.Cambridge FPS2000

[imgod2u]

I've read the review here at anandtech on the Cambridge FPS2000 sound system. The review left a pretty good impression. However, I've bought these speakers and for some reason, they suck. Environmental audio and 3d positioning is awesome, not to mention the base. But for some reason, most music and games I play where the sound gets intense, the speakers have a lot of noise. And I mean a lot, it's like listening to cheap headphones (except for the incredible bass of course). Anybody else having this problem? I'm using a Sound Blaster Live Mp3+ with it's digital out with these speakers. My system's a Pentium 3 866 on an Asus CUSL2 (i815 chipset). Is there a setting I'm missing? Could there be a wire loose somewhere?

 

[gtd2000]

I'd to know also - I'm going to buy a set this week...
I'd read somewhere that the Altecs were better for music?

 

[imgod2u]

Which Altec one?

 

[gtd2000]

The Altec 56 Digital (Gamers Edition) ?
I'm just going by memory now...
I'm still going to get the Creative speakers...let me see if I can find the review for ya...

 

[gtd2000]

Sorry can't find the site where they did the reviews...
here is an extract of another review for the FPS2000

"Conclusion
If you haven?t stepped up to a Positional sound card setup such as the Live or Vortex cards than you really owe it to yourself to give them a try. I can promise that it will be hard to return to a 2-speaker setup ever again. And if you do or just have an older set that you have been thinking of replacing than I would strongly suggest that you give the FPS2000 a serious look. Just a warning though if you go to somewhere like CompUSA that has one of those multiple speaker displays, most these setups don?t allow for configuring all 4 speakers and the subwoofer, but even with only 2 satellites going it still sounds damn good. For a retail price of $199.99 (I?ve seen them as cheap as $149.99 by searching www.pricewatch.com), they are probably the best 4-point speakers currently on the market without going into a higher price range. I personally decided to get a set for myself as I had a real hard time giving up the set I was using. MP3?s and games never sounded as good as they do now?. these babies thump!"
the site is:

http://www.3drage.com/hardware/sound/fps2000/d.shtml

 

[gtd2000]

found it..
Text

 

[imgod2u]

Yes, I've read the reviews, doesn't change the fact that these speakers can't seem to handle high frequency sound very well. Low and medium are great, but high seems to get a lot of noise.

 

[gtd2000]

I've got the speakers now...and to be fair - I'm not overly impressed at all..
They sounded great at my mates house...
I have that annoying crackling sound when using the digital connection...have e-mailed creative about it..they asked if I had any conflicts with my SB live card.

here is the reply:
"Dear customer,

Which game do you try before? Does your SB Live! sound card
share IRQ with other device? If yes, try to move the sound card to another
PCI slot.

Rgds,

Technical Support"


I'm actually feeling that I should have bought another set of Altecs now...I can still change the speakers until friday - so maybe I will?
I know what you mean about the bass..it is pretty crap..

this is my next e-mail to them:

"Dear Sirs,

I recently purchased (13th October 2000) the FPS2000 ?Digital? speakers for my SB Live DE soundcard.

I have noticed that when using the DIGITAL connection I am experiencing crackling noises. This DOES NOT HAPPEN when using the ANALOG connection method.
(Crackling noises sound like static discharge)

I have now been reading on various Internet sites that THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM with the SB Live and the digital output.

Can you please explain what the problem is and how to resolve it?

I specifically bought the Live DE to have the option of using the DIGITAL OUTPUT. I am currently not using the digital output due to the noise generated!

The problem seems to be more frequent when playing 3D games with EAX.

I don?t want to use the ANALOG connection method because the ?FPS2000 Digital? speakers were bought specifically for the DIGITAL function

This is not a problem specific to my computer ? many other people are also having this problem around the world.

Please answer the actual question as my friends and I have posted queries to Creative Labs HK previously and received very unsatisfactory answers (if at all!) to previous technical problems.

My Computer is as follows:

ABIT BH6.
PIII 450Mhz.
128MB RAM.
Creative GeForce Blaster.
Creative Soundblaster Live DE (OEM).
Speed optical daughter card.
Tekram C210 video capture card.
3com Ethernet card.
Zoltrix 56K modem.
Creative FPS 2000 Digital Speakers.

Regards
GD
Tuen Mun

They will probably ask me somthing stupid like.. "Is the card connected properly?" or suchlike... groan...

 

[Viperoni]

Try it with the analog connection.
If the noise goes away, you know what the problem is.

 

[gtd2000]

Ehmm...Ok so I try the analog connection and the noise goes away.. so what is the problem?

The speakers that are FPS2000 "Digital" are really FPS2000 "analog" ?

I agree that will prove something but not actually give the reason for the problem, you are correct however that it is only the digital connection that gives the problem..