DTT3500

Published: October 12, 2000 - Mark Muschett
Last Updated: October 24,200

Update: The full review is now available

For these early impressions what I am going to avoid restating too much of the specifications that you can get from Creative Labs. In the case of the DTT3500 that basic information comes by way of a pdf spec sheet and via http://csw.creative.com/products/dtt3500/. Instead I will concentrate on the information that's not on Creative's site and offer some comparisons to the well-known DTT2500. For the sake of convenience the exception will be a basic description and the basic power specifications. The DTT3500 is a 5.1 channel Dolby Digital speaker system that also operates in stereo mode and 4.0 and 5.1 (digital) input modes for gaming. The system comes with all the necessary cables to connect the system to a DIN, Optical or COAX SPDIF output or a 4 channel analog output. It comes with stands for the satellites as well as floor stands (appear to be the same as the DTT2500) for the rear satellites.

With respect to power output the specs are 30 watts RMS to the subwoofer and 49 watts RMS total to the satellites (7 watts RMS per satellite except center @ 21 watts RMS). These power specifications are identical to the DTT2500. The frequency response is listed as a very impressive 20 Hz-20 kHz and while the subwoofer is clearly improved from the DTT2500 I have serious doubts about true 20 Hz performance.

As you can see from the image the center channel speaker uses a 3" driver rather than the 2.5" driver in the other satellites. This is a change from the DTT2500, which uses the same 2.5" driver in all 5 satellites.  The other change as noted is the subwoofer. The DTT2500 subwoofer is 6.5" x 8" x 14" (w x h x l) where as the DTT3500 subwoofer is 8" x 10" x 15". The DTT3500 uses a 6" driver in the subwoofer cabinet where as the DTT2500 uses a 5.25" driver. The DTT3500 subwoofer cabinet also has a larger port than the DTT2500 subwoofer and is clearly a better performer than the DTT2500 subwoofer. How much so and how it compares to other systems will follow in the full review but I can offer that I think it may challenge Klipsch ProMedia v.2-400 in a multimedia subwoofer booming contest as well as in quality. However it does not appear to stay as loud for the lower notes. The quality appears to be still behind the VideoLogic Sirocco Crossfire sub. That's not a knock but a preliminarily answer to questions that are sure to come up with the DTT3500 frequency specifications. When we do more detailed testing we will find out just how good we think the performance of the sub is for people looking for more neutral audio as well as those looking for exaggerated bass. Just like the DTT2500 it offers an output for an optional powered subwoofer.

The decoder unit/amplifier has both optical (new to the DTT3500) and COAX SPDIF digital input as well as Creative's DIN connection. The DIN connection is revised from the DTT2500. Specifically it is now a six-channel DIN input and the same DIN connection can be configured to send a Dolby Digital stream from the Sound Blaster Live 5.1 to the DTT3500. This eliminates the need for y-cables or cable switching if you want to use the DTT3500 with the one of the Sound Blaster Live cards that only have a mini-jack digital output. I have not yet had a chance to try the Dolby Digital ability of the DIN connection with one of the 4760 boards but I expect that it will also work the same way (but only with 4 speaker DIN output).  The decoder unit / amplifier also has two analog inputs. One for front left and right and the other for rear left and right. There is no analog center and subwoofer input.

This is very important to note as it means that the only way to get the DTT3500 to work in 5.1 mode for games is via Creative's digital DIN connection found on the Sound Blaster Live 5.1 line of cards. This means that the Fortemedia FM801 based cards, the Voyetra Turtle Beach Santa Cruz / VideoLogic Sonic Fury and likely Philips upcoming 5.1 card will not work in 5.1 mode for games with the DTT3500. As long as they have a standard SPDIF out (optical or COAX) then it will be possible to use them with a software DVD player and the DTT3500 for full 5.1 Dolby Digital when watching movies. It's unfortunate that Creative / Cambridge SoundWorks did not provide a third analog input on the DTT3500 to accommodate cards that don't use their DIN output. I am pretty sure the DTT2200 will have 3 analog inputs and there are other options like the VideoLogic DigiTheatre LC speakers and MidiLand S4-7100 speakers that will accommodate sound cards that use standard analog outputs for the 6 analog outputs.

The DTT3500 decoder/amplifier has built-in Dolby Digital decoding and 24-bit Digital-to Analog Converter (DAC) (same as the current DTT2500) and offers the same > 70 dB SNR as the DTT2500. The decoder/amplifier has a wide range of functions including CMSS modes for music and movies, stereo, and 5.1DIN / 4 point. This last button is as noted is the option to use either the 6 channel DIN input with a sound blaster Live 5.1 or the four-channel analog input with any other sound card.

Again new to the DTT3500, the amplifier / decoder has a removable front faceplate which can be replaced with a second face plate that lets you keep the correct orientation on the labels if you chose to stand the unit upright using the provided stand. 

Yet another new feature on the DTT3500 decoder is a dynamic mode for Dolby Digital decoding. When activated the full dynamic range of the Dolby Digital source material will be experienced. This means that the volume range between the loud parts and the quiet parts will be much greater than the default mode that is called "compressed". It's interesting that they have the system default to compressed mode since that's the less dramatic mode which would normally be used at night so that when you have the volume adjusted to hear the quiet parts you don't blow the house away when it gets loud. The only way to set this mode is via the wireless remote.

This wireless remote is also new to the DTT3500. It has power on/off, volume, test, mute, CMSS mode selector, dynamic mode, input selection and Dolby Digital selection, Pro Logic and audio mode. The last function is used as a language selector for some movies on Video CDs (VCD).

The DTT3500 list price is $350, which is $50 more than the DTT2500 lists for. We still have lots more testing to do but based on some very brief usage, while its not a monumental step forward in pure sound quality, the larger center channel does improve the clarity of vocals and the new subwoofer is as noted clearly better than the DTT2500/FPS2000 subwoofer. As such, when you factor in the 5.1 support for games (with the Live 5.1 line) and the other new features it does appear to nice step forward.  Look for lots more details and new performance tests when we publish the full review. One last point - don’t bother heading to the stores for the DTT3500 yet as it won't be available until around the end of October.

Have comments or questions on this feature?
Why not post them in our forum?

All content, design and work is © 2001 - 3D Sound Surge Please respect the copyrights of the articles and writers herein. All copyrights are enforced by 3DSS.  
View the 3DsoundSurge Privacy Statement