Cambridge Audio 510D User Manual

User’s Guide

MegaWorks 510D

Informa tion in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a comm itment on the part of Creative Technolog y Ltd. No part of
this ma nual may be r eprod uced or tr ansmit ted in an y for m or b y any me ans, ele ctronic or mecha nical , inclu ding phot ocopyi ng and recordin g, for an y pur pose
without the written permi ssion of Creative Tec hnology Ltd. The softw are describe d in this document is furnished under a license agreemen t and may be
used or copied only in acco rdance with the terms of the license agreement. It is ag ainst the law to copy the softw are on any other m edium except as
specifically allowed in the license agreement. The licens ee m ay make one copy of the software for backup purposes.

Copyright © 2001 by Creative Technology Ltd. All rights reserved.
Version 1.0

August 200 1
© 2001 Cam bridg e S ound Works, Inc . All rig hts rese rv e d. Cam brid ge S ound Works a nd De skTop Theat r e are re gist er ed trad emar ks, and FourPointSurround

is a trade mark of Camb ridge SoundW o rks, Inc. , Ne wton, MA. All othe r brand and pr oduct names ar e trademar ks or re gister ed tr ademark s of the ir res pecti ve
holders . A ll sp e cifications are su bject to chan g e w it ho u t pr ior notice. Actual co nt en ts m ay diffe r sl ig htly from th o se pic tu r ed .

Safety & Regu la t ory Informat ion

The f ol l ow ing secti ons cont ain notices for various
countries:

CAUTION: This device is intended to be connected by
the user to a CSA/TUV/UL certified/listed IBM AT or
compatible pe r s onal computer in the manufacturer’ s
defined op er ator access area. Check th e equipment
operating/i nstallation manual and/or with the equipment
manufacturer to verify/confirm if your equipment is
suitable for devices.

Modifications

Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by
the manufactur er of this device cou ld void the user’s
authority to operate the device.

The serial nu mber for the

Mega Works 510 D

is located on
the subwoo f e r. Please write this number down and k eep
it in a secure area. This is for your security.

Important Notice

Take care to prevent accidental ope ration of your new

CAUTION

loudspeaker system at excessive sound pressure levels!
In a typical personal computer install ation, the

MegaWorks 510D

satellite speakers are less than a meter
from the listener.
If you do not hear sound from your ne w s peaker, keep
the Mega Works 510D ' s volume contr ol at 40% of its
rotation r a nge (the 11:o'clock position,approxmately)
until you hear sound. This will prevent accidental
operation at uncomfortably loud levels.

WARNING:

shock hazard, do not expose this
appliance to rain or moisture.

To prevent fire or

Compliance

This product conforms to the following Council
Directive:

Directive 89/336/EEC, 92/31/EEC (EMC),

❑

73/23/EEC (LVD ), (73/23/EEC), as amended by directive 93/
68/EEC.

2

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

READ INSTRUCTIONS - All safety and

operating instructions should be read
before the
subwoofer/satellite system is operated.

RETAIN INSTRUCTIONS - The safety and

operating instructions should be retained
for futu r e refe r e n ce .

HEED WARNINGS - All warnings on the

subwoofer and in the operating instructions
should be adhered to.

FOLLO W INSTRUCTIONS - All operating and

use instructions should be followed.

CLEANING - Unplug the subwoofer from the

wall outlet or other power source before
cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol
cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

ATT ACHMENTS - Do not use attachments not

recommended by Cambridge SoundWorks
as they may cause hazards.

WATER AND MOISTURE - Do not use the

subwoofer near water—for example, near a
bath tub, wash bowl, kitchen sink, or
laundry tub; in a wet basement; or near a
swimming pool; and the like.

ACCESSORIES - Do not place the

MegaWorks 510D

cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The
subwoofer or satellites may fall, causing
serious injury to a child or adult, and
serious damage to the product. Use only
with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table
recommended by Cambridge SoundWorks,
or sold with the product. Any mounting of
the satellites or subwoofer should follow
the manufacturer’s instructions, and should
use a mounting accessory recommended
by Cambridge SoundWorks.

