Cyber Acoustics Sound Off
August 24, 2004
Today we bring you 4 sets of speakers from Cyber Acoustics. Never heard of Cyber Acoustics?
Neither had I. A good friend of mine saw them at a trade show and came home with a set of
their speakers. They sounded good!! So we did some research and found they had product available
in many retail locations. We contacted them to see if we could sample their products. They
replied by sending us 4, yes 4, separate systems to try out. So let's see what we found...
Company:
Cyber Acoustics, www.cyber-acoustics.com
Getting Started
For each of these systems, we went to great length to use them as a normal user would. To make
sure we did this, each system was used/tested for no less than 2 weeks per set. This way we were
sure to experience them in all types of moods and temperaments and situations a person goes through
in a given time. We played MP3s of all types (Rock, Country, Classical, even some Bluegrass),
movies, games, and even watched some live TV. Doing this allows us to give you a completely objective
review of what we heard and experienced.
To assist in this test, Chaintech sent us their AV-710 PCI sound card. Excellent sound card
for a great price...but more on that at a later date!!
At normal sound levels each of the speaker systems produce crisp highs, punchy midrange, and
deep bass. Every person who happened in to listen was impressed by what they heard. And upon learning
about their low price, the speakers sounded even better. If you were to compare each set
to an equivalent Logitech or Altec Lansing speakers, these Cyber Acoustic speakers give you comparable
quality for less price!!
The Speakers
| System Model |
Watts |
Satellite |
Subwoofer |
MSRP |
|
| CA-3550 |
68 Watts |
Two 2.5" high efficiency 4 ohm radiators |
Bass reflex, dual cannon ported subwoofer enclosure |
$49.99 |
 |
| A-3640 |
110 Watts |
Two 3" dynamic radiators |
Wood enclosed 10" Power Pro Series woofer |
$89.99 |
 |
| A-3780 |
180 Watts |
Two 2-way satellites with 3" dynamic mid-range drivers and 1" mylar tweeters |
Wood enclosed 8" Pro Series Driver |
$99.99 |
 |
| A-5640 |
140 Watts |
Four Tower satellite speakers + One center channel 2.4" high efficiency 4 ohm radiators |
Wood enclosed 10" Power Pro Series woofer |
$99.99 |
 |
CA-3550
The CA-3550 is the smallest of the systems sent. As noted it is a 68 Watt system with two satellite
towers and a subwoofer. I was greatly impressed with the sound quality for such a small system. The
highs were very clear and the lows very rich. Only at very high volumes did any of the sound get muddled
and then it was only the really high highs that started to break up. At only 68 total watts, the base was
strong but not thumping.
On this system, the controls were built into the base of one of the satellite speakers. There is an
On/Off switch, main volume control, bass volume control, and a headphone hookup. One of the cool features
on this set was the blue led lighting built into the base of the satellite speakers as can be seen in
the image above.
For any computer user looking to step up from a basic set of speakers to something with good speaker
sound and the added subwoofer, this set is great for the low price.
Pros:
- Very good highs and lows.
- Very cool blue led lights built into satellite speaker base.
- Superb price for the quality of sound you get.
Cons:
- At high volumes the high sounds lost some clarity.
A-3640
The second set we took a look at was the A-3640. At 110 Watts this set also has 2 satellite
speakers but boasts a large 10" subwoofer. This set packs a lot more power than the CA-3550 and
we didn't see any issues with sound distortion beyond what a normal person might crank the volume
up to. With this model, the volume controls were placed on a cool illuminated control pod
that lets you manage power, adjust master and bass volume, and plug in your headphones. The
control pod is like a little mouse that you can tuck under your monitor and out of the way, but
is easily accessible to change volumes, thus allowing you to position your speakers where you
want them.
This model turned out to be my least favorite because on one thing. I found myself having
to turn down the bass because it was drowning out the mids and highs from the satellite speakers.
At first I didn't notice I kept doing this, but over time I realized that was the case. The subwoofer
puts out a great sound, but it was too much. Even though this is still a great price for terrific sound,
I would recommend shelling out a few extra dollars and going with the next featured set of speakers, the
A-3780.
Pros:
- Like the illuminated control pod that lets you manage power, adjust master and bass
volume, and plug in your headphones.
Cons:
- Subwoofer had a little too much power and would drown out the satellite speakers.
A-3780
The third set of speakers we took a look at was the A-3780. This set has a little different
design on the satellite speaker. It utilizes a 3" mid and a 1" tweeter to produce outstanding mids
and highs that are crystal clear. The 8" Pro Series driver used in the subwoofer gives out thumping
base that blends very well with the satellite output. At various volumes this system is just candy to
the ears.
Also featured with the A-3780 is the illuminated control pod or mouse like device to control
volumes and power as well as providing a headphone jack. This system also sports a cool looking
finish and design that looks good in any office or on any computer desk.
Pros:
- Superb sound from both the satellite speakers and the subwoofer.
- Super low price for the quality of sound you get.
- Did we mention the great sound this system puts out?
Cons:
A-5640
The fourth and final set of speakers we took a look at was the A-5640. This was the
only surround sound capable set. It features 140 Watts of power utilizing 4 satellite and
1 center channel speakers. It also appears to be using the same 10" subwoofer that the A-3640
system uses. But in this case, with the addition of 2 more satellite and 1 center channel speakers,
I did not notice any issues of the bass drowning out the mids and highs. Although I would prefer that
this surround set used the same satellites as the A-3780 (3" mid and a 1" tweeter), it provided
great sound especially during games and movies that can utilize the additional center and rear channels. As
with the other systems, the sound quality was excellent on highs and lows.
Pros:
- Excellent sound from both the satellite speakers and the subwoofer.
- Great low price gives you cool surround sound to watch movies or game with.
Cons:
Adding It All Up
For anyone looking to upgrade or add speaker systems to your computer, you cannot go wrong in buying
any of these Cyber Acoustic systems. My personal favorite is the 2.1 channel A-3780 set and of course for the 5.1
channel set up the A-5640 is a great option. For anyone that considers themselves a true audiophile, you might
find something not to your liking in some of the details. But for the price and quality, 99.9% of you will
be happy with one of these systems. And none of them will break the bank doing so.
Because of the great quality, easiness to set up and use, and great price, we are awarding Cyber Acoustic
an UpgradeAdvisor.com Recommended Upgrade Award.
Happy listening!!!
Where To Buy
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