is a bit unorthodox. the left and right speaker level wires (i know most of you know this, sorry) come in on a pair of binding posts (right pair//left pair) these SAME binding posts are used to travel to the smaller midrange-treble speakers. it was rather funny, this experienced stereo nut that i am, trying to figure out how to wire it up the first time. it was a clearance with chipped speakers and no manual. if i may brag 80.00 dollars too, which was dumb luck. anyway this "friction connection" or "pressure connection" being the only link for the sub and sat bothered me a fair deal. i heard what most of the people here (the slight detractors) were experiencing. so i tried some goofing around. if you imagine the right and left speaker wires coming off the amp and running to the proper posts on the sub. just 2 to 4 inches before the post connection on the sub, i soldered in the wires to the sats. what i wanted to do was let the frequencies go where they should go, well, more easily. i should say i am no engineer, or even a wanna be, so this is daydream guesswork. anyway, holly cole sounds legit. i believe there was a small increse in volume, (wanted or not, it sounds that way). anyone with input please jump in. it could be a neat tweak, or maybe not. when home ergonomics and sound and all else are considered, i would give it a 4. ps. it was the new ensemble II

I have owned the CSW Ensemble II system for about 4 years now and they seemto sound better with age. The dimensions of my living room are 12.4' x 19'.

I found that for this size room the Ensemble II reproduces the variety of
music I listen to (Classical, Jazz, Rock, Dance, Easy Listening ...Etc)
with a effortless non-fatiguing soundstage. I would agree that the bass
does not put cracks in the walls but this can be over come by adding a
good powered subwoofer.

I added the CSW Home Theater speakers to this system ( Center Channel Plus,
Surrounds and Powered Subwoofer) and get a very enjoyable, dynamic presence
with Pro-Logic. My Surrounds are mounted 7 feet above the listening position
and are spaced about 12 feet apart. I have my receiver's delay set to 16 msec.

Note: You can find a helpful Rear Channel Delay Graph at
http://www.smr-home-theatre.org/Interface.html

The Powered Subwoofer is rated to go below 30 Hz and it does "Rock the House"
with movies and music. I have it placed in the left front corner of the room.

I would suggest that speaker placement and adjustment be tweaked until you get
the best stereo image. You my even try placing the satellites farther apart.
My sats are about 12 feet apart and mounted on stands because I found a wider,
more open sound with this configuration.

If you have your center channel speaker higher than ear level I found
a tweak that worked well. I placed a wedge under the center speaker so, the
sound is aimed more to ear level. This provided more clarity and definition.

I have been very pleased with the Ensemble II and would recommend it
as a excellent Entry to Med level system that can be expanded to meet your needs.

I have had the Ensemble II system for 3 years and, more importantly, in 3 different apartments. I used to like them but now I have to get something new. Why? Well, they do produce high quality sound--clear, crisp, a little tinny (easily fixed with proper placement) and are well-built, but in a large room (as I have now) their balance dissappears fast, especially in the upper bass. I added a CSW powered sub which has improved my bass, but I'm still unsatisfied. ONLY BUY THESE SPEAKERS FOR USE IN A SMALL, REVERBERANT ROOM. In a large area, especially with carpets and other sound-absorbing objects/surfaces, they will leave you feeling hollow and distant.

I had Enseble IIs w/ the passive sub for about 6 years before also getting the Surround II 5.1 and CenterChannel II in Jan of this year. For a while, I figured they were good enough but after hearing speakers from Paradigm, NHT, B&W, M&K, Atlantic and Acoustic Energy (which I eventually will replace them all with), CSW came across as incredibly bright, tinny and very lacking in midrange tones. I use my system for about 70/30 in favor of music and after doing a side-by-side comparison last night, I couldn't believe the difference between the Ensembles and the AE Aegis Ones. No comparison. The AEs have alloy cones, are much beter built and cost LESS. While CSW do sound OK for small rooms, they are overpriced and can be easily beaten by the other brands listed above.

