This approach not only saved space, but looks more attractive than a sound bar sitting in front of the TV. Features and Specifications 1. Design: pedestal design with left and right channel speakers, two subwoofers, and four ports 2.2 channel amplifier/speaker/subwoofer configuration).
Tweeters: Two 1-inch Dome type (one for each channel). Midrange: Four 3-inch treated paper cone midrange driver (two for each channel).
Subwoofers: Two 5-1/4-inch downfiring drivers (one for each channel). Frequency Response (total system): 35Hz to 20kHz 6. Amplifier Power Output: 80 watts total (20 watts x 4), 4, less than.1%. Audio Decoding: Accepts, analog stereo, and compatible audio formats.
Not compatible with or audio. Audio Processing: 9. Audio Inputs: One One, One set of analog stereo ( analog stereo, Wireless connectivity (built-in Antenna).
In a second setup test session, the digital coaxial audio output of the Blu-ray Disc player was connected to the CS3 and the analog stereo audio outputs of the DVD player was connected to the CS3. First, to make sure that the reinforced rack was not affecting the sound coming from the TV, I ran a 'Buzz and Rattle' test using the audio test portion of the and there were no audible issues. Performance In listening tests conducted with the same content using each of the setup options, the CS3 provided very good sound quality, keeping in mind that the CS3 was only receiving a two-channel audio input signal from the TV, Blu-ray and DVD players. The SpeakerCraft CS3 did a good job with both movie and music content, providing a well-centered anchor for dialog and vocals, despite the lack of an actual center-channel dedicated speaker.
On the other hand, I found that when doing channel-specific audio tests using test tones with the virtual surround mode engaged, that the phantom center level was slightly lower that the all-left or all-right channel levels, which is understandable as the virtual surround processing changes the way sound is output from the left and right channels. However, the center channel vocals and dialog do not get buried under the left and right channel information when using the virtual surround mode, thus providing a well-balanced listening experience for movies, or surround sound music. Also, the CS3 also does well as a straight two-channel stereo playback system, if you prefer listening to your CDs or other music sources in a traditional two channel setup. However, the one thing you will notice in two-channel stereo mode is that the left and right sound stage is rather narrow. I found that the wider soundstage of the virtual surround mode added both depth and a wide soundstage for music-only listening that was beneficial. Using the Digital Video Essentials Test Disc, I observed a listenable low point of about 45 Hz to a high point of at least 17kHz (my hearing gives out at about that point). However, there is audible low-frequency sound as low as 35Hz, as stated by SpeakerCraft in their published specifications.
In real world listening, I found that the CS3 delivered a solid punch for movie low-frequency effects as well as providing a tight response for both acoustic and electric bass music elements. However, depending on the source material, I did find that I had to increase the bass volume to get the desired low-frequency output. What I Liked 1. Very Good Sound quality across a wide frequency range. The design and size of the pedestal form factor match well with the appearance of, and TVs. In fact, you can also use it with some video projectors -.
Wide soundstage when using Virtual Surround mode. Incorporation of wireless streaming from compatible Bluetooth playback devices. Well spaced and labeled rear panel connections. Excellent build quality - very sturdy. Magnetically fitted speaker grill. What I didn't Like 1.
No built-in Dolby Digital or DTS decoding. No Subwoofer preamp output. Remote control too small and hard to use in a dark room. No real front panel status display, except for a couple of blinking LEDs - makes it difficult to know how you have set the volume and EQ levels. A little pricey. Final Take There are a lot of sound bar-type products out there for consumers to choose from, and just as with any product category, there are good ones and bad ones. The SpeakerCraft CS TV Speaker is definitely one of good ones.
It has a very practical pedestal design that makes it easy to integrate with your TV, as well as a built-in speaker configuration, virtual surround sound processing, and enough output power can easily fill a small or medium size room (the room I used was 15x20 feet) with great sound for both movie and music listening. However, no product is perfect. There were some things I didn't like about the CS3, namely the poorly designed remote control and the lack of a front panel status display. I also don't for the 'TV Speaker' moniker tagged on the name of the CS3, as it doesn't really identify the unit properly.
Several in the group have an association with the, and have an interest in seeing the valuable but understudied skull collection freed from the stigma of bias.' Biologists and philosophers Jonathan Kaplan,, and Joshua Banta also published a critique of the groups's paper, arguing that many of its claims were misleading and the re-measurements were 'completely irrelevant to an evaluation of Gould's published analysis.' Stephen jay gould panda thumb pdf editor. Weisberg argues that 'most of Gould's arguments against Morton are sound. The group's paper was critically reviewed in the journal by philosopher of science Michael Weisberg, also of the University of Pennsylvania. Although Gould made some errors and overstated his case in a number of places, he provided prima facia evidence, as yet unrefuted, that Morton did indeed mismeasure his skulls in ways that conformed to 19th century racial biases.'
