Sound bases are great. Unlike their entertainment center-sharing
cousin, the soundbar, sound bases lift your TV experience to new heights
both figuratively and literally with a larger, low-profile cabinet that
leaves plen
ty of room for drivers and woofers to do their thing.
The
Cambridge Audio TV5, the successor to the more petite, single-subwoofer
TV2, is a mid-range base for A/V enthusiasts with screens less than 55
inches. It's solidly built and offers surprisingly balanced sound for
$399 (£299, about AU$500).
From
center channel dialog at whisper-quiet levels to bass-heavy beats at max
volume, the TV5 performed admirably as one of the better sound bases
I've ever heard.
It's not perfect, though. A simple remote hurt
the overall package while a lack of ports made connecting every device
in my entertainment center a logistical nightmare. Together, both of
these issues make that price tag look mighty steep.
Design
At
28.5 x 4 x 13.3 inches or 725 x 100 x 340mm (W x H x D), 23 pounds
(10.4 kg), and built out of durable composite wood, the TV5 can support
"any TV that fits on its 725 x 340mm surface," according to Cambridge
Audio's website. While I wasn't able to test that bold claim, after
seeing the unit in action, the realist in me would guess the best TV
size to sit on this unit would be around 55 inches.
On the front
28.5-inch panel, you'll find a felt grille that guards two 2.25-inch
Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) drivers and a single LED indicator. The
light glows green, blue or white depending on the mode and will flash
when looking for a Bluetooth device to pair.
Like the ZVOX Soundbase 670,
the TV5 comes equipped with two downward-firing, 6.5-inch subwoofers
that provide meaty-sounding bass without distortion at higher volumes.
Spin
it around to the back, however, and you'll only find a pair of RCA,
3.5mm and digital optical connections - a far cry from the half-dozen
you'll find on equally-priced soundbars.
Despite the lack of
features, the TV5 is a solidly built, low-profile, matte black cabinet
that will look good in or on top of any entertainment center.
Sound quality
Setting up the TV5 takes mere minutes, and the unit sounds rich and warm once it's up and humming.
Like
some other Cambridge Audio products, it benefits from a balanced sound
profile. The bass is present but not digitally enhanced, while the highs
and mids get the same sort of loving affection.
I noted that the
TV5 has a pretty wide soundstage - how far angled the sound goes before
it begins to distort - and dialog came through clearly without being
overpowered by the other ranges.
The biggest problem I noticed
with the TV5, though, is that its automatic power down sequence engages
too frequently, usually within a second or two of inaction. This may not
sound grossly problematic, but imagine browsing a set-top box or game
console's interface and only hear half the audio cues. It's strange at
best and irritating at its worst. Additional
functionality - namely AptX Bluetooth, which allows for high-res audio
streaming - helped make up for the minor inconvenience. But, at this
price, it's more of an expected feature than an extra. What's worse is
that, beyond Bluetooth, features are few and far between - the remote
tells the full story.
Remote
The IR remote packaged with every TV5 is functional, yet will likely leave you wanting more.
On
it you'll find buttons to change between inputs, raise and lower the
volume and sync Bluetooth devices, as well as four audio presets -
music, voice, film and TV. There's no way to raise and lower individual
levels, however, and the presets make a poor substitute.
Changing
between inputs isn't exactly instant, and the only way to know what
channel the sound base is on is by remembering what each color of the
LED means. A simple LED screen that could display the channel could've
easily prevented this confusion, though perhaps would drive the price up
slightly.
Final verdict
Don't get me wrong - there's are a
lot to admire in the Cambridge Audio TV5.: It comes in a beautiful
matte black cabinet, offers instantaneous setup and touts well-tuned
performance that aptly handles any end of the audio spectrum.
The
best case consumer for the TV5 is someone looking for a no-frills, but
stylish and strong, sound base with only one or two devices to connect
to it. If you're looking for a completely customizable, robust solution
though, you won't find it with the TV5.
Another similarly
priced unit from Cambridge Audio with a few more features - like
surround sound - and a handful more ports at the back could've easily
scored it some extra points. But as it stands, the TV5 doesn't do quite
enough for costing nearly as much as a decent TV to stand on it.
