Cambridge Soundworks (
http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/ ) is
reportedly among the best you can get for home audio systems in
terms of price/performance: excellent quality PC speaker packages
starting from $100 or so.
After looking around their web site and visiting a local store, I
decided to treat myself to their best "multimedia" system, the
"DeskTop Theater 5.1 DDT2500 Digital", for about $300.
PCs for Everyone (
http://www.pcsforeveryone.com/ ) has it for $279,
but I decided to buy directly from Cambridge Soundworks since PCs
for Everyone is closed tomorrow and I might get slightly better
support by buying it directly from the manufacturer.
But I just noticed hifi.com (affiliated with cambridge soundworks
somehow) sells it for $299, minus $25 for opening a new account
with them, AND they throw in a free DVD player (Samsung DVD-709,
selling for $220), and ship it all for free! What a great deal!
Here are a few more details on the speaker system:
hifi.com:
http://www.hifi.com/consumer/product_category/prod_cat_the_sys.asp
Cambridge SoundWorks DeskTop Theater DTT2500 Digital
Free DVD Player With Purchase!
Dolby Digital Surround Sound System, 5 Cube Satellite
Speakers, Powered Subwoofer, 2 Rear Speaker Stands and
Amplifier with built-in Dolby Pro Logic/Dolby Digital
Decoder, for use with DVD-equipped PCs or with Televisions
and Stand-Alone DVD Players $299.99
http://www.hifi.com/consumer/Product_Information.asp?No_Catalog=X&ProductNumber=C1DT25EE&prodcat=the_sys&cattab=4
Buy any complete Dolby Surround® sound system and receive a
Samsung DVD-709 DVD player absolutely free! Take advantage of
our $25 Registration Credit for first time buyers and our
free shipping to make this deal even better! Quantities are
limited, so order today! Limit one per family. (Please see
our Home Theater Systems home page for complete details of
this offer.)
Note: This system is designed for use in small rooms or with
a computer. This system does not come equipped with a remote
control.
Connect DTT2500 to a TV and DVD player in a den or bedroom,
and you have a great little home theater surround sound
system. Hook it up to a DVD-equipped PC and you have an
incredible "WOW!" multimedia sound system.
Cambridge SoundWorks DeskTop Theater DTT2500 is an all-in-one
Dolby Digital surround sound system. It has everything you
need to enjoy incredible, digital surround sound. Just plug
it into your PC or your TV/DVD* combination and let 'er rip.
The five satellite cube speakers are so compact, they'll fit
just about anywhere. They even come with a velcro kit that
lets you attach them to your walls or the side of the TV or
computer monitor. But don't let their small size fool you -
they sound terrific. They have smooth, accurate tonal balance
and will play loud enough to fill a small to medium-sized
room. The powered subwoofer is great! It produces bass notes
with impact and realism. The system does a very good job of
reproducing both music and movie soundtracks.
The control amplifier includes a Dolby Digital Processor,
Dolby Pro Logic surround sound, and Creative Multi-Speaker
Surround - which gives you convincing surround sound even
when you're using stereo or mono sound sources. DeskTop
Theater 2500 sounds great when you watch older movies or when
you listen to music CDs. The amplifier has a coax (SPDF)
connector for 5.1 digital sound input from a DVD player, plus
it has analog audio inputs for use with computer game sound
or with VCR stereo sound.
At Hifi.com, we're proud to offer the country this remarkably
affordable Dolby Digital surround sound package. For less
than the price of most Dolby Digital receivers alone, you can
now own a complete system that sounds really terrific.
Special Introductory Price: $299.99!
Save an additional $25 with registration credit for first
time buyers!
*An additional mini-Y to stereo RCA cable is required in
order to connect the DTT2500 to a TV or VCR.
http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/multimedia/desktop_2500.htm
DeskTop Theater 5.1 DTT2500 Digital.
High-Performance Amplified Dolby Digital Sound For PCs Just Got Better!
"If you want the absolute best speaker system on the market for the
PC, look no further." - Gamer's Depot
Only: $299.99
Purchase Cambridge SoundWorks DeskTop Theater 5.1 DTT2500 Digital
through our 27 retail stores or online through our exclusive
internet dealer hifi.com
Based on the award-winning DeskTop Theater 5.1, DeskTop Theater
5.1 DTT2500 Digital is a new system slated for use with multimedia
PCs. This high-quality 5.1 speaker system comes with the critically
acclaimed FourPointSuround(TM) FPS2000 Digital's satellite cube
speakers and subwoofer. Plus a Dolby Digital decoder amplifier.