How about renaming it the 'SpeakerCraft CS3 Pedestal TV Sound System' - now that sounds a little more descriptive. It is also pricier than some of its competition, carrying a suggested $599 price tag. However, those negatives don't detract from the performance of the system. The CS3 provides a very good listening experience for both movies and music - it is definitely worth considering if you have an LCD or Plasma TV that ranges in screen size from about 32-50 inches, weighs 160 pounds or less, and its stand is the same size or smaller than the size of the CS3 pedestal.
For a closer look at, and perspective of, the SpeakerCraft CS3, also check out my supplementary. Additional Components Used in this Review Blu-ray Disc Player:. TV: (on review loan).
Software Used Blu-ray Discs:,. Standard DVDs: The Cave, House of the Flying Daggers, Kill Bill - Vol 1/2, Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut), Lord of Rings Trilogy, Master and Commander, Outlander, U571, and V For Vendetta. CDs: Al Stewart - A Beach Full of Shells, Beatles - LOVE, Blue Man Group - The Complex, Joshua Bell - Bernstein - West Side Story Suite, Eric Kunzel - 1812 Overture, HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Nora Jones - Come Away With Me, Sade - Soldier of Love.
The Good The SpeakerCraft CS3 has an excellent pedestal-style sound bar design, with a refined look that doesn't call attention to itself. Sound quality is outstanding for a pedestal sound bar, even with two-channel music. Its built-in Bluetooth is also a huge plus, making it easy to wirelessly stream music from many tablets and smartphones. The Bad It's expensive, especially when there are solid sound bars available for half the price. There's also no front-panel display, so you don't get any visual feedback when adjusting the volume.
And the included remote is cheap-feeling for a pricey product. The Bottom Line The SpeakerCraft CS3 is a handsome, excellent-sounding sound bar that's well worth its lofty price.
Visit for details. The SpeakerCraft CS3 ($600 street) is the best high-performance sound bar we've tested. For one, it features a 'pedestal' design, letting you place it under your TV rather than in front, which we prefer, for a sleeker look. It's also a top-notch performer, which is unusual for a pedestal sound bar, as they tend to sound thinner than sound bars with a separate sub. And just for good measure, the CS3 features built-in Bluetooth, which is frequently left out of sound bars, despite adding a lot of convenience. The CS3 has its faults, such as no front-panel display and a lousy remote, but they're relatively minor compared with what it gets right. The biggest drawback is its price.
Budget-minded buyers will prefer the ($300), which is a very similar product, albeit with lesser sound quality and less refined looks. And those looking for great performance will get better sound by pairing up a cheap AV receiver, like the ($275), with some inexpensive tower speakers, like the Pioneer SP-FS52 speakers ($260 per pair). But the SpeakerCraft CS3 is for those who want a simpler, unobtrusive home audio system that still delivers excellent sonics. You'll have to pay for its charms, but the SpeakerCraft CS3 is a worthwhile investment if you want a great-looking that will serve you well for years. Editors' note (November 1, 2013): The price of the SpeakerCraft CS3 reviewed here has been lowered to $399, making it an even better deal. Design: Low profile, refined look Aesthetically, the CS3 is a blend of the boxy Zvox Z-Base 420 and the more elegant.
While it has the same large footprint as the Zvox, the CS3's nicely curved edges and solid-feeling build quality give it a more refined appearance. The CS3 may be expensive, but it has a commensurate high-end feel. The SpeakerCraft CS3 (bottom) doesn't look quite as a sleek as the petite Bose Solo (top), but it's a bit nicer than the Zvox Z-Base 420 (middle). Tug on the speaker grille and it comes off easily in your hands, since it's held in place only by magnets. Even better, without the grille you can see that the CS3 has a serious set of drivers: two 1-inch tweeters and four 3-inch midrange drivers.
There are also two 5.25-inch subwoofers mounted on the bottom. The only considerable misstep in the CS3's cabinet is the lack of a front-panel display. That means you don't get any visual feedback when you're adjusting the volume or making bass/treble tweaks. The competing Zvox 420 includes a display that's cleverly hidden behind its speaker grille. The SpeakerCraft CS3 remote (right) is inferior to the remotes offered by Zvox (left) and Bose (middle). For all the thoughtful work that's been put into the CS3, it's a shame it's stuck with lousy remote. The remote is of the thin, credit-card style variety, with unsatisfying, mushy buttons.
The button layout is mediocre, too; you can't tell at a quick glance how to adjust the volume. We get the impression that sound bar manufacturers often don't put a lot of effort into the included remote since they expect many buyers will use a universal remote, but that's a weak excuse, especially when the Bose Solo includes a nice clicker at nearly half the price.
