Speakercraft CS3 TV Speaker Black
I've tried a number of the products on the market and I tried this last because at $599 it is the most expensive. However it is worth every penny and more.
Why I like it:
1) Wow factor sound - audiophile quality. When I bought the Bose Solo and the Zvox 580 I had to switch back and forth between tv speakers and speaker stand to validate the sound was better (and it was in both cases). With this speaker bar, you just know instantly that the sound is fantastic. In fact the sound is as good as the considerably more expensive and more powerful reference system I have in my living room. I think it may even sound better than the Bang and Olufsen system in my car. It is a delight. I have simply not heard a single unit sound system sound this good ever.
2) Doubles as the best speaker dock ever. Because of Bluetooth you can play music without having the TV on (something neither the Bose nor the ZVOX can do). This device is more expensive than the ZVOX 580 by $100. However the bluetooth means it doubles as the best speaker dock ever. I used to have a Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin, and listening to music on this blows that away. So I relocated the Zeppelin to my office since I didn't need it anymore in the bedroom. Seriously - it is the best compact audio system I have seen for the bedroom.
3) Looks good. Fit and finish exceed everything on the market.
4) It seems reliable. Unlike the ZVOX 580 which stopped working after 3 days, this is going strong. However I did my research, and I couldnt find any threads of this device turning into a brick. For ZVOX devices, there are several reviews of the device breaking down quickly.
What could be better:
1) The remote. But I bought a harmony for $26 to solve this issue.
2) Lack of display - It would be good if there were a display so you can see volume level and source.
3) With a better remote - it would be good to have a range of pre-configured EQ settings - although the default setting is actually very good for both audio and tv.
Other things to note:
Some people complain about lack of Dolby Digital compatibility. If your TV can only output dolby digital than this is an issue. My LG tv outputs either PCM or Dolby over Optical. So I connected the CS3 via optical, set the tv to output PCM, and I have 100% audio compatibility. I was worried about this - turns out the problem is much exaggerated by others.
BalasHapusAll I wanted was a sound upgrade to my bedroom TV, but I didn't want wires or anything complicated. A pedestal solution sounded like the right choice and CNET rated this one as the best so I got it. Man! I was a little worried that I would not feel like the $600 was worth it, but I quickly knew it was a great investment. It simply sounds great and looks clean and cool. My viewing experience just became much more rich.
BalasHapusI bought this unit from Best Buy because I had gift cards. I listened to what cnet said and listened to both this system and the ZVOX 580 and agree that this system sounds better and also has nice bass when watching movies or listening to music. The sound that comes from this when watching movies is in creditable!! I feel like sometimes I am in a theatre which sounds hard to believe but the sound is great for just a box. If you are worried about purchasing this unit read the CNET review or go to best buy and listen for yourself, you will not be disappointed! I have owned this unit for 4 weeks now and wanted to make sure I liked the unit as much as I did the first day and I still do. I highly recommend the CS3 to anyone looking for a basic easy to use home theatre system that produces amazing sound without all the random wires laying around or having to have a separate subwoofer. I have let many people listen to mine and they were very impressed and decided to buy their own. Now go get yours!!
BalasHapusUnbelievable sound and base quality!!!! Highly recommend if u want to make watching movies come to life!!!! This is also a high quality sound system that u can the music from your phone with the Bluetooth feature.
BalasHapusI've tried a number of the products on the market and I tried this last because at $599 it is the most expensive. However it is worth every penny and more.
BalasHapusWhy I like it:
1) Wow factor sound - audiophile quality. When I bought the Bose Solo and the Zvox 580 I had to switch back and forth between tv speakers and speaker stand to validate the sound was better (and it was in both cases). With this speaker bar, you just know instantly that the sound is fantastic. In fact the sound is as good as the considerably more expensive and more powerful reference system I have in my living room. I think it may even sound better than the Bang and Olufsen system in my car. It is a delight. I have simply not heard a single unit sound system sound this good ever.
2) Doubles as the best speaker dock ever. Because of Bluetooth you can play music without having the TV on (something neither the Bose nor the ZVOX can do). This device is more expensive than the ZVOX 580 by $100. However the bluetooth means it doubles as the best speaker dock ever. I used to have a Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin, and listening to music on this blows that away. So I relocated the Zeppelin to my office since I didn't need it anymore in the bedroom. Seriously - it is the best compact audio system I have seen for the bedroom.
3) Looks good. Fit and finish exceed everything on the market.
4) It seems reliable. Unlike the ZVOX 580 which stopped working after 3 days, this is going strong. However I did my research, and I couldnt find any threads of this device turning into a brick. For ZVOX devices, there are several reviews of the device breaking down quickly.
What could be better:
1) The remote. But I bought a harmony for $26 to solve this issue.
2) Lack of display - It would be good if there were a display so you can see volume level and source.
3) With a better remote - it would be good to have a range of pre-configured EQ settings - although the default setting is actually very good for both audio and tv.
Other things to note:
Some people complain about lack of Dolby Digital compatibility. If your TV can only output dolby digital than this is an issue. My LG tv outputs either PCM or Dolby over Optical. So I connected the CS3 via optical, set the tv to output PCM, and I have 100% audio compatibility. I was worried about this - turns out the problem is much exaggerated by others.
I bought the system to get some elevation to my TV, since its stand was too low, and maybe get better sound then what was coming out of the TV. I plugged in my TV via optical, put on a movie and WOW!! Made the room into a theater.
BalasHapusNice unit in looks and ease of operation. However the remote is small and chintzy, and easy to lose.
I would give it a perfect 10 with a better remote it would go to 11.