<Introduction> <The Test> <The Good> <The Bad> <Conclusion> <Rating>

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Introduction

A few months back, I was at the local distributor of Bose audio systems to view a live demonstration of their mid range Lifestyle® 20 audio system. I must say that it was a totally 'ear opening' experience although some audio critics would not share my sentiments.

I must applaud the absolutely creative, innovative and stunningly visual demonstration done by them. To show the power of their satellite speakers, Bose used a large hollow case (approx 2ft tall) which looked like a real speaker, for half the demonstration, the sounds appeared to be coming from these two 'speakers'. Until somewhere in the middle, where these cases were removed to reveal the Lifestyle 20's satellite speakers mounted on stands inside. Now I was shocked that such small satellites could produce such crystal clear and life-like sound! I guess this very much proves that satellite+subwoofer speakers are the 'in' thing now, and with much reason.

Likewise, the Creative Desktop Theater DTT2500 is an equally stunning set of speakers, I guess this currently is the best speaker system for PC Audio on the spec sheet only. Audio quality is such a subjective issue! What may sound cool to you may not apply to another individual! 

The DTT2500 is essentially an FPS2000 with an additional speaker, amplifier and with Dolby Digital (AC-3) certification, which is quite the answer to many of your prayers! With the additional SPDIF In, I'm quite sure this will appeal not just PC audio users but audiophiles on a budget as well! At the listed price of $488, it is indeed a steal for a Dolby Digital unit!

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The Test

I had this speaker set hooked on to Creative's other top-notch offering, the Sound Blaster Live! Platinum which features Digital DIN out to fully maximise the potential of this speaker set! I did some testing with games like Need For Speed 4, Half Life and Quake 3 (just to name a few!), also some other audio CDs like Faye Wong's Song Tour and Inspirational Moments II and a whole lot of English and Chinese pop MP3s, of which I'll name some throughout the review!

Test Configuration
Processor(s):	Intel Pentium II - 333MHz
RAM:	1 x 64MB Hyundai PC-100 SDRAM DIMM (10ns)
Mainboard:	Abit BH6 (BIOS Rev: NV)
Hard Drive(s):	IBM Deskstar-5 4.3GB
Video Card(s):	Asus AGP V3400TNT/TV
Sound Card(s):	Creative Sound Blaster Live! Platinum
CD/DVD Drive(s):	Asus CD-S360 (36X Max) Asus DVDROM E608 (8X Max DVD-ROM)
Speaker(s):	Creative Desktop Theater DTT2500
Operation System(s):	Windows 98 SE
Drivers:	Creative CD Drivers Creative Liveware 3.0

Generally, audio quality is a very subjective issue, but I'm going to try very hard to stay neutral and listen then voice my comments. With regards to the slightly altered format of this speaker review, I urge you to voice your comments on the forum (the link can be found at the bottom) and tell us what you think of this style!

MP3 Music

Tuning the DTT2500 into 'Music Mode' was the best setting for the various kinds of MP3s that I played. Somehow, I just didn't like to use Dolby Surround Pro Logic (more on that later). Playing through my collection of MP3s revealed that some tracks were encoded with far too much treble and some with far too much bass, some even with static so I can't really comment on this, because my version of "I Want It That Way" (By Backstreet Boys) was be ripped and encoded horribly as compared to yours! But I would say that on the overall, the DTT2500 is solid, delivering the correct tone and pitch, albeit I had treble overload with tracks like "I Still Love You" (By Get Ready), but I guess that was an encoding fault as few MP3s met with that problem anyway.

A special mention for the track "Rave Robbers" by Paul Farrer, this MP3 was ripped off a Dolby Surround Encoded source, and the positioning of the elements was reminiscent of a more expensive audio unit (I shall mention no brands). Definitely, the DTT2500 is a winner in surround sound!

CD Music

I guess this would be one of the best ways to test the speakers as the CDs I have are the original version from each artist (I simply can't stand pirated audio CDs because of their horrible sounding remixes). I played "Ameno" (By Era, Inspirational Moments II) and I loved it a lot! For once the drum beats moving from left to right sounded better than ever before, extremely clear and crisp, I would have loved to turn up the volume, if I had not been greeted the digits 01:32AM on my computer screen! I played my favourite tracks from my Faye Wong CDs and the stereo was superb and excellent with richness beyond words could describe, those tracks were "Men" (Bored), "Ren Jian" (Mortal World) and "Ban Tu Er Fei", whoops I guess I can't just translate song names just like that, hehe! After that I tried my classical CD collection (I only listen to them before the examination period!) and tried out tracks like "Four Seasons" as well as my Sony Baroque Collection CD, and they sounded extremely clear much better than if I were to play them on my outdated 2 speaker system! No exception to the fine clarity when playing my tracks from my Vanessa Mae CD as well, a great thumbs up for playing the audio CDs.