The soundbar market is making quite a noise these days. The compact convenience of these sonic slivers has proved a big hit with telly addicts eager to compensate for the rubbish audio offered by most superslim TVs. The latest maker to sound off with one is specialty hi-fi outfit SpeakerCraft, better known for its high-performance in-wall architectural loudspeakers. Only the brand’s CS3 isn’t exactly a sound bar, it’s more an audio pedestal. In many ways, the CS3 is even easier to accommodate than a standard ‘bar. Your flatscreen is simply parked on top. California disabled accessibility guidebook pdf editor. Not all displays will fit though.
The square-ish CS3 is unlikely to suit some of the wackier TV stands now available. Tipping the scales at 11kg, the CS3 is a substantial enclosure, albeit one unlikely to win many beauty pageants. The finish is a dull matt black and the only design flourish the SpeakerCraft badge on the magnetic grille. It can take a considerable amount of weight, though - a 55in screen will not present a problem. Audio inputs comprise coaxial and digital optical, plus a pair of stereo phonos. A Bluetooth receiver is also integrated, should you want to stream tunes direct from an enabled smartphone. The speaker also comes with a remote control.
The CS3 doesn’t offer any kind of video display, just a red/button power illumination LED partially obscured behind the speaker fabric. In use this can be problematic, as there’s no way of gauging what your volume level you’re. Setup is simply a matter of running a digital optical from your TV to the box.
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Most screens allow you to deselect the internal speakers in preference for an external audio solution, in the main menu settings. If your partnered TV does not allow for that, then the volume on the screen itself needs to be zero’d. It’s worth noting, though, that the enclosure does not have any Dolby Digital decoding onboard.
While this won’t present problems when using Freeview channels as a source, any DD bitstreams routed into the set and then passed through to the CS3, be they from a Sky+HD box or Blu-ray player, will result in nothing but deathly silence. All source components need to deliver PCM stereo to be heard. Full-range ferocity The CS3 isn’t short of muscle. Rated at 20W into all four channels (at 4ohms), it can thump with a ferocity that’ll terrify the average slimline panel.
Sonically, it’s a full-range speaker with a rich, well-rounded delivery. We measured it down to 32Hz, but it saves most of its energy for 100Hz. Mid-range delivery is tight and crisp, keeping dialogue intelligible.
Overall bass output is considerable, so much so that you might even consider ramping it back; bass and treble trim and boost are available, along with an EQ Reset, on the remote control. Although well-defined, inevitably the stereo soundstage is somewhat narrow. There’s a DSP Surround mode which spreads things out, but this isn’t actually that much fun to listen to.
The CS3’s Bluetooth audio performance offers functionality rather than fidelity. There’s no apparent support for aptX, but your tunes will certainly enjoy the up-front presentation. If you’re looking for a serious audio upgrade for you TV, then SpeakerCraft’s CS3 is well worth tracking down. While undeniably expensive for what’s on offer, it offers a more traditional hi-fi sound than it’s nearest rival, the Sonos Playbar. It’ll be interesting to see how this offering compares to incoming models such as the Denon DHT-T100 and Onkyo LS-T10 which adopt a similar design approach. Overall, the CS3 sounds great with movies, general TV and as a single-enclosure audio speaker, and when it comes to Bluetooth streaming, few docks can hold a candle to it.
HCC VERDICT SpeakerCraft CS3 Price: £600 Approx Highs: Powerful, full-range presentation, sturdy pedestal design, Bluetooth streaming Lows: No Dolby Digital decoder; no status display; no aptX provision Performance: 4/5 Design: 3.5/5 Features: 3.5/5 Overall: 4/5.
The Good The SpeakerCraft CS3 has an excellent pedestal-style sound bar design, with a refined look that doesn't call attention to itself. Sound quality is outstanding for a pedestal sound bar, even with two-channel music.
Its built-in Bluetooth is also a huge plus, making it easy to wirelessly stream music from many tablets and smartphones. The Bad It's expensive, especially when there are solid sound bars available for half the price. There's also no front-panel display, so you don't get any visual feedback when adjusting the volume. And the included remote is cheap-feeling for a pricey product. The Bottom Line The SpeakerCraft CS3 is a handsome, excellent-sounding sound bar that's well worth its lofty price.
Visit for details. The SpeakerCraft CS3 ($600 street) is the best high-performance sound bar we've tested. For one, it features a 'pedestal' design, letting you place it under your TV rather than in front, which we prefer, for a sleeker look.
It's also a top-notch performer, which is unusual for a pedestal sound bar, as they tend to sound thinner than sound bars with a separate sub. And just for good measure, the CS3 features built-in Bluetooth, which is frequently left out of sound bars, despite adding a lot of convenience. The CS3 has its faults, such as no front-panel display and a lousy remote, but they're relatively minor compared with what it gets right.
