Amazing Midrange, full and even, with the right amount of tweeter. Small and a good price for a well designed 10 lb 13" speaker that is flexible L-R-Center with a separate woofer or sub. Efficient too, 50w is all you'll need.

Needs a separate woofer or sub to provide sound below about 100 hz.

Bought my MC300s a long time ago along with a powered 8" downward firing Cambridge woof (won't call it a sub though at 275w you CAN feel it). First off, it took at least 2 weeks of regular use to warm the speakers up. They were pretty dim and muted and opened up gradually over that time and with some louder listening. After that, I really started testing them against other speakers including Energy, Bose, AR, etc.

One, they need the separate woofer and Cambridge will tell you to look elsewhere if you want bass without a sub (namely at their bookshelfs speakers w/ 5 1/4" woofers built in or their MC400s). What you gain though is an efficient and very full midrange and tweeter. Not too bright, definately full across the whole spectrum above where the separate woofer or sub comes in. Used as a Center Channel, again that Mid does a great job on movies and dialogue.

However, if you like bright speakers (like a good friend of mine does) rather than well balanced ones, perhaps you should look at a competitor. Cambridge tries to reproduce sound evenly it seems to me, and not brighten the higher octaves like some tweeters seem to do.

Customer Service

Very good. Signed, sealed, delivered, and aided with advice on separate woofer for my application.

Similar Products Used:

Energy, Acoustic Research, big Bose speakers

Clean, unstressed, realistic sound from about 80 Hz to the limit of human hearing.

Little output below 80 Hz. Not really a weakness because this speaker is clearly intended to be used with a subwoofer; hence, one should not expect full bass extension in such a design.

This review is for the Cambridge SoundWorks Newton Series MC300IW in-wall loudspeaker. Apologies, but there was no listing for this speaker in the in-wall category, so the review appears here with the MC300 rather than in its proper place.

We installed three of the MC300IW's as right, center, left main speakers in our 13' x 26' room. They are combined with four CSW Newton S300's for surrounds and rear surrounds along with a CSW Newton P1000 subwoofer (I keep considering the addition of another P1000 for even coverage of the bass throughout the listening area). We drive the three front and surround speakers with a Pioneer Elite VSX-39TX AV receiver combined with its companion M-10X amp for the two rear surrounds. The Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi DVD player connects to a Hitachi 60V500A LCD rear projector high definition television.

We installed ceiling to floor fibreglas insulation batting between the wall studs where the three MC300IW's were to be mounted. If I had it to do again, I might have added additional damping material to the studs and sheet rock, but the audible gains, if any, may have been minimal.

As it is, serving as audio for both music and video, the CSW MC300IW's have not disappointed us in any way. Clean, full-bodied, realistic mid to upper ranges of music and film audio are their characteristic and delightful quality. To be sure the P1000 subwoofer takes over below 80 Hz to provide the foundational bass for all circumstances. We are very well pleased with the sound of this system. We don't say that the sound of the MC300IW's cannot be improved upon; however, the cost of such improvement may indeed exact a significant financial toll. For those of us who are unwilling to dole forth additional funds, the CSW MC300IW's and their closed-box kin, the MC300's, fulfill the promise in the home of a reasonable facsimile of the real.

Customer Service

Outstanding. We purchased a non-functional S300 surround. Returning it and getting a replacement were accomplished without difficulty.

Similar Products Used:

SpeakerCraft MT6 in-walls, CSW Ambiance in-walls

Great bang for the buck. Good high mid, mid, and high frequency response. Multiple mounting options. Additional speakers can easily be purchased for extra surround channels.

low frequency response - best if used with subwoofer box.

