Cerwin Vega had a bit of a reputation when I was growing up a budding young audiophile in the 80s. They make 'em BIG and they make 'em LOUD! The CVHD 5.1 system can get loud, certainly, but I'm happy to say they're not so big that they'll dominate the room in which they're placed. In fact, dare I say they're even "flat panel friendly?"
Measuring in at a slim 5 inches deep, the Cerwin Vega CVHD-63 satellite speaker and CVHD-63C center channel are intended to be mounted on a wall and come with brackets to do so. On the wall, their depth is about the same as the average wall-mounted flat panel television. If you prefer, you can place them on the stylish matching silver-colored optional floor stands as I did. Do be aware, however, that the speakers do not come with a table or bookshelf stand in the box, so if you're not planning to put them on the wall, then make sure to also purchase the optional stands. Also, if you'd prefer to deploy the system in a 6.1-channel or 7.1 channel mode, then be sure to order one or two extra CVHD-63 satellites, which are available separately.
The Set-Up
The CVHD (Cerwin Vega High Definition) 5.1 system installs pretty much like any other home theater speaker system. Each satellite speaker comes with high quality heavy duty binding posts which accept bare wire, spade lugs or banana plug connectors. The powered subwoofer comes with an RCA input to connect to your receiver or preamp's LFE (low frequency effects) or subwoofer output. You might need to experiment with subwoofer placement in your room for best effect, but this is true for any subwoofer. For details on subwoofer set-up see our tutorial on subwoofer set-up.
Once I found the best location for the sub, I used our Onkyo receiver's built-in Audyssey 2EQ calibration system to set the levels and crossover frequencies inside the receiver, leaving the subwoofer's own crossover setting pegged at the 150 Hz position. For those without an auto-calibration utility, Cerwin Vega recommends setting both the satellite speakers and the subwoofer crossover to 150 Hz.
If your receiver or processor does not allow you to set the crossover this high, then the manufacturer recommends using the speaker level inputs on the subwoofer instead and setting your front speakers to "large" in your processor's or receiver's speaker set-up menu. In this case, the subwoofer's own internal crossover will receive the full frequency signal from your receiver's left and right speaker output, routing the bass frequencies to its on-board amp and 12" driver and passing the midrange and high frequency signals on to the main left and right satellite speakers. The subwoofer's variable level and crossover controls and phase adjustment will allow you to tweak the system for the best sound in your particular room.
Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts
First installed, the CVHD system can be a little harsh on the top end but this mellows after a few days of break-in. The 12-inch powered subwoofer features tight solid extended bass which integrates well with the satellites. The system offers plenty of punch to accommodate even the most dynamic movies on Blu-ray Disc or DVD. On the Blu-ray Disc of Starship Troopers, I felt immersed in the bug fighting with creepy alien bug noises coming from all around me and powerful bass shaking the room whenever the Troopers hit the bugs with a tactical nuke or a few rounds of assault weapon fire. Blade Runner: Final Cut on Blu-ray sucked me right into its dystopic future with its ethereal soundtrack and subtle ambient sounds of a future Earth society gone awry. This system does work well to create a dynamic cinema-like experience for film viewing.
But the system's penchant for wide dynamics and extended reproduction of low frequencies does not come at the expense of articulate dialog. Spoken words come through clearly amidst the cacophony of a busy multi-channel mix, whether on movies or on music in surround.
On multi-channel music tracks (SACDs and DTS CDs played back from a Sony PS3 into an Onkyo home theater receiver), the CVHD 5.1 system insinuated me right into the middle of the mix. On Roxy Music's Avalon SACD, track 4 ("India"), the instruments slowly rotate from speaker to speaker in a clockwise motion, maintaining a "stereo" soundstage that gently glides around the room. The stereo image was stable as it moved (if that makes sense) due to excellent timbre matching across all five speakers. And in other tracks, Bryan Ferry's crooning vocals were presented realistically with good image depth, not in your face like some less refined speakers.
In stereo mode, the speakers present a reasonably deep soundstage, and again I noticed how well the satellites integrate with the subwoofer. It's hard to tell where the satellites end and the subwoofer begins. Hard rock tracks from Rush and Led Zeppelin played from CD delivered a sonic heft and punch that is not present in some more polite and refined systems. And by the way, don't even bother trying these speakers without the subwoofer connected as the sound you'll get will be pretty anemic. This system is made as a whole - use it that way.
The soundstage depth and imaging precision are not quite up to the best mini-monitors but neither is the system excessively harsh. And where the system excels is at higher decibel levels. Playback of music and movies at higher volume presents no particular strain on the system. If you like it loud, you'll definitely enjoy this system.
Turn-Ons
Turn-Offs
Final Thoughts
Cerwin Vega's CVHD 5.1 system marks a return of the speaker manufacturer to the home audio market and does so with a bang. The system does a good job providing pleasing and dynamic home theater sound from a reasonably compact package at an affordable price. For movie-watching, the system's dynamic range and deep extended bass provide a welcome improvement over inexpensive HTiB systems which can fall apart even at medium volume levels. The system's list price of $1299 may be a bit daunting but fortunately these are available online at authorized dealers like Amazon.com for much less. If you're looking for surround sound speakers that can keep up with the most dynamic action/adventure film while still providing clear and articulate dialog, the Cerwin Vega CVHD 5.1 system is worth a long listen.
Where to Buy:
Product Specifications from the Manufacturer:
CVHD-63 Satellites and CVHD-63C Center Channel Speaker
CVHD-12S Powered Subwoofer
Retail Pricing:
Manufacturer's Contact Information:
CERWIN-VEGA!, Inc.
3000 SW 42nd Street
Hollywood, FL 33312
Phone: 1-954-316-1501 • Fax:1-954-316-1590
On the Web: www.CerwinVega.com/
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