When I reviewed the Creative SoundBlaster Audigy and Creative Inspire 5300 speakers earlier in the year, I have to admit that at the time I was a bit of a PC-sound amateur. Here at OcPrices however, we refuse to release sub-standard reviews that don’t cover all bases. I therefore spent over three weeks researching into professional audio, audio testing techniques and learning how and why the Audigy’s myriad of features were there. I also enlisted the help of some music professionals to aid me in writing a top-class review. My sound card before the Audigy was still pretty decent, and the speakers to go with it were also above average, but nothing prepared me for the improvement true 5.1 surround (or at least 4.1 with MP3s) brought. When I listen to my old speakers, they sound distinctly tinny in comparison.
Good though the 5300 Inspires are for a budget speaker system, they no longer fulfil my desire for audio quality at least in the same league as my new hi-fi. Enter the MegaWorks 510D, the new flagship model from Cambridge SoundWorks®, now a subsidary of Creative Labs.
Cambridge SoundWorks® MegaWorks 510D
Creative® Inspire 5.1 5300
500 Watts Dynamic Power
48 Watts Dynamic Power
70 Watts (RMS) per surround satellite (x5)
6 Watts per surround satellite (x5)
150 Watts (RMS) digitally amplified subwoofer
18 Watts subwoofer
32Hz – 20KHz Frequency response
47Hz to 20kHz Frequency Response
95dB Signal-to-noise Ratio
75dB Signal-to-noise Ratio
8” Subwoofer Driver, 3.5” Satellite Driver
8” Subwoofer Driver, 2.5” Satellite Driver
Digital or analogue inputs
Analogue inputs
As you can see from the above specifications, the Inspire 5300s are not in the same league as the MegaWorks 510Ds, and nor would you expect them to be at just £90 ($100), being over 10 times less powerful, with a significantly less impressive SNR (signal to noise ratio) and a much smaller frequency response range. Reviewing such a high end set up and comparing them to the budget Inspire 5.1 5300 is frankly absurd, and I thus borrowed my friend Dan’s much-acclaimed Logitech Z-560s. Lets' see how the two of these measure up, shall we?
Cambridge SoundWorks® MegaWorks 510D
Logitech Z -560s
500 Watts Dynamic Power
400 Watts Dynamic Power
70 Watts (RMS) per surround satellite (x5)
53 Watts per surround satellite (x4)
150 Watts (RMS) digitally amplified subwoofer
188 Watts subwoofer
32Hz – 20KHz Frequency response
35Hz to 20kHz Frequency Response
95dB Signal-to-noise Ratio
100dB Signal-to-noise Ratio
8” Subwoofer Driver, 3.5” Satellite Driver
8” Subwoofer Driver, 3” Satellite Driver
Digital or analogue inputs
Analogue inputs
That’s better, no one likes a one-sided competition! The Logitech’s are great speakers, but as you can see above - on paper at least - they are behind the newer MegaWorks in several areas. Overall power output is 20% less, the frequency response is moderately worse and the satellite drivers are half an inch smaller. That said, despite the analogue inputs, the quoted SNR is better than the MegaWorks, and also the Subwoofer is 38W more powerful. Unfortunately each of its satellites are 17W less powerful. Now we have a pretty much even playing field, lets' take a look at the MegaWorks package in more detail.