I recently upgraded my entire audio system to include the Cambridge Sondworks MC300 speakers. My previous system consisted of the BOSE acoustimass double cube speakers having owned them for over 6 years hence was very familiar with their performance but always felt something was missing especially on movie playback. I set them up on the same receiver for a side by side comparison and expected the comparison to take a while but it didnt. The MC300 speakers are very nicely styled with great speaker posts and are easily mounted on the wall or on the included speaker stand. The weight is a bit on the heavy side but it feels solid and is still easy to handle. The first thing I noticed was the large improvement on dialogue when watching movies. The BOSE by comparison sounded as if someone was speaking with a cup or glass near their mouth and consequently voices such as that of Count Duku came across much better in the MC300. Having listened to this radical improvement the BOSE speakers were sold as movies take up 65% of my AV time. Currently, I am using the MC300 as left front and center speakers and they so far have exceeded my expectations. During music playback and even on movies, I have rediscovered new sounds, effects and nuances that were simply not being delivered on the BOSE speakers. One example was during music playback of a CD I heard a screetching sound so I feared my speakers were defective but it turned out to be the needle of an LP making the noise which was clearly captured on the original CD recording and being audible in the MC300 but missing on the BOSE!. Music playback is much more clear and drum sounds are more pronounced due to the MC300 being better at lower frequencies in other words they can resolve a larger bandwidth than the BOSE most likely due to its two-way design. The combination with the Cambridge soundworks subwoofer is seamless and strongly recommended as the MC300 is not meant to function as a stand alone speaker due to sound being weak at lower frequencies.

Similar Products Used:

BOSE acoustimass series speakers, JBL.

Accurate, crisp, short break-in time required (8 hours), ACCURATE midrange (not boomy), airy tweeters, open soundstage, ambience is conveyed well.

when price is considered, none besides grills.

I purchased a pair of the MC 300's as part of a set (the ensemble 310- slate) of speakers. I have to admit that i was underwhelmed with the looks of the speakers. They come across as plain... even bland. However, i don't buy speakers to decorate my listening room, that's why God made pictures and other pieces of art. These two satellites are quite the steal for what i paid for them. I have auditioned JBL S-38II's, Klipsch SB-3's, and NHT super zero's in my quest for a reasonable satellite to be paired with a reasonable subwoofer. I found somehting i was willing to take a chance on with Cambridge soundworks. Their 10year warr. on the satellites was enticing....as was the 6/2 year warr. on the driver and amp in the Basscube 10S, respectively. After purchasing some cheap stands at worst buy (more bad humor to come...), i set them up in my room. Upon listening to the opening track on my current fav. cd, i notice a certain sound from seemingt o accompany the percussion parts of the song. Well, after listning to the same song for about a half hour, i hear what i think might be a person's knee hitting one of the congo drums. Being a musician myself, I find this to be very exciting....past the point of logic. I am a big fan of paradigm, Def. Tech, B&W, and NHT. I have thoroughly auditioned many speakers from each of those manufacturers. These compare with anythign you'll find from them for under $700. I say compare, not annihilate. The mids can be found lacking in some cases, by some ears, but i feel that is more an issue of personal preference than the fault of the speakers (keeping price range in mind). If crossed over at 100hz, these two sound fine. I don't object toc rossing the sub over that high, because the sub that is paired with them si acoustic suspension, and therefore much less boomy when playing around 90-110 hz. FYI- the basscube 10s is also a great deal....VERY punchy....doesn't play too loud....but will embarrass anything from worst buy, save maybe the klipsch ksw 10 and 12. It plays with those two. Anyways, back to the subject at hand. About the desing of the speakers; the M-T-M design helps focus the tweeter and give it a very wide sweet spot...and also limits the amount of sound sprayed above and below the speakers, minimizing reflections from floor and ceiling. I must say that the tweeters on these speakers are very impressive; they are the same tweeter and mid that appear on the T300 newton towers, which recieve good reviews whenever heard (unless heard by elitists, then they will sound like radio shack material...along with every other speaker under $5,000). The tweeters are open and airy, not harsh. Some might say harsh, but having actually heard the mastering process in the studio for some cd's that i own (and can be bought in stores), i can say that, for the price, the accuracy of these speakers is amazing. On Van morrison's "The Healing Game", the opening track si surprisingly open and the kick drum is very tight (owing to the sub). However, van's voice comes across without any of the boomy overtones that normally accompnay cheap drivers and ill-planned port designs (94% of them). The keyword in this review is TEXTURE! These tweeters and midrange reveal texture that others for this price do no show. The satellites, too, are sealed. Yes, the grills are flimsy, as you will read elsewhere. But that is a minor concern, after you actually hear them. Remember, we are NOT talking about a pair of B&W Nautilus series speakers...these are not meant to be compared to true audio-phile grade equipment. Theyw ill lose every time when compared with equipment of that nature...but so will just about every other speaker for under $700. If you like accurate, crisp sound, these will deliver. They will reveal infidelities in recordings that may cause you to dump some of your cd's. However, if you are the BASS-hed type listener...stick with some cerwin-vega's or jbl's from Rex TV & Appliance. Fpr 362, shipped and out-the-door...these simply can't be beaten (of course that including the sub). I have listened at least 8 hours worth just on the satellites....they are meant to be used as satellites! Not as stand-alones. That defies the principle of their design. If accuracy is what you seek, the pleased you will be if these you choose to buy. 'Nuff said.

