What is the difference between Cambridge Megaworks 210D & CreativeLabs Megaworks 250d?

[aceO07]

I'm thinking about a nice set of 2.1 speakers and came across these two. What is the difference between those two 2.1 MegaWorks speakers? What's the sound quality of either?

Cambridge SoundWorks MegaWorks 210D = ~$225. w/ 270watt total
Creative MegaWorks 250D = ~$150. w/ 300watt total

Has anybody actually tried either one or both?

 

[aceO07]

^ bump

My friend has the 210D's, but I don't know how they compare to any other high end systems..

 

[aceO07]

Nobody knows?

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Just buy whichever one YOU think is better.

I don't think I could imagine spending $250 for two speakers and subwoofer though.

Especially not for when you can get a decent set of 6 speakers and sub for not that much more.

 

[aceO07]

Unfortunately I don't know where I can listen to both.

 

[Matthias99]

I'm relatively (~90%) certain those are identical. Creative just rebrands Cambridge Soundworks speakers, and they *really* look like the same set. The only difference is that Cambridge Soundworks only claims 60 watts per satellite instead of 75 (giving a total of 270 versus 300), but Creative tends to, uh, give things a little more credit than they're due most of the time.

 

[aceO07]

The remote and the subwoofer(different view?) look different. Also, there's the big price difference.

edit: There are NO reviews for the 250D. No hardware sites reviews speakers anymore?

 

[Matthias99]

Well, buying direct from CS is like buying direct from Bose. You pay 50-100% more for the same thing than you would through a reseller. Compare the Megaworks 550-ish speakers (5.1 digital surround) from Creative and Cambridge Soundworks. Nearly identical specs, huge price disparity.

And yes, nobody reviews 2.1 speakers anymore (at least "multimedia" ones). They're a commodity. Plenty of reviews around for 5.1/6.1/7.1 speaker sets and soundcards, though.

 

[aceO07]

I take it back, I do recall reviews. Nothing comparing both though.

The Creative remote is different in that it has buttons instead of a dial.

I'll keep looking.

 

[Georgeisdead]

The only difference looks to be the Creative speakers are THX certified where I don't see that it says the Cambridge speakers are. THX is George Lucas' cash cow in providing a set of standards for speakers to "live up to". Supposedly, they are produced with stricter quality specs and sound clarity than other speakers and those that are certified can boast the THX logo and charge more money for their product. That plus one system is 300 watt and the other is 270 watt. Not a huge difference, but still a difference.

In the end, just remember, Creative owns cambridge soundoworks, so the difference between these two speakers are most likely imperceptable to all but the most attentive of audiophiles.

 

[Pariah]

The 250D are the replacements for the 210D. Where the 210D used the satellites and sub from the older 510D, the 250D uses the satellites and sub from the current 550's. Look for reviews of the 550 THX speakers. Since the 250D's are the newer speakers, those are the ones to get.

 

[aceO07]

I emailed Cambridge Soundworks and they said that the prices are decided by Creative Labs. So, unless they decide to lower the price for the 210D, that's the way it is, even though it is a lower model number.

He couldn't tell me if there was a difference or it was better either, except that's the way they're priced.