MegaWorks 510D

system on an unstable

amplified

VENTILATION - Slots and openings in the

cabinet are provided for ventilation, to
ensure reliable operation of the subwoofer
and to prevent it from overheating; and
these openings must not be blocked or
covered. The openings should never be
blocked by placing the product on a bed,
sofa, rug, or other similar surface. The
subwoofer should not be plac ed in a built-in
installation such as a bookcase or rack
unless proper ventilation is provided or
Cambridge SoundWorks’ instructions have
been adhered to.

HEAT - The subwoofer should be situated

away from he at s ources such as
radiators, heat registers, stoves, and
other products (includi ng amplif iers) tha t
produce heat.

POWER SOURCE S - The subwoofer should

be operated only from the type of power
source indicated on the marking label. If
you are not sure of the type of power supply
to your home, consult your product dealer
or local power company. For products
intended to operate from battery power or
other sources, refer to the operating
instructions.

POLARIZATION - The subwoofer may be

equipped with a polarized alternating­current line plug (a plug having one blade
wider than the other). This plug will fit into
the power outlet only one way. This is a
safety feature. If you are unable to insert
the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing
the plug. If the plug should still fail to fit,
contact your electrician to replace your
obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety
purpose of the polarized plug.

POWER-CORD PRO TECTION - Power-supply

cords should be routed so that they are not
likely to be walked on or pinched by items
placed upon or against them, paying
particular attention to cords at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point
where they exit from the subwoofer.

LIGHTNING - For added protection for the

MegaWorks 510D

lightning storm, or when it is left unattended
and unused for long periods of time, unplug
it from the wall outlet. This will prevent
damage to the subwoofer due to lightning
and power-line surges.

OVERLOADING - Do not overload wall outlets,

extension cords, or integral convenience
receptacles as this can result in a risk of fire
or electric shock.

OBJECT AND LIQUID ENTRY - Never push

objects of any kind into the subwoofer
through openings as they may touch
dangerous voltage points or short out parts
that could result in a fire or electric shock.
Never spill liquid of any kind on the
subwoofer.

SERVICING - Do not attempt to service the

subwoofer yourself as opening or remo ving
covers may expose you to dangerous
voltage or other hazards. Refer all servicing
to qualified service personnel.

DAMAGE REQUIRING SERVICE - Unplug

the subwoofer from the wall outlet or other
power source and refer servicing to
qualified service personnel under the
following conditions:

a) When the power-supply cord or plug is

damaged.

system during a

b) If liquid has been spilled, or object have

fallen into the subwoofer.

c) If the subwoofer has been exposed to rain

or water.

d) If the subwoofer does not operate normally

by following the operating instructions; or
exhibits a distinct change in performance.

e) If the product has been dropped or

damaged in any way .

REPLACEMENT PARTS - When replacement

parts are required, be sure the service
technician has used replacement parts
specified by Cambridge SoundWorks or
have the same characteristics as the
original part. Unauthorized substitutions
may result in fire, electric shock, or other
hazards.

SAFETY CHECK - Upon completion of any

service or repairs to the
system, ask the service technician to
perform safety chec ks t o det ermine that the

MegaWorks 510D

operating condition.

WALL OR CEIL ING MOUNTI NG - The

MegaWorks 510D

mounted to a wall or ceiling only as
recommended by Cambridge SoundWorks.

MegaWorks 510D

system is in proper

satellites should be

3

MegaWor ks 510D

Thank you f or b uy ing M e gaWorks 510D by Cambri dge SoundWorks. Th is 5. 1
amplified multimedia speaker system supports the best audio technology

today: EAX , DirectSound 3D, Dolby Digital 5.1 and four-channel
gaming, fr om either an analog source or a digital sour ce of up to 96 kHz
datarate or 24 bit word length. This makes MegaWorks 510D the ideal
companion for the latest Sound Blaster Audigy/Live! sound cards supporting

5.1-channel output. Enjoy Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound using
software DVD.