I purchased the CSW Ensemble II system after auditioning a number of sub/sat systems including systems from Bose, JBL, and Polk Audio. I settled on the Ensemble II not because it was the least expensive system but because it sounded better than all of the other sub/sat systems I compared it to.
The Ensemble II system was priced comparably to the JBL system and was less than half the cost of the Bose and Polk Audio offerings. If there is a better value in sub/sat systems under $1000 I have not come across it.

Only negative I have discovered is that at higher volumes (higher than I typically choose to listen at) the speaker seams to sound flat and lifeless. I'm not sure how much of this is a function of the amplifier.

All things considered, CSW provides exceptional value.

My friend owns these speakers and they are mediocre at best. The price range isn't too bad but I have to agree wholeheartedly with the last review about much better speakers being available at the same price point. These speakers would be OK for smaller appications like a small bedroom...maybe. (Even then, I would consider other options). I have to give an unenthusiastic 2 stars.

handsome, compact, good sound when compared to "bought-from-a-truck" quality speakers.

terrible sound when compared to true high fidelity mini-monitors in the same price range (NHT, PSB, Polk, Infinity, Paradigm, etc.)

I agree so strongly with one of the reviewers below, that I'm going to quote him at length. I'd just add that the rave reviews below all appear to come from people who are upgrading from RadioShack-quality speakers, and have not yet heard the true high fidelity mini-monitors now available for a couple hundred dollars (such as NHT, PSB, Polk, Paradigm, etc.). For the same price, any such speaker will give you as much of a quantum leap over the Ensembles as the Ensembles gave you over your Pioneer or Radioshack speakers!

Now then, here's the quote I liked:

"First problem: they aren't shielded so you can't put them near the tv. Center channel use is out of the question- must by center channel plus speaker.
Upon opening for the rewire, I noted that: cheap caps and iron core inductors are use for the crossovers, large paper cone tweeters are used (narrow dispersion and poor sound), the vinyl covering is cheap and easily marred.
Hooked them up and let the crank for a few hours.
Sat down to watch a movie. The actors sounded like they were inside the sats. Tried changing placement, height, toe and the same for the "sub" (crime to call it that). Frequency response is real uneven.
Sorry kids, this setup is going to be used ay my friends hunting camp- way to cheesy sounding for anything approaching serious listening. At least I only spent about $250 for the whole rig!
Do as I say, not as I do."

Excellent midrange and open sound

Mediocre bass output...but considering size (small) and price (low) of sub-woofer its not bad.

I purchased this system along with the CSW Center Channel Plus center speaker to use in my bedroom. I will use this setup equally for music as well as TV. Since the remodeling of my bedroom is not complete I have placed these speakers in my family room and using it as part of my Home Theatre System. I am using it with a Harmon Kardon AVR25 II receiver. This receiver is Pro-Logic only and puts out 65 watts per channel.

Here's my impression for the 2 months I've been using it:

For Music: Reproduces music very well. I mainly listen to jazz and the vocals are outstanding. Dianne Reeves voice comes through so clearly...bass sound is only average...but it frankly exceeded my expectations given the size of the subwoofer. Overall, I think this is an excellent system for music in a medium to small room. This system does not project well outside 10 ft. If you are looking to fill a medium to small room with sound and want to stay within a low budget...look no further.

For Home Theatre: DON'T DO IT! The sub-woofer can NOT put out enough bass to be part of an adequate home theatre system. I used these speakers with the CSW center channel plus center speaker, which is only average at best for a center speaker (I will submit a review the center speaker separately). If you want to used the New Ensemble II in a bedroom or a 2nd TV room then I think its an excellent use. It's definitely an improvement to the speakers on any TV I have heard but it's not appropriate any anyone's main Home Theatre system.

Overall: If you are going to use these speakers in a small room and will primarily listen to music...then I'd consider these to be an outstanding value purchase. Great for apartment living and dormrooms...but not as part of a real home theatre system.

