Cambridge SoundWorks DTT 3500 Digital 5.1 Surround Speaker System *UPDATED*

Features

Included on the front panel are volume controls for the overall sound, as well as individuals ones for the center, sub, and surround speakers. This allows for some adjustment of the relative balance, and the sub can be cranked enough to satisfy most people's desire for rumble. The front of the amplifier also has a number of selection options for choosing sources and effects.

Included in the system is processing for Creative Multi Speaker Surround (CMSS), which will upmix a stereo source to simulate a surround sound environment. One of the selections on the front of the unit is to choose between various processing effects, including Music, Movie, FourPoint/5.1 DIN, and Stereo. This could be used by anyone interfacing a two channel sound card, or a stereo external audio device, though for multichannel cards, it will remain set on FourPoint/5.1 DIN most of the time.

The next selection on the unit is to choose between digital inputs for Dolby Digital decoding. The choices are Optical, Coaxial, Digital DIN, or Off. Next to these options are the normal listening sources, which choose between Line In and Digital DIN. These would be used for gaming that does not output AC-3 surround data, standard computing sounds, or music reproduction. Currently the only way to get an AC-3 signal out of most computers is through DVD playback. The normal input has to be turned off when accessing the Dolby Digital input selection.

The remaining options are Audio Mode, which allows reproduction of one of the sides of stereo through both left and right speakers, Dolby ProLogic selection, and a Mute function for the system.

For control of the system even while sitting back from your desk, there is a remote control included with the system. It controls the master volume, as well as all of the selection options on the front panel. In addition, it offers two options only accessible from the remote - a test sequence of noise to check all of the connections and a feature described as dynamic mode. The users manual says this feature will allow the listener to experience the full dynamic range of Dolby Digital as opposed to the normally compressed signal the system evidently uses. The feature does improve DVD playback, though the need for such an override may just be an effort to get all of the other program material above the noise floor.