Similar Products Used:

*Carver HR-742 Reciever w/ Sonic Holography; used as a pre-amp *Hafler P-225 stereo amplifier (115 watts RMS into 8 ohms, 20-20k) *Technics SL-PD687 cd changer (5-disc) Ensemble II

Very clear for music and dialogue. Overall a good center speaker.

The nameplates suck....

Prior to using the MC300 I had used the MC150. I had some difficulty hearing dialogue on the MC150 and it didn't seem to match my mains (model sixes). For dialogue the MC300 is far superior. It sounds decent for music also. They have good mid-bass from what I can tell listening to music. As I am not an "audiophile" I couldnt tell you all about how warm they sound or how airy the tweeter is and so on. What I can say is that this speaker is definately a few steps up from the center/surrounds and the MC150.

Similar Products Used:

Cambridge MC150, demoed various other speakers.

Smooth,clear highs, and great midrange (piano, guitar, and voices are terrfic) Well made Great warranty and home trial Sub/sat system flexibility

Sub/sat system flexibility, a bit of a challenge finding the best location. First you have to eliminate all the worse location :-) For a hard rocking brickhouse at any volume, I still will use my JBL L100s indestructible masterpieces

I purchased three MC300 (fronts, center, and S300s (Rear), with a P500 sub. Got a great deal on the sub, brand new for $350, and an Onkyo 501 AV Receiver. The MC300s are very smooth speakers with great imaging at all volume levels. For home theater, this system will truly bring the theater home, very clear, truly cinematic. For music, (I listen to Jazz, Rock, an Classical)you will hear every nuance, it is all there, loud, and at very low volumes. Very smooth highs, great mid, and the bass is good crossed at 100Hz with the sub. Granted, I did not do extensive comparisons, just don't have the time. But I did listen to , B&W, NHT, Polk, Bose, (with NHT my other favorite). All the components also look and feel very well made (except the stupid nameplates, which are a joke).

Similar Products Used:

No sub-sat Had JBL L100s for 25 years

Clear, warm, musical and great looking. Look for a sale or look into getting B stock. While cheap at the regular price, I was out to get a bargain and that I did. They are well worth the investment and they have the best home trial and warranty in the business. Can take my 200 W/ch amp though they are only rated for 150 W.

Relatively cheap grills, but they are removable!