Note: Audio CDs were played using my Asus CD-S360 and using the SPDIF output available on the drive connecting to the SBL Platinum. The DTT2500 was connected by the Digital DIN cable to the SBL Platinum to ensure digital sound for maximum clarity and minimum distortion.

Games

I'd say this is an ace when it comes to games as well, coupled with the SBL Platinum supporting EAX, I think this is one hell of a potent combination. When tried out with games like Half-Life, Need For Speed 4 etc. the surround was extremely good and one can hear the enemy, rather than see it (Half Life), I wonder what my neighbours would think if I cranked up the volume a little and then play a gun shot... :)

As for NFS4, the special effect sounds were excellent especially when I rammed against the obstacles or other vehicles, the DTT2500 simply continues to deliver without disappointment!

DVDs (Dolby Digital)

I tried this set with the 'The Mummy' and the sound reproductions were very realistic, the quality of the dialogue was excellent. The sound quality was so good that it sounded as if I was in a cinema, the only set-back was my puny 15" monitor, nevertheless I was pleasantly surprised by the ambience and spaciousness of the sound. Effects like the sandstorm came through better than anything I've ever heard from PC speakers, I guess the 'Dolby Digital' certification ain't for nothing either!

VCDs

Surprised by the amount of realism injected into the DVD movie, I just had to dig out my VCD collection to try some movies. Somehow the DTT2500 injected new depth into each movie and they sounded slightly better than they ever did, even when compared to my Kenwood VCD Hi-fi, the DTT2500 is hard to beat! Movies like Speed 2 and Jurassic Park were re-lived (and re-watched) with newfound sound clarity and richness! So, are you drooling yet?

The Sound Technology

I'm sure this is what you guys/gals would be most interested in, the audio technologies featured in the DTT2500, audiophiles may skip this section (hehe...) but I guess most of us (including myself) would read about this part in detail. The pictures I drew aren't very clear at some edges because I had them re-sized, my apologies!

Note: (1) The speakers are indicated by blue cubes and the listener is indicated by the orange circle.
         (2) Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not too audio savvy to really get my facts 100% right all the time. Thanks! 

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The Good

When I received this set from Jereme, I had trouble carrying it and I couldn't manage it alone, thanks goes to Jereme for helping me carry this unit all the way to my place. Well if the speakers are that heavy, they must be of a certain quality right? I wasn't wrong anyway...

There are many improvements on this unit compared to the old Desktop Theater 5.1 (analogue). Besides being more aesthetically pleasing (a sexy black), this set features a more powerful wooden subwoofer much like that of the FPS2000. Finally, Creative realised that their old plastic white subwoofer was not up to the mark. Although powerful, this new subwoofer is much lighter than that of an Altec Lansing ACS45.1, weird eh? But nevertheless, I declare the DTT2500's subwoofer better sounding, more realistic and less 'boomy'.

So much for the subwoofer, now to the satellites. Notice that in the previous Desktop Theater, the centre speaker was larger than the rest of the satellites? Now all the satellites are of the same size and are interchangable. Thoughtfully, Creative included a set of stickers for you to label each speaker should you want to shift the set from one place to another. Also the satellites are magnetically shielded so placing them near your monitor would be A-OK. I have the centre speaker sitting on top of my Viewsonic 15" monitor and no flickers were observed on the screen, unfortunately, the same could not be said for the subwoofer (it's sitting on the floor anyway).

Setting up the set was fairly easy but the mess of the cables gives me a headache any time, so much so that I wonder how I could keep the unsightly wires from creeping out. For starters, only the rear speakers use 5m cables, the front 3 satellites as well as the subwoofer use 3m cables instead.

Bare Copper Wires (Satellite)

RCA Connectors (Amp)

The bare wires provided were used for connecting your speakers and they are inserted into holes and these held firmly in place by spring clips. On the other end is the RCA connectors which is plugged into the decoder/amplifier.

