Rating: 
Summary: I'm impressed
Review: This is the best PC speaker system I've used. There are better-sounding (and more expensive) PC speakers, not one full of features as this one. It allows you to set up a Dolby Digital movie system on your PC while also taking care of your other needs such as computer games. The package includes a Dolby Digital decoder that also serves as amplifier for all six speakers. It has an S/PDIF input for your Dolby Digital source, front and rear analog inputs (RCA plugs) for your four-channel sound card analog outputs, DIN input for your sound card's digital output, and a subwooder pre-out if you choose to use a third-party subwoofer. The subwoofer speaker it includes does sound a bit weak, since the power rating of the amplifer is laughably low compared to standalone receivers: 20W for center, 7W each for the 4 satellites, 22W for the subwoofer. But for a PC user, who sits close to the speakers, the low power is sufficent to give out amazing sound quality. The Dolby Digital sound from DVD movies is also terrific. Despite the subwoofer's weakness, the other 5 speakers give amazingly sharp, clear sounds. This is, I guess, a cheap alternative to an actual home theater system that would cost thousands. And its ability to adapt to both movie-watching and computer gaming is a great feature for some to have.
Rating:
Summary: I Love 'Em, but you might find better speakers out there...
Review: This speaker set is an amazing deal for the price. At $200, you get a true home theater system - including a center speaker, 4 satellites, and a subwoofer. The powered amplifier sits on your desk, has multiple knobs for volume, bass, etc, plus the crown jewel - Dobly Digital decoding. If you have a DVD drive in your computer, or a dedicated DVD player, or a Playstation 2, than you can watch movies in full surround sound, just like in the theaters. The sound will engulf you, moving from back to front and side to side and every other possible direction. DVDs these days take full advantage of this feature, and you won't be disappointed in it.Also, if you use this with your computer, and have never had a speaker set with a subwoofer before, you are in for a treat. Games especially take on a whole new life, as guns and explosions will shake your desk. Many 3D First-person games (like Half-Life) have 3D positional sound (with these speakers support) so that you can hear monsters come up on you from behind. Music also sounds crisp and clear, and I am finding myself listen to CDs often while I am surfing. A few things you should consider before buying: to use with your computer, these speakers require a sound card with 4-channel support. Also, you will need a DVD decoder card if you want to watch DVDs on your computer in Dolby Digital - this card pulls the Dolby Digtal signal off the disc and supplies it to the speakers amplifier. If you are not planning on watching DVDs with these speakers, don't buy them! You can get Creative's CSW1500, which are basically the same but without the dobly digtal decoder and thus cheaper, or Klipsch Promedia v2. 400 THX certified system, which are the best set of speakers you can buy for your computer, but do not offer Dolby Digital decoding, and are $50 more expensive. Lastly, these are computer speakers, and are made for an office or bedroom, not really large rooms. If you have a really big room with a large TV screen, this system might not be powerful enough for you.
Rating:
Summary: I Love 'Em, but you might find better speakers out there...
Review: This speaker set is an amazing deal for the price. At $200, you get a true home theater system - including a center speaker, 4 satellites, and a subwoofer. The powered amplifier sits on your desk, has multiple knobs for volume, bass, etc, plus the crown jewel - Dobly Digital decoding. If you have a DVD drive in your computer, or a dedicated DVD player, or a Playstation 2, than you can watch movies in full surround sound, just like in the theaters. The sound will engulf you, moving from back to front and side to side and every other possible direction. DVDs these days take full advantage of this feature, and you won't be disappointed in it. Also, if you use this with your computer, and have never had a speaker set with a subwoofer before, you are in for a treat. Games especially take on a whole new life, as guns and explosions will shake your desk. Many 3D First-person games (like Half-Life) have 3D positional sound (with these speakers support) so that you can hear monsters come up on you from behind. Music also sounds crisp and clear, and I am finding myself listen to CDs often while I am surfing. A few things you should consider before buying: to use with your computer, these speakers require a sound card with 4-channel support. Also, you will need a DVD decoder card if you want to watch DVDs on your computer in Dolby Digital - this card pulls the Dolby Digtal signal off the disc and supplies it to the speakers amplifier. If you are not planning on watching DVDs with these speakers, don't buy them! You can get Creative's CSW1500, which are basically the same but without the dobly digtal decoder and thus cheaper, or Klipsch Promedia v2. 400 THX certified system, which are the best set of speakers you can buy for your computer, but do not offer Dolby Digital decoding, and are $50 more expensive. Lastly, these are computer speakers, and are made for an office or bedroom, not really large rooms. If you have a really big room with a large TV screen, this system might not be powerful enough for you.
Rating:
Summary: Cool system
Review: This system will blow you away. Totally worth the money. Really cool!
Rating:
Summary: Cool system
Review: This system will blow you away. Totally worth the money. Really cool!
Rating: 
Summary: Correction
Review: To clear up an important error from my previous review, the "composite" audio input referred to should actually be called a "coaxial" input! Unfortunately, the review could not be corrected once posted. Some technical information for those interested: DVD players generally have a 1) Composite audio output using two RCA-type plugs for two-channel, stereo analog sound; 2) Digital audio via either a coaxial output (a single RCA-like plug) and/or a optical output (the port looks similar to a PS/2 mouse port). The composite audio typically is part of a three plug audio/visual wire recognized for its red and white (for the left and right sound channels) and yellow (for video output) ends, and is included with nearly all TVs and DVD players. Dolby Digital 5.1, which features six-channel surround sound, is only possible through the coaxial or optical outputs. The two are generally similar in quality; however, although nearly all DVD players include at least one optical audio out, some players (most notably the Playstation2) fail to include a coaxial out. Usually, this isn't a problem, as most full-blown Dolby Digital recievers feature multiple optical inputs and one coaxial input. The DTT2500, however, has no optical inputs, limiting digital sound to a single coaxial input (and thus preventing compatibility with the PS2). The DTT2500 also has two line-ins, one for front analog sound, and one for the rear. These are *not*, as mistakenly noted the previous review, for RCA-type plugs, but the stereo mini-plugs typically associated with portable audio like CD or mp3 players. This could be a problem if you're trying to plug in a device like a game console or VCR to the receiver with a standard audio/visual RCA-type wire. You need a RCA-to-miniplug wire, which is the type used to connect computer speakers to a sound card; however, this isn't included with the DTT2500. You could, of course, plug the device directly into the TV. It's worth noting, though, that the DTT2500 incorporates CMSS, which converts two-channel sound into a pleasant virtual 5.1 surround mode. In addition, it's unlikely that your TV speakers are anywhere near as good as the DTT2500's!
|
