**Update 26 Apr 2017**
Still going strong! Sound as good as they ever have, and still used every single working day, all day for nearly 4 years now.
**Update 9 Dec 2013**
My Mac has undergone some surgery (needed to replace HDD) and during the process the headphone jack appears to have been affected. So now I am feeding the audio via the USB connection, and if anything it is better! Very handy to have this option, as without it I would be having to buy a bluetooth receiver.
**End Update**
Got to say I'm pretty impressed with these. I had previously used the Creative T3 set-up which is very similar to this. Sadly my T3 bit the dust within weeks of purchase. Having once again spent a long time listening to the competition including the Boston Acoustics XS 2.1 and Bose Companion 3, I choose these and I'm not disappointed.
They seemed to offer the best bang for your buck and I still think that now. The imaging is not quite as pronounced as the T3, and the sub is no match for it, but the satellites are far superior. To my ears I think they deliver more mid-range. Also the sub might not be as punchy (as a T3), but for music that is no bad thing in my opinion. I needed to do less with equalizer settings for the M5 to sound good. Also the desktop controller is better I think. It has a discrete power light to confirm that it is on, and I really nice action on the swivel volume controller. Additionally the M5 does not require you to run your audio input to the back of the sub, you simply connect either USB or 3.5mm jack to the desktop controller (it also has a headphone socket on the controller).
In terms of build quality it seems to be pretty good. The speaker stands are a bit naff, just cheap silver plastic, but the satellite speakers themselves are well made with a reassuring weight to them. The sub feels equally substantial. The sound quality is surprisingly good, considering the size of the speakers. They still lack the mid-range of bookshelf speakers, but if you want that performance I suggest you buy bigger speakers and pop a full sized amp on your desk (I've also tried this set-up). At the end of the day it's hard to find better if you want to only have small speakers on your desk, and don't want to break the bank.
The more I listen to the Bose the more I think all the other systems offer great value. The Boston Acoutics XS digital cinema is also awesome, and offers bluetooth, which I don't need and it is a bit pricier.
**UPDATE**
Right had these for a little longer now and I've just upped the rating. To my ears they sound better once they've been given more of a work out. I'd be surprised if they needed to be "played in" but they certainly seem to have a lovely full warm sound. The T3 has a much colder sound, and just doesn't seem to work with the sub so flawlessly. To my taste, a sub should add depth but you almost forget it's there, which the M5 does beautifully (with the bass turned down quite low, less than 25%). I think the T3 has more top end clarity, but simply does not put it all together as nicely for my taste. I know this has become a bit of a T3 v M5 review, so apologies for that, but it's very hard not compare the two.
The only final piece of advice is wait a month or two and see if I'm still happy - the review will be updated if anything goes wrong!
| Brand | Cambridge Audio |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 43 x 34 x 8 cm; 5.1 Kilograms |
| Item model number | C10591 |
| Are Batteries Included | No |
| Item Weight | 5.1 kg |