Cambridge SoundWorks Desktop Theater DTT2500 Digital Speakers

Sound Quality
For the tests I used a Soundblaster Live sound card. The speakers offer the same outsanding sound quality as the FPS2000's, and more. The speaker setup now includes two front speakers, a center speaker, two rear speakers, and a sub-woofer. Maybe I am hearing things, but I personally think the sound is cleaner now that the amplifier is removed from the subwoofer and in its own encased unit. Cambridge has included their own "Surround" emulator called "CMSS". This setting on the amplifier has a Music, Movie, FourPoint and Stereo setting. These essentially create some simlulated sound fields similar to what's on home amplifiers (i.e. Hall, Jazz, etc.). The movie setting on the amplifier did a very decent job of simulating 5.1 sound during the DVD's I tried. Of course, listening to them using the Dolby Digital option is even better.

Decoder Amplifier

Gone is the volume control and fader on a cable. Cambridge replaced this with its new separate amplifier. This was a great move, except someone forgot to put the fader and balance knobs on the amplifier. I may get flamed for saying this, but in my opinion, who cares. I have yet to use a fader or balance knob for anything useful anyway. Things you can control from the amplifier are things like center volume, subwoofer volume (YAY!), surround volume and of course, the master volume. I can't describe how nice it is to have a real console to adjust your levels on.

Dolby Digital
Yes, that's right. You can actually watch a DVD movie on your PC now and watch it the way it was intended to be watched. In Dolby Digital AC-3 sound. Dolby Digital is essentially an advanced form of digital audio coding, allowing us to enjoy movies in a whole new way. Dolby Digital was first experienced in 1992 when movie audiences got their first taste of real sound quality. Dolby Digital AC-3 (5.1) consists of five discrete full range channels: left, center, right, left-surround, right-surround and of course number six (or the ".1" of "5.1"), the LFE (low frequency effects) channel. If you are unsure what the LFE channel is, it is commonly known as the subwoofer. Cambridge had introduced Dolby Digital to the PC desktop with their PCWorks Desktop Theater. The new 2500's are a MUCH better unit. To listen to your DVD's in Dolby Digital format, you will require a DVD Decoder card in your PC, something like a Dxr3 or Real Magic Hollywood Plus. I used the Real Magic for my tests with the unit. I tested the sound quality with various movies and one of my favorites, Top Gun. After inserting the DVD, off go the lights, and kick back and relax. The movie sounded just fantastic. Having a home DVD system already, I am fairly use to DVD and its mind-blowing sound quality. To hear this kind of quality on your PC is what will blow you away. When the gaming world starts taking advantage of DVD and Dolby Digital, things are really going to change in the PC speaker community. With these speakers you are ready for what the future has to offer.