Similar Products Used:

None

Small footprint, clarity of sound, price, excellent build and workmanship

system is very placement sensitive

I always think it is funny to see reviews which compare a low cost speaker design to state of the art, audiophile speaker systems. Such reviews often compare (like in this example) a $250.00 system to one that costs thousands of dollars more. The reviewer will then assign maybe 1 star out of 5 to the product and declare it "junk." Absolutely hilarious!

Often times these comparison reviews will push the overall rating of a product lower than it really should be... if all things are considered equal.

First of all I must say that the Ensemble II system will NOT satify, for example, Joe Audiophile that has a complete seperates system with monoblock tube amps and Martin Logan speakers. The Ensemble II system is intended to be a reasonably priced entry to mid level home system for a person in a:

(1) smaller living environment (such as an apartment or condo).

(2) Who does not like the typical "mass-fi" sound of so many loudspeakers in this price range.

(3) Who does not have the space or desire for large cumbersome electronics or speakers.

When all the design parameters are considered, the Ensemble II's shine as compared to the competiton. In fact, they outperform systems that sometimes cost twice the price. I have compared them to Bose, Yamaha, Sony, Klipsh, and JBL systems and they have outperformed them.

The price that is paid in the design of these speakers is twofold:

(1) Super-top-of-the-line bass response is NOT evident (extends to about 40 Hz - low enough to enjoy the system, but not so low to disturb neighbors in an apartment/condo situation), and

(2) the speakers are somewhat placement sensitive for bot the satillites AND the passive subwoofer - plenty of tinkering is needed to adequately find placement for the speakers.

If you are using the system in a small to mid size apartment/condo for your home theater system, you would do best to purchase a MATCHING center speaker and decent surrounds. Also, I found that a home theater setup disk (like AVIA or Video Essentials) was essentital to set up the system for its fullest.

The system also works extremely well with an optional powered subwoofer - I have the CSW BassCube 10, and it works wonders in smoothing out the bass response of the system.

The best tips for setup I would give this system is to:

(1) DO NOT simply hang the speakers on a nail on the wall - buy some good adjustable speaker brackets. Angle the satillite speakers inward and downwards directly to your main "viewing" area for your home theater setup - imaging and soundstage will be dramatically improved.

(2) Play with the placement of your sub to get the best response from it. My room acoustics tend to emphasise bass response at 150 Hz and at 50 Hz - making the room sound boomy and lacking deep bass - placement of the sub made all the difference in the world! I finally found the best spot for the sub where it is natural and fairly flat down to about 40 Hz.

(3) Get a closeout powered BassCube from Hifi.com or off of eBay - the cost is around $100 for the 8" model off eBay and $160 for the 10" model. I have solid and flat bass response which goes down to about 34 Hz and the system sounds like one costing MUCH more.

Bottom line, the Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble II system represents an excellent value on todays speaker market. I give it 5 stars for Value and 5 stars overall - it does everything that it is designed to do.

Similar Products Used:

Bose 901's, Bose 601's, Klisph Heresey's, Klipsh Fortes, JBL Mini Monitors, Carver equipment

Size

Fatigue is fearce

Was very excited about getting a higher end sat/sub line from Cambridge (I'd use the Ens. IV before). Unfortanately I was not overly impressed with this rig. The sub is larger and better, but of course passive. The sub isn't the problem though. Extreme fatigue (very harsh and tinny) when listened to at higher volumes. Weak in mid-base, and no deep base. Still, at $125 not a bad buy. If you want a pair of cheap speakers go with the Cambridge Model 17's or BIC 52 or 62 series. You can get those on line for around $75 a pair and they will produce a much better full range sound (down to the mid 50's response).
The Cambridge series is overrated, but this line is definately superior to the acoustimass. Don't make that mistake. If you can get a powered sub I think the Ens. 4 cubes are very comparable to these if you want some cheap sats. I've just found that a small full range bookshelf speaker will dominate a sub/sat system (at least if you're under the $500 range).

Similar Products Used:

Bose, Advent, Velodyne, Paradigm, Polk, etc...