possessed
Full Throttle BOINC Roller
90 de 100
When a box arrives on your doorstep carried by a man who's just suffered a double rupture, you know there's something 'very special' inside. In this case, there were five little special things and one thumping great big one. Guessed yet?
13 May 02 Creative launches a direct attack on the high-end computer audio market with the release
of MegaWorks 510D, a fully specified 5.1 audio system designed for use with any sound source with analogue line level outputs for front left and right, surround left and right, centre and subwoofer channels. It also supports the six-channel digital connection from the SoundBlaster Live! 5.1 or Audigy soundcards.
LOUD AS YOU LIKE
The subwoofer is a large square box with no port, the eight-inch driver unit facing the floor, protected by a substantial grille. It also carries the amplification for all six speakers and all input/output connections. The sub itself is rated at a hefty 150W RMS, with all five satellites at 70W, placing it in a similar loudness bracket to the Klipsch ProMedia series and VideoLogic Sirocco Crossfire 4.1 gaming system. The satellites are small but with deep, curved enclosures. They carry a single driver unit, unlike both the Klipsch and Sirocco sats, which have both woofers and tweeters. Given that high frequencies seem marginally light on these satellites, it seems odd there's a switch on the sub to reduce treble still further.
How does it all sound? In a word: fantastic. This is by far and away the best speaker system released by Creative Labs from its Cambridge Soundworks division. We tested the speakers in a variety of applications, from music through games to full 5.1 DVD playback. While the high end is noticeably less crisp than our Crossfires, the mid-bass is very well rounded thanks to the larger satellite driver and deeper enclosure employed. This is excellent for gaming and DVD in particular, and gives a more 'musical' effect than the harsher but arguably more 'accurate'-sounding Crossfires. To my ears, these speakers have more in common with the Klipsch ProMedia that we rate as our Best Buy.
The subwoofer is mighty powerful, with a separate control for level. Turning this up seemed to do little more than muddy the sound in our test room, so we stuck with the default setting.
YOU MAKE THE ROCKIN' WORLD GO ROUND
We couldn't tell the difference between the digital and analogue inputs when driven from an Audigy, though Creative claims that SoundBlaster Live! 5.1 owners will get much better results from the digital input. What is undeniable, however, is that this system is the best high-end desktop 5.1 system we've yet heard – we've reviewed the Klipsch 4.1 system but have yet to see the 5.1 version, which in any case we'd expect to be more expensive than the MegaWorks 510D in the UK. VideoLogic has no 5.1 system based on the Crossfire platform, and its DigiTheatre 5.1 systems are in a bracket below this, so are not comparable.
If you're an out-and-out gamer, then perhaps this system is overkill as you really don't need 5.1 compatibility – 4.1 is quite enough, in which case Sirocco Crossfire or Klipsch ProMedia 4.1 may be better value. But for great gaming and DVD performance, Creative has this piece of the market by the short and curlies and we doff our hats to them...
inspire, o que é isso, umas destas é que rulam
When a box arrives on your doorstep carried by a man who's just suffered a double rupture, you know there's something 'very special' inside. In this case, there were five little special things and one thumping great big one. Guessed yet?
13 May 02 Creative launches a direct attack on the high-end computer audio market with the release
of MegaWorks 510D, a fully specified 5.1 audio system designed for use with any sound source with analogue line level outputs for front left and right, surround left and right, centre and subwoofer channels. It also supports the six-channel digital connection from the SoundBlaster Live! 5.1 or Audigy soundcards.
LOUD AS YOU LIKE
The subwoofer is a large square box with no port, the eight-inch driver unit facing the floor, protected by a substantial grille. It also carries the amplification for all six speakers and all input/output connections. The sub itself is rated at a hefty 150W RMS, with all five satellites at 70W, placing it in a similar loudness bracket to the Klipsch ProMedia series and VideoLogic Sirocco Crossfire 4.1 gaming system. The satellites are small but with deep, curved enclosures. They carry a single driver unit, unlike both the Klipsch and Sirocco sats, which have both woofers and tweeters. Given that high frequencies seem marginally light on these satellites, it seems odd there's a switch on the sub to reduce treble still further.
How does it all sound? In a word: fantastic. This is by far and away the best speaker system released by Creative Labs from its Cambridge Soundworks division. We tested the speakers in a variety of applications, from music through games to full 5.1 DVD playback. While the high end is noticeably less crisp than our Crossfires, the mid-bass is very well rounded thanks to the larger satellite driver and deeper enclosure employed. This is excellent for gaming and DVD in particular, and gives a more 'musical' effect than the harsher but arguably more 'accurate'-sounding Crossfires. To my ears, these speakers have more in common with the Klipsch ProMedia that we rate as our Best Buy.
The subwoofer is mighty powerful, with a separate control for level. Turning this up seemed to do little more than muddy the sound in our test room, so we stuck with the default setting.
YOU MAKE THE ROCKIN' WORLD GO ROUND
We couldn't tell the difference between the digital and analogue inputs when driven from an Audigy, though Creative claims that SoundBlaster Live! 5.1 owners will get much better results from the digital input. What is undeniable, however, is that this system is the best high-end desktop 5.1 system we've yet heard – we've reviewed the Klipsch 4.1 system but have yet to see the 5.1 version, which in any case we'd expect to be more expensive than the MegaWorks 510D in the UK. VideoLogic has no 5.1 system based on the Crossfire platform, and its DigiTheatre 5.1 systems are in a bracket below this, so are not comparable.
If you're an out-and-out gamer, then perhaps this system is overkill as you really don't need 5.1 compatibility – 4.1 is quite enough, in which case Sirocco Crossfire or Klipsch ProMedia 4.1 may be better value. But for great gaming and DVD performance, Creative has this piece of the market by the short and curlies and we doff our hats to them...
inspire, o que é isso, umas destas é que rulam
