Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Cambridge Soundworks Model 6 Speakers by Roublard Cache

Model:	Model 6
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$260
Description:	2 Way Bookshelf Speaker
Manufacturer URL:	Cambridge Soundworks
Manufacturer URL:	Cambridge Soundworks

Review by Roublard Cache ( A ) on June 15, 2002 at 20:08:32
IP Address: 65.28.198.22

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for the Model 6

I know that to some, Cambridge Soundworks is not a good speaker company, but when I saw the Model sixes on Ebay for 90 dollars, I had to try one. When I was young, my friendâ€™s dad had KLH Model sixes, and they sounded quite good at the time. I was in the process of putting together a vintage system with a Scott 222c amp, and A Sony XA70es CD player. I looked for some nice Model Sixes on Ebay, but they were about the same price, and did not include a warranty, or new crossovers (When buying vintage speakers, I found you must replace the Caps in the crossovers, to make them listenable). I Plunged down the 90 dollars, and they came via UPS in 5 days.
These models are the Teak finish, and I must say, it doesnâ€™t look that good. Then again, I didnâ€™t order them for appearance, but for sound. If you wrap your knuckles on them, you can hear it ring, but for 90 dollars, what do you expect?
I hooked them up first to my Rotel 932 Integrated, and put them on my stands (home made Concrete). When I let them break in for 30 hours, I sat down and listened to them. Needless to say, I am impressed with the sound. The bass is nice, to about 70hrz and the treble is smooth, though very much rolled off. It sounded like your classic Acoustic Suspension speaker but without the midrange hump that you might expect.
Now, when I say that they sound nice, they do, but only on jazz and classical. Guitars do not sound that good with these speakers. Radiohead and Tracy Chapman sound like their guitars are in a box, and that twangyness is gone. My KEF Reference 102s do much better at portraying guitars. Piano sounds very good on the Model sixes, and the snare drum sounds good also. Brass is ok, but not as good as the Paradigm Ref 20s. I would classify these as â€œwarmâ€ sounding speakers. It got rid of many digital nasties, but at expense of imaging and realism. The soundstage that these give is fairly good for such an inexpensive speaker, and if you take the grills off, imaging improves greatly. I actually choose these speakers over my KEFs and Paradigms when listening to large orchestral works, because it is very non-fatiguing, and has a nice laid back, relaxing sound.
While listening to Morphine- The Night, the Tenor sax sounded great and you could feel the â€œairâ€ around it, and it was also full bodied. You could make out the snare drum very well, but cymbals are not a strong point with this speaker. There is no shimmer and shine with them. McCoy Tyner- The Real McCoy sounded very good, and the piano stood out, but was not overpowering. Revelâ€™s Bolero sounded good, and the snare drum sounded as if it was in the room. The flutes were ok, but too relaxed in presentation with the Model Sixes.
I hooked them up to my Scott 222 and fully realized the â€œvintageâ€ sound. It was warm, thick, and somewhat gooey, but I really enjoyed being able to listen to even the worse sounding CDs without fatigue.
Overall, if you want a nice, un-fatiguing, laid back sound, these are the speakers for you. I would recommend them over many 200-300 dollar offerings out there, such as the Paradigm Titan, or Polk Audio RT-15. They are not giant killers; they are just a set of decent speakers.

(One note, when reading reviews at Audioreview.com many said they needed a decent amp to sound good, and this was very true. My friend purchased some like I did and was running an Awia receiver, and yes, they sounded hollow, tinny, and like crap. He returned to his Cerwin-Vegas.)

Product Weakness: See Review
Product Strengths: See Review

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Rotel 932 and Scott 222 (35 watts and about 18 watts)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony xa70es With CA Audio Tubed Dac
Speakers:	KEF Ref 102, Paradigm Ref 20s
Cables/Interconnects:	IXOS cables and Interconnects
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Jazz, Rock
Room Size (LxWxH):	14 x 12 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	Untreated
Time Period/Length of Audition:	One Month
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	See Review
Product Strengths:	See Review