Great for 3D game playing and much more!
DTT2500 Digital's Dolby Digital decoder-combined with its five cube
satellites and subwoofer-make it ideal for playing back 5.1-channel
games or DVD-encoded movie or audio discs with an amazingly crisp and
spacious sound. Its realistic surround sound effects are equally
amazing-regardless of the room acoustics or your listening position.
For an even more breathtaking movie experience, use DTT2500 Digital
with a Creative PC-DVD(TM) or any DVD player. It also enables you
to enjoy crystal clear digital audio through the DIGITAL DIN
connection with Sound Blaster® Live!(TM). Overall, the sound
quality compares to much higher priced home theater systems.
More technically speaking...
DTT2500 Digital's decoder amplifier has separate inputs for SPDIF
(AC-3) Dolby Digital, Digital DIN and analog stereo front and rear
channels. And the independent volume controls for master, center,
subwoofer, and surround speakers let you adjust the balance to your
liking. There are also many surround modes including Dolby Digital,
Dolby Pro Logic (from either the digital or analog input), and the
Creative Multi Speaker Surround (includes Music, Movie, FourPoint, and
Stereo) for the processing of any digital and analog material.
Placement
The satellite cubes come with desktop stands for the fronts and on
new, improved tripods for the rear channels. The subwoofer tucks away
nicely under the desktop.
PCs for everyone blurb:
Cambridge SoundWorks DeskTop Theater 5.1 DTT2500 Digital. Speaker
System Dolby Digital (AC-3) Surround Sound for PCs with DVD
Players. Consists of 5 satellite cube speakers, a powered
subwoofer and a control amplifier with built-in Dolby Digital and
Dolby Surround decoders. DTT2500 Digital's Dolby Digital
decoder-combined with its five cube satellites and subwoofer-make
it ideal for playing back 5.1-channel games or DVD-encoded movie
or audio discs with an amazingly crisp and spacious sound. Its
realistic surround sound effects are equally amazing-regardless
of the room acoustics or your listening position. For an even
more breathtaking movie experience, use DTT2500 Digital with a
Creative PC-DVD(tm) or any DVD player. It also enables you to
enjoy crystal clear digital audio through the DIGITAL DIN
connection with Sound Blaster(r) Live!(tm).
and finally the order confirmation/price info:
----- Forwarded message from orders@hifi.com -----
From: orders@hifi.com
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 17:11:08 -0800
To: gerald@impressive.net
Subject: Order Confirmation
Hifi.com
311 Needham Street
www.hifi.com
Newton MA 02164
617-332-0727
Thank you for shopping with Hifi.com! Below please find
important information about your purchase. Please take
a moment to print this information, as it will serve as
your receipt. Also note that you will be receiving a second email that
will include UPS tracking numbers that will allow you to track the
progress of your order 12-24 hours after it has left our warehouse.
Please return often to hifi.com, where you can always shop 24 hours
a day for all of your consumer electronics and entertainment needs.
ORDER TRACKING NUMBER: 37129
ORDER DATE: Jan-22-2000
USER NAME: [...]
BILL-TO ADDRESS: SHIP-TO ADDRESS:
Gerald Oskoboiny Gerald Oskoboiny
28 Fiske Ave. 545 Technology Square
Unit 1 Room NE43-340
Somerville MA 02145 Cambridge MA 02139
CARRIER: UPS Ground
PRODUCTS PURCHASED:
ITEM PRODUCT DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT EXTENDED
NO PRICE PRICE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
01 Cambridge SoundWorks DeskTop Theater DTT 1 299.99 299.99
02 Samsung DVD-709 DVD Player 1 0.00 0.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sale Amount: $ 299.99
Coupon: $ -25.00
Shipping: $ 0.00
Tax: $ 13.75
-----------
Total: $ 288.74
==========
PAYMENT TYPE: Visa
----- End forwarded message -----
--
Gerald Oskoboiny <gerald@impressive.net>
http://impressive.net/people/gerald/