When it came time for me to replace my set of NHT Super Zeroes, due to an unfortunate accident caused by my 17-month old daughter..."No honey, please don't kick those...honey? Honey! ..., I decided to do a little research before simply purchasing a new set of NHTs.

I was completely happy with my NHTs up to that point, especially from the rich sound they produced in such a small package, but I wanted to see what else was out there in the same general size (A bookshelf speaker as it were).

My brother, being the audiophile that he is, suggested I check out the infamous line of speakers by Cambridge. Not one to look a gift suggestion in the mouth, that's exactly what I did. After seeing countless reviews praising most Cambridge speakers, I settled down on the Model Seventeen variety of bookshelf speakers.

As indicated by the manufacturer, the Model Seventeen 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker is perfect for a smaller entertainment room, but is rated to handle up to 150 watts of power; enough to drive sound expertly through a larger arena. Unlike other bookshelf speakers in its price and size class, the Model Seventeen "...uses high-quality internal components, providing the frequency range and power handling usually associated with larger, more expensive systems..."

That's all well and good, but until you actually hear a speaker in action, and preferably in your living space, you'll just never know exactly how the results will sound for your own personal use. Fortunately, I was able to 'borrow' a set for a weekend. Hooking them up to my existing Yamaha DTS system with my NHT Sub Woofer and Super Center proved painless. The banana clip setting insured that. Next came the sound test.

After fully utilizing my NHTs over the past 2 years, I knew every nuance of their sound, their dynamics, and the response I would and could get from my 'entertainment room' (i.e. Living room... or for the parent astute, i.e. the place where your kid throws all of their toys). So as I powered up the system and played various songs at peek volumes (yes, the wife and kids were out shopping), I was pleasantly surprised at the response, the clarity and the overall ambience of the sound that these little bookshelf speakers put out.

The high range was exceptional and properly piercing without any distortion. It was like birds singing in unison, all at 100 decibels of course. The mid-range was superb, full of warm, ambient sound that surrounded the room. Just what you'd want to hear.

Of course, as with most bookshelf speakers, bass response is relatively non-existent, but it's not what they're missing that's the key, it's how they interact with your sub-woofer. I'm happy to say that the Model Seventeen complimented my NHT sub beautifully. The bass response either ignored at the proper times or slightly pronounced to simply add a little more substance to the overall sound. A beautiful effect in every instance.

In the right system, under the proper set up, the Model Seventeen will make you think you have far larger and more expensive speakers. And isn't that the point? More bang for your buck and, if at all possible, in less space?

Needless to say, I decided to keep my Model Seventeen's. Cambridge Soundworks has had a solid reputation for years, and now they have another loyal customer.

If you're looking for a smaller speaker with rich, vibrant sounds, and you're not looking to spend a fortune, look no further than the Model Seventeen speakers from Cambridge Soundworks. For less than $100 per speaker, you simply can't go wrong.

Speaker Features:

Min/max power: 15 watts/150 watts
5 1/4" long-throw acoustic suspension woofer with an oversized magnet
1 ¾" dome tweeter
Subtly rounded "bullnose" molding frames a black grille
10-year parts and labor warranty
Dimensions: 11 ½"H x 7 7/8" W x 6 3/8" D

Thanks, as always, for reading...



Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 90