I purchased these MC300s, B stock, to replace the satellites of my New Ensemble II satellites, thinking I can just stick with the passive subwoofer. I did so and I was blown away by the clarity and smoothness these satellites gave me. I had listened to Klipsch Reference Series RB5 IIs and thought they compared well to the New Ensemble II satellites but at twice the cost and many times the size. These MC300s sound even better. I have them connected via Monster cables to an Adcom GFA5500 amp, GTP450 tuner/preamp and GCD750 CD player. After owning them for a month, I decided to replace the New Ensemble II's passive subwoofer with the Cambridge Soundworks P500 powered subwoofer and set the crossover at 110 Hz, 10 Hz above the recommended setting in the subwoofer manual. I love the way my two channel stereo sounds, warm, clear and accurate. Very musical. While I liked the way the Klipsch sounded, I am limited by space and I thought the MC300s sounded superior. The MC300s have keyholes in the back so one can hang them on the wall. That was a must for me and I use them to listen to music and watch concerts on DVD through my computer, which is again, a music application. I love the way they look but thought the grills could have been made better but that isn't really a complaint. The price is a bargain for performance like this. I don't find them too bright. Vocals are clear and warm without being harsh. I have my bass and treble settings at 1 O'clock and they sound fine even at high volumes where my subwoofer begins to damage the house. You will need a subwoofer with these because they only go down to 80 Hz. That doesn't mean the crossover should be set at 80 Hz. There will be hole in that range if you do. I don't know why people expect these to produce more bass than they could. I have them at ear level while standing up. I don't expect them to produce any bass or want them to produce bass. I do expect them to produce mid-range and treble well and they do that without breaking a sweat.

Similar Products Used:

New Ensemble II, Klipsch Reference RB5 II

Very nice high end. Lots of detail, open and airy.

NOTHING below 110 Hz. Acceptable only with a good sub ina setup where the sub can be extended up to 120 or 130 hz.

I bought these together with the P500 sub for use as front mains for both HT & Music. I had listened to this combo at length in the store and loved it, but when I got it home, there was a terrible, obvious "hole" in the low mid-range/upper bass. Male voices had no heft. Music - especially piano - had lots of texture and brilliance, but no guts (except very low bass). This was completely different from what I'd heard in the store, so I started doing some rough sweep tests with my SPL. This confirmed what I'd heard - a preciptious dropoff at around 110 hz that lasted to 80hz, when the sub kicks in. My receiver is THX-certified (an Onkyo 898) which means that the crossover is fixed at 80hz. When I went back to the CSW store, I confirmed that their setup, which sounded so nice had the crossover set all the way up at 130hz. This is not an option for me, unless I'm willing to forgo the receiver's bass management, set the fronts at "Large" and run the sub off an external, speaker-level crossover. So back they went. (I kept the sub, which is very musical)

Small size, choice of color (white or black), great sound.

None, assuming you are planning to get a subwoofer anyway.

I use the 3-MC300s R/C/L, MC200s for surrounds, and a JBL PB10 subwoofer (because I got it very cheap). With various discounts at hifi.com, the whole setup cost about $850 including the subwoofer. I have a Sony surround receiver (str-db840, 100w/ch). I listen mainly to music, I am continually amazed -- it just sounds great. I listen to a wide range of music (classical, jazz, world beat, etc.) and these speakers provide great clarity. Vocals, stringed instruments of all kinds, horns -- everythings sounds great. Thrilling, even. I'm a fussy listener because I've played and listened to live music for years, and I like to listen to recorded music at "live" volumes. All I can say is, the MC300s are the next best thing to being there. You do need a subwoofer, I think, but the two midrange drivers in the MC-300s strikes me as a clever design. After all, most of the audible energy in music is in the midrange. These little units pack a deceptively large punch. But one of the other reviewer's points is well taken -- I didn't do a whole lot of shopping around. I tried these and I really, really like them.

Similar Products Used:

JBL S26

small size, accurate imaging, accurate sound, looks good.

bass weak - requires subwoofer

Really fine speakers - and better with Music then some of the others suggest I listened next to all my other speakers (none of which are CSW) and it compared well. The bass is weak, but I use it with subwoofer - the thing that other reviewers missed is the accurate imaging. These are dead on and forgiving of location. Other speakers really fail in this regard - especially where I need to mount them. For Home theater this is obviously important, but it is vital to music too. I thought highs were better than my klipsh speakers and were not harsh - I actually thought they were pretty accurate.