Is it worth it?
Written: Nov 09 '02 (Updated Nov 09 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Inexpensive, digital, nice decoder, very compatible
Cons: 2-3" paper cones, 5" sub under the decievingly large 8" 'dummy', not true 5.1
The Bottom Line: Pretty hard to say yes or no on recommending it, so I'll just put no and say, "Try the Z-680!!!"
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| midknight2k3's Full Review: Creative Technology Inspire™ 5700 5 Speakers |
MY STORY
I got this computer speaker set right after my purchase of a Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum (review coming soon!), and they are replacing my old Microsoft speakers. Fortunately, I have another old computer that the Microsoft's can be passed down to.
I had finally decided that it was time for a bigger, better system than my 4-year-old MSDSS80. I wanted the sound quality and a good brand/impressive model. I settled on a 5.1 system to compliment my expensive, digital sound card. I also wanted the set to be digital. Finally, I saw this system while checking out the Cambridge Soundworks system. I went to look for the box but then was told it was out of stock. Darn. But a big box caught my eye. It was the Creative Inspire 5.1 Digital 5700. I have seen the $99 Inspire 5300, but this was different. It had a big sub, and a huge control pod. I was immediately sold, and rushed it home. And I must say, it's a pretty impressive system.
IN THE BOX
The box is pretty heavy. And upon opening it, you'll realize exactly why. Included inside the box is/are:
- 4 small front & rear sattelites
- 4 satellite stands (Attachable)
- 4 black faceplates for the sattelites (Attached, Detachable)
- 1 larger center channel speaker
- 1 black faceplate for the center speaker (Attached, Detachable)
- 1 center speaker stand (Attachable)
- 1 pretty large subwoofer w/ Creative's SLAM technology
- 1 faceplate for the sub (Attached, Detachable)
- 1 horizontal digital decoder/control pod
- 1 huge power adapter
- 1 tiny little remote control for volume etc.
- 1 set of stickers for the cords
- 1 CD with drivers/utilities
- 1 set of cords (optical, digital, etc.)
THE SPEAKERS
The speakers themselves are very small. The 4 sattelites are all the same size, yet the rear ones have much longer cables. The center has an odd "half circle" shape, yet the speaker under the grille is a normal one. The big sub is probably the most mind-blowing. It is rated at a low 30W but can pump out some shakes pretty good. Upon taking the grille off of the sub, you are greeted with a HUGE 8" driver. Also, they use the Creative SLAM technology. Sounds like a neat feature, right? Or is it! Is the 8" module really the driver? See: THEY'RE DECIEVING YOU! later on. Let's keep moving here. Next is the center driver. Remove the grille and you are greeted by... a 3" paper cone driver. Hmmmm. Well, let's see the sattelites. Remove the grilles and you will see.. a 2" PAPER CONE DRIVER! No pun intended, Creative, but maybe you should give the speakers a little, uh, "upgrade" in your next version. The Center Channel is rated at 21 W and the sattelites a meager 7 W. They sound much better than they look, but, still....
THEY'RE DECIEVING YOU!
Wow. All I can say is, Wow. Why, Creative, Why? Why'd you do it? The truth is, the speakers use the "SLAM" technology. This stands for "Symmetrically Loaded Acoustic Module". So this means that the 8" baby you see is not the driver. Remove the screws and find out the sad, sad truth. What you will find is this: The 8" 'Driver', you will find, comes right out. No wires. You will see that it is just a "Dummy" speaker that helps give you more bass. What you see inside the box is the 5" speaker used in the 5300. I can not believe it! See for yourself at:
http://hardware.actiontrip.com/rei/scr.phtml?cat=r&pic=creativeinspire57007
and see the text/review at:
http://hardware.actiontrip.com/reviews/creativeinspire5700.phtml#deco
This piece taken off their website for those of you too lazy to go and see yourself:
"The systems' subwoofer is enormous but doesn't actually make that much sound. On the top left hand corner of the dust cover is a paper label boasting Creative's "Symmetrically Loaded Acoustic Module" (SLAM). The box says that SLAM subwoofers feature two chambers and a master driver moving a slave diaphragm. Basically, what you see on the outside of the sub is not in fact a massive 8inch driver but instead just a "slave diaphragm" more commonly known as a passive radiator. A passive radiator moves according to the pressures inside the sealed cabinet but has no driver itself. It takes the advantages of ported subwoofers -- they're very efficient -- and the advantages of sealed subwoofers -- they have tight, low bass, while not being hugely efficient nor being hugely tight, or low. What actually drives this passive radiator is a small five-inch sub within. The resulting sound is a little punchy but it definitely isn't low and it isn't loud enough when loud bass is needed."
