Cambridge Soundworks MegaWorks 505

This 5.1-channel speaker system is light on bass but heavy on price.

Cambridge Soundworks' MegaWorks 505 is a solid 5.1-channel speaker set with good audio quality--in fact, it's the only 5.1-channel set by Cambridge Soundworks, which was acquired by Creative in 1997. For $400 (as of January 17, 2006), however, you can find better.

The design is pretty basic: The wired controller has no display and adjusts only the master volume. Subwoofer volume is on the subwoofer itself, as is a switch for raising and lowering the treble for the satellites. Other comparably priced speaker sets have controllers that let you adjust the rear- and center-channel volume. The MegaWorks 505 has no digital inputs, either.

As for performance, the MegaWorks 505 ranked fourth out of six in our latest testing group, producing good sound quality. One of our five testers found the bass to be weak in our stereo audio clip of Gorrillaz' "Feel Good, Inc." and in our DVD-Audio clip of "White Rabbit" from Blue Man Group's The Complex album. Another tester thought that audio details were surprisingly clear but that sound in the upper-mid range was brittle.

Cambridge Soundworks' MegaWorks 505 is a little expensive for what it gives you.

Narasu Rebbapragada

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