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What to do with Cambridge Soundworks "Ensemble" Woofers?

Argyle

Argyle

abstract thinker
A few weeks ago I acquired some freebies. I went to pick up a Marantz SR-68 (Some will say BPC, and maybe true. but it works, is clean, and was free), and when I got there the guy offered some speakers as well. I was there so I took 'em. It turns out they're the two woofers/subs from the original CSW "Ensemble". See link: http://www.audioreview.com/cat/speakers/floorstanding-speakers/cambridge-soundworks/PRD_119246_1594crx.aspx

It's only the subs - the satellites are missing. I hooked them up to the Marantz when I got home and one sounded like it might be rattling, or something. Anyway, not like I expected it to sound. The other sounded fine. I'm under the impression that this speaker system was respectable in its day, but I don't have any real desire to hunt down the satellites.

My question is: What can/should I do with these? Is there the potential to use these for some cool purpose other than what they were intended? Suggest what you would do realistically, or suggest something totally bonkers. :yes:

I could:

Find the satellites? :para:

Put them together and build a stool or ottoman? :beatnik:

Buy a gun and blow them up? :pistols:

Your thoughts? :lurk:
 

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the tricky thing is the odd noise that one of them makes. the cabinets are sealed all around. the only place you can open them is the panel where the binding posts live, which is only about 2" x 3".
 
What a coincidence... I picked up a single Ensemble satellite last week! That was the first one I've ever seen at the thrifts.

I have an Ensemble in the living room with the matching surround bipolar/dipolar sats and center channel for the HT . Very high WAF. They displaced my pair of New Advents and the sound is really very good, although I was disappointed in the surrounds and the center channel. Would have been better off buying another Ensemble set instead. Usually we just use the 2 channel pair.

As to what to do, CSW used to sell all their returned items on that auction place, but I don't know whether they still do. Regardless, there are usually a lot of them for sale.

If you find that the one sub is shot, I might be interested in the one good sub...
 
kfa888 said:
Fix the one with issues and pair them up with some easy to find Minumus 7's :thmbsp:
Click to expand...

I second this. I have Mini 7's as my main speakers at the moment. They do need help in the bass department though (that is what the loudness button is for).
 
i need some feedback/ideas on this one.

since one of these sounds like something is wrong, and they're not easily cracked open, would it be possible to bridge both channels and use just one of them as a single sub, as in a 2.1 setup? I'm thinking this would drive the impedance load way down on the amp, as the woofers are 6 ohm.

thoughts?
 
Don't have an answer about your question, but you should be able to get into the box two ways, either through the speaker opening or the terminal plate on the back.
The terminal plate is held on by 4 screws, should come off easy but the access is small and in a corner. Maybe a loose part will fall out?

The speaker is a tad harder to remove. If you peer through the round grill you can see the screws holding the speaker. The trick is to remove the grill. It's just held in by friction and a little spring tension from the perforated metal. What you need is some way to grab the edge and carefully pry it out.

I've got an old set of dividers that work perfectly. Set the points so they line up with the holes about an inch and a half or so apart. Insert them into two holes on the outer edge of the grill as close to the cabinet as possible. Place a thin strip of wood or a pencil between the divider points and the cab and VERY gently pry it till you just notice some movement. Then go one way or the other around the grill and repeat every few inches. Don't try to pry it all the way out at once or the grill will warp and it'll be hell to get back in.
Now you should be able to remove the screws and the driver.
 
Celt said:
Use the one good one and buy a subwoofer plate amp to drive it.
Click to expand...

Ever know you want to buy something but don't know what everyone in the world calls it, so you don't know what to search/ask for?

a subwoofer plate amp. thank you much. :yes:
 
Thinking back, I recall that there was an earlier Ensemble system that used only one woofer. Might have had different circuitry inside or not... there may be some info about it on there website.
 
jimbofish said:
Thinking back, I recall that there was an earlier Ensemble system that used only one woofer. Might have had different circuitry inside or not... there may be some info about it on there website.
Click to expand...

I believe that the original Ensemble was the first of its kind in the CSW lineup, but Ensemble II, III, and IV all had one subwoofer (i have the IV at home, also). I'm grabbing their owners manuals now. Celt's idea may be the most effective.
 
Probably the surround is bad. I recently found that the squawker surrounds on my Ensemble IIs are bad, and they are around 15 years old.

As others mentioned, the woofers should supplement any small speakers nicely.

Agree about the high WAF. WAF may be increased with new cute paint job, too.
 
Even if one sounds fine i would still take the grills off and inspect the surrounds. Chances are they both need replacing if they are foam. I agree with others on here. Pair them up with some small speakers like minimus 7's, nht super zero, or anything small and bass shy.
 
Well, given this thread is 4 yrs old, I hope they got them going by now. :scratch2:
 
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