Wow. And, MobiProf, I'm not doing this to make my review longer. I think people should know.
SETUP
Setup was pretty easy. First you must either attach the stands to them and set them on your desk, or hang them to the wall with the hooks on the back of the speakers. Then you put the stickers (included) around every plug so you know what that plug is. Example: LS = Left Surround, or RF = Right Front. Next, you run every cord to the back of the decoder and plug them in where marked. Almost done! Now you must choose your input: Optical, Coaxial, or Digital DIN. I use Digital DIN with my Audigy Platinum. FINALLY, you plug in the power cord to the decoder and to an electrical outlet. Upon pressing POWER on the decoder, the green lights on the top do a sort of chain, or a wave back and forth. Then about 2 of them will light up, and the dazzling blue Volume level light is illuminated.
SELECTIONS
There are 4 categories of sound selection:
Effect
Input
Speaker Levels
Effect
There are 4 effects: CMSS Music, CMSS Movie, Fourpoint Surround, and Stereo. CMSS Movie & Music upmix 2-4 channels into 5.1, and the result is a slightly "warm" sound. They sound 'boomy' and 'empty', not 'tight' and 'full'. The midranges are a bit over presented. On Fourpoint (4.1) the sounds are better. You can hear from all 4 sattelites equally. In Stereo mode, it is just the 2 front speakers & the sub. This also sounds pretty good. But, it's only 2.1 in the 5.1 system. Last, and the very best is Dolby ProLogic. This does no upmixing. It sounds great, the bass is tight and loud, and the speakers can usually all be heard. That is what makes me recommend this product.
Input
There are 3 inputs: Coaxial, Optical, and Digital DIN. There is also a Line In for PS, Xbox, GameCube, etc. I use Digital DIN and I have no problem with it, it works very well. Can't say much for the other 3.
Speaker Levels
On the decoder you can control the Sub, Center & Surround settings, and the overall volume. You do this by turning a knob. Pretty standard technology.
SOUND
In Dolby ProLogic, everything sound surprisingly full and smooth. I'd expect this much from a $250 speaker system, but still, it's pretty good. I especially like the decoder, because you control almost everything from it. I usually use these settings:
Dolby ProLogic
Sub: Max
Center: Normal
Surround: Max
With the sub on Max, you can really feel some vibrations, so it's really low rated at 30W RMS. This must be because of the 5" behind the passive radiator. But if you took off the Sub cover while you were booming some bass, it just looks real. Like it is a speaker. Who knows?
CONCLUSION
Is this for you? If you want good 5.1 surround with options and at a lower price, yes. If you want top of the line sound, check my OTHERS category next up. I am pretty pleased with the system, but you may not be. I really cannot say.
OTHERS
Klipsch ProMedia 5.1
Rating: *** 1/2
Est. $399
This system is expensive, but when it comes to sound, Boy! Can it rock! This system, too, has a control pod, yet much smaller than the Inspire's. From it you can control Volume and Speaker levels. It also looks nice. One gripe is the sub. It is too "Boomy" and not very full. I like full, clean bass. And the other is the Volume control. Not very good. It jumps around on it's own when you twist the volume knob, so it's like a gamble.
Logitech Z-680 5.1
Rating: **** 1/2
Est. $309
VERY good, Logitech! Very nice. This baby has the nice european speakers with the 'bullet cones' for much better sound. In each of the sattelites is one of these, and in the Center is two. The sub is bigger and cleaner from the Z-560. The control pod is awesome. It has a digital display and so many options. I like these much better.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
midknight2k3
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Member: Zakk
Location: Seattle, WA
Reviews written: 40
Trusted by: 13 members
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