The greatest plus point that the DTT2500 offers over the FPS2000 is the presence of the decoder/amplifer box, this is the master control station where the volumes for the subwoofer, centre speaker and the rear speakers are controlled, this decoder/amplifier box also allows you to turn on Dolby Prologic and switch about the 'Creative Multi Speaker Surround' (CMSS) modes. Apologies for the lack of shots here, I could not balance the decoder/amp box on top of my scanner and neither do I have webcams/digital cameras. But you could take a look at the rear of the decoder/amp set a look at the array of connectors available (click to see an enlarged view).

The Decoder/Amp Box (Rear)

Starting from the lower left in an anti-clockwise manner, we have the subwoofer out, a nice option should you want to purchase a powered subwoofer, followed by the RCA jack for the centre channel, the subwoofer, the right surround, left surround, right and left jacks respectively. Then you see a DC input of 15V. The switch above allows you to adjust the input to be an automatic selection or analogue only. This is then followed by Creative's proprietary Digital DIN connector. Next are the 2 analogue stereo minijacks for Line In and Rear In. Last of all is the SPDIF in for AC-3 input.

As I've already mentioned, the sound quality of the DTT2500 is just simply great. You're definitely getting what you paid for and more. Maxing the master volume dial on the decoder/amp resulted in no static nor distortion, but then I didn't play much with the dial set at maximum volume. It can be kind of embarrassing if the relevant authorities come knocking at your door to demand that you lower your volume on your system. Then again, what's wrong with playing 'high quality' sound to your neighbours? Haha... they should be privileged to listen to the DTT2500 in action... (of course I'm joking!)

Besides PC audio, I'm sure the DTT2500 fits the home theatre user (on a budget) pretty well. This set, specification-wise, is superior to the JBL ESC300 (for home-theatre), the only downside would be a lack of a remote control for volume, switching CMSS modes etc. (you get my idea...)

Vijay also mentioned in his previous reviews on the Altec Lansing speakers, to really sample the sound quality of the speaker, its very unrealistic to a shop and ask them for a demo. They will never sound the same as they did in the comfort of your own room, simply because the acoustics are different! Why I've heard Altec Lansing that sound so horrible, because the treble was tuned up together with the bass, yuck, that was such a nauseous feeling. I'm sure our members in the Hardware Clinic would gladly oblige if you decide to pay them a visit to sample the sound quality of the speakers they have. :)

I guess the tougher decision here would be deciding against the FPS2000 and the DTT2500, well I have this to say, if you have a DVD decoder card (Creative Dxr2 etc.) and watch quite a lot of DVDs, then this set is definitely more for you. Or if you're scouting for a low-cost home theatre system, this may be it! Also, take note that the added central speaker does not necessarily boost surround, because it's meant for dialogue output for Dolby Digital movies. That very much is the difference, if you're willing to shell out a little more for the DTT2500 over the FPS2000, its definitely a welcome move!

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The Bad

The first downside is that the DTT2500 does not offer a remote control for adjusting the CMSS modes, master volume, surround sound etc. An included remote control would have been most matching (like the one in the Aztech AMS 5.1).

I wished that treble and bass controls could be integrated into the decoder/amp unit for better control effects, instead of just using the volume software in Windows 98 to control it. Also, the rear and front channel balance control appears to be excluded, no idea why.

I'm quite sure that the subwoofer included in the DTT2500 is a passive unit, I won't mind paying 50 dollars more if Creative could include a decent powered subwoofer to the DTT2500, rather than have it as an option.

Don't forget that the subwoofer is not magnetically shielded and can really show adverse effects to your monitor when placed next to one. I guess you've already read what happened to Vijay's lecturer's Sony 200ES monitor, you don't want that to happen to you, do you? 

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Conclusion

Both the FPS2000 and the DTT2500 are great speakers delivering excellent sound quality and worth every single cent, but I guess the DTT2500 outshines its sibling (FPS2000) due to its Dolby Digital certification as well as a better control unit. The FPS2000 has all its connectors branching from the subwoofer as opposed to the DTT2500 having it on the decoder/amp set. Also the DTT2500 features a finer set of controls over the FPS2000 (which is just a knob). I think this pretty much wraps up this review on the best 5.1 PC audio solution in the market.

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Sound System Rating

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