The biggest drawback is its price. Budget-minded buyers will prefer the ($300), which is a very similar product, albeit with lesser sound quality and less refined looks. And those looking for great performance will get better sound by pairing up a cheap AV receiver, like the ($275), with some inexpensive tower speakers, like the Pioneer SP-FS52 speakers ($260 per pair).
But the SpeakerCraft CS3 is for those who want a simpler, unobtrusive home audio system that still delivers excellent sonics. You'll have to pay for its charms, but the SpeakerCraft CS3 is a worthwhile investment if you want a great-looking that will serve you well for years.
Editors' note (November 1, 2013): The price of the SpeakerCraft CS3 reviewed here has been lowered to $399, making it an even better deal. Design: Low profile, refined look Aesthetically, the CS3 is a blend of the boxy Zvox Z-Base 420 and the more elegant. While it has the same large footprint as the Zvox, the CS3's nicely curved edges and solid-feeling build quality give it a more refined appearance. The CS3 may be expensive, but it has a commensurate high-end feel.
The SpeakerCraft CS3 (bottom) doesn't look quite as a sleek as the petite Bose Solo (top), but it's a bit nicer than the Zvox Z-Base 420 (middle). Tug on the speaker grille and it comes off easily in your hands, since it's held in place only by magnets. Even better, without the grille you can see that the CS3 has a serious set of drivers: two 1-inch tweeters and four 3-inch midrange drivers. There are also two 5.25-inch subwoofers mounted on the bottom.
The only considerable misstep in the CS3's cabinet is the lack of a front-panel display. That means you don't get any visual feedback when you're adjusting the volume or making bass/treble tweaks. The competing Zvox 420 includes a display that's cleverly hidden behind its speaker grille. The SpeakerCraft CS3 remote (right) is inferior to the remotes offered by Zvox (left) and Bose (middle). For all the thoughtful work that's been put into the CS3, it's a shame it's stuck with lousy remote. The remote is of the thin, credit-card style variety, with unsatisfying, mushy buttons. The button layout is mediocre, too; you can't tell at a quick glance how to adjust the volume.
We get the impression that sound bar manufacturers often don't put a lot of effort into the included remote since they expect many buyers will use a universal remote, but that's a weak excuse, especially when the Bose Solo includes a nice clicker at nearly half the price.
Resources and Downloads for SpeakerCraft Dealers SpeakerCraft Product Catalog Download the current. SpeakerCraft Speaker Solution Guide Download the. SpeakerCraft App For use with the SpeakerCraft MRA-664 multi-room audio controller and user interfaces.
PC Installer to update the SpeakerCraft MRA-664 Firmware. Read - Built-in streaming services, on-the-fly zone grouping and more. SpeakerCraft Viewer for iOS to configure and control the SpeakerCraft MRA-664. SpeakerCraft Viewer for Android to configure and control the SpeakerCraft MRA-664. SpeakerCraft Viewer for Mac to configure and control the SpeakerCraft MRA-664.
SpeakerCraft Viewer for PC to configure and control the SpeakerCraft MRA-664. Factory Reset EXE for SpeakerCraft MRA-664.
SpeakerCraft App Documentation. This guide provides guidance for installing the MRA-644 in order to ensure top performance for your customer. This guide provides ideas for designing the SpeakerCraft ecosystem around the MRA-664. This guide provides a list of the IR devices supported in the SpeakerCraft MRA-644. If codes are missing in the guide AND from the software, please use and submit to SpeakerCraft Training.
This guide prepares you for programming the MRA-644. SpeakerCraft App Integration Guides Last Updated: 11/7/2014 Last Updated: 10/3/2014 Last Updated: 7/15/2014 Last Updated: 7/31/2015 Last Updated: 7/15/2014 Last Updated: 7/31/2015 Last Updated: 7/31/2015 Last Updated: 7/15/2014 Last Updated: 7/31/2015 Last Updated: 7/31/2015 Last Updated: 7/31/2015 Last Updated: 7/31/2015 Last Updated: 7/31/2015 Last Updated: 7/15/2014 Archive PC Installer to update the SpeakerCraft MRA-664 Frimware. PC Installer to update the SpeakerCraft MRA-664 Firmware. PC Installer to update the SpeakerCraft MRA-664 Firmware. PC Installer to update the SpeakerCraft MRA-664 Firmware. PC Installer to update the SpeakerCraft MRA-664 Firmware PC Installer to update the SpeakerCraft MRA-664 Firmware.
PC Installer to update the SpeakerCraft MRA-664 Firmware. Legacy Archive.
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