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

Conclusion

The production model of the Cambridge SoundWorks DTT3500 has sufficiently addressed the noise issues that arose in our original review of a preproduction unit. Before, it was not a viable sound solution, as it was too noisy to leave on for extended periods of time. With this noise eliminated, it is possible to get a better idea of the sonic quality, as the sound is not permeated by noise.

This speaker system is not the most sonically profound system available. It does not have the same transparent frequency response that some systems do, though it does reproduce parts of the spectrum very well. The sub is very strong and will keep things shaking beneath any desk. Crossing over between the satellites and sub seems to drop some of the lower mid frequencies, cutting into the vocal range somewhat. The upper mids and highs are very present; at some points the system is too crisp. However, individual applications dictate to some extent the sonic quality needed.

It is important to note that this system is not designed to accompany the six channel audio cards that are coming on the market now. Keeping the surround sound decoder outside of the computer is a good idea, and also ensures that this system would be compatible with anyone that has a sound card with digital out. However, for anyone that does not have a digital out, the system would be inappropriate. Though it crosses over the lowest frequencies from the satellite channels, it only offers analog connections to the front and rear stereo satellites. Running the system in conjunction with any card that offered only analog outs, be it a four or six channel card, would essentially turn it into a 4.1 system, which Cambridge SoundWorks already offers, and at a lower price.

The strongest foothold for this system is with computer gamers. The system has a sub woofer designed to keep up with explosions and impacts that help make computing a "sensory experience," just short of force feedback. The satellites will keep up as the volume is raised, though they do not have the most even tonal quality. But for most gamers seeking a system that is also flexible for watching the occasional DVD in full AC-3 glory, the sound is satisfactory enough that the system's features are enough to justify it as a strong option.

Connectivity is where the system excels. As mentioned previously, a lot of thought went into the decoder/amplifier unit. The Digital DIN connection to a Live! soundcard supports multispeaker surround sound for gaming with the quality of a digital connection. At the same time, it still offers full external Dolby Digital AC-3 decoding, available through the same connection by simply switching the input category to the Dolby Digital / PCM input bank. This signifies that it is a merging of both a gaming and a PC based home theatre speaker system.

For gamers, this is important, as an external decoder amplifier that connects to any soundcard via an SPDIF connection will not offer the 3D sound features their games support, as no soundcards currently encode Dolby Digital info from the game audio output in order to output via a encoded (AC-3) digital connection. By supporting both standards at once, the only downfall is that the input selection has to be changed on the amplifier in order to access full Dolby Digital; however, this is a reasonable sacrifice for having both functions available to gamers.

For individuals that play fewer games at the computer, but use it more as a PC based home theatre system, the sonic quality of the system is going to hold back the DTT3500 from being the best choice. Though its subwoofer will keep up with the LFE channel in the best soundtracks, the vocal reproduction is lacking somewhat. The satellites are a little harsh for reproducing effects and environmentals as they lack the sonic transparency that is desirable for subtlety in the listening experience.
At a price of $299, there are other surround sound systems available without the gaming features of this system that will provide higher quality. Likewise, for those whose listening activity is mostly limited to music playback, the system goes above and beyond what is necessary, as its price does not justify its sonic quality alone.

In conclusion, the production units of the DTT3500 offer an extremely flexible sound solution for the PC. For anyone needing all of the options it offers, the system will simplify the desktop with fewer connections and the added flexibility of the remote. For individuals seeking pure sonic quality, the system falls somewhat short; there are better values available. For those concerned that preproduction units may have been sold, the problem was discovered prior to commercial release and the systems were inspected and the problem eradicated.

Thank you to everyone that took the time to offer their experiences with the commercially available units. Through reader response, we were able to identify the issue at hand, and get this addendum out as quickly as possible once the new system was received.