™

®®

Contents

Inventory ...........................................................................................................................6

Speaker Placement............................................................................................................7

Volume Control................................................................................................................ 8

Stand Removal and Installation.......................................................................................9

Satellites on Flat Surfaces ................................................................................................9

Mounting Satellites on Walls...........................................................................................9

The Centre Stand............................................................................................................ 10

Audio Source Connection - Analog..............................................................................11

Audio Source Connection - Digital ...............................................................................12

Speaker Connections......................................................................................................13

Volume Control and Power Connections

Tonal Adjustments..........................................................................................................14

Controlling Noise and Distortion...................................................................................15

Specifications..................................................................................................................15

EAX™.............................................................................................................................16

Technical Support...........................................................................................................17

Limited Warranty ........................................................................................................... 20

.........................................................14

5

Inventory

❒ Examine each unit carefully. If

anything is missing or damaged, do
not install or use the system. Contact
the retailer where the system was
purchased.

Subwoofer

AC Power Cable, UK

AC Power Cable, Europe

❒ Save the carton and its inserts in case

you need to ship or move your
Me gaWorks 510D system later.

Satellites (5)

Volume Cont rol

Trip l e Stereo Line In

Audio Cable

Digital Cable (3-channel

miniplugs)

Desktop stands (installed on satellites, removable)

Centre Stand

3m Speaker Cabl e (3)

5m Spea ker Cabl e (2 )

Strips of tran sparent Rubber Pads

(20 pads tot al )

Screws and plas tic anchors (5)

Hook and l oop fasteners for Volume

Control and M onitor Stand

6

Speaker Placement

The Volume Control can be mounted in ei ther of the Desktop Stands.

Place the front satellites to the sides

If you wall-mount the front satellites, you can attach the Volume Control to a conv enient surface with the hook and loop fastener provided.

Unscrew the thumbscrew to release the satellite from the Desktop Stamd. Reverse the process to install a Centre Stand.

For the strongest bass output, place

of your monitor.

the subwoofer on the floor in a

corner.

Note:

magnetically shielded. Do
not place it near your moni­tor. Don't store magnetic
media within 8 inches of it.

Use the Centre Stand to place the centre satellite either in front of or

The subwoofer is not

on top of your monitor.

Rear satellites mounted on walls

beside you.

Adjust the Centre Stand down for monitor

placement, up for desktop plac em ent

Rear satellites placed at the extreme

corners of your desk.

7

You can also mount the front three
satellite s on a wall

Rear satellites mounted on floor

stands. (if purchased)

Floor stands for the rear satellites

Note:

are available from www.creative.com

Vo lu me Con trol

The Volum e Contro l ca n be moun ted
in either of the Desktop Stands.

If you wal l-mount the front
satellites, you can attach the Volume
Control to a convenient surface with
the hook & loop fastener provided.

8

Stand Removal

Satellites on Flat

Mounting Satellites on Walls

and Installation

Unscrew the thumbscrew to release
the satellite from the Desktop Sta nd .
Reverse the process to install a
Centre Stand.

Surfaces

Before placing the satellites on a flat
surface, apply the rubber pads to the
bottom of th e sa te llite.

Mount sat ellites only on wall s that are structur ally sound.
Position front satellites at or slightly below ear level.
Position rear satellites to the sides and a little above ear level.

Apply rubber pads

1

on the back of each

rear satellite.

2
3

4

5

Drill a ho le about

2 cm (1 i nch) deep

into wall.

Tap plastic anchor

into hole until it is

flush with wall.

Screw a M5 x 25 mm screw

into anchor, leaving about

0.5 cm (¼ inch) protruding.

Slip k e y hol e slot of ea c h re ar

satellite onto protruding

screw.

9

The Centre Stand

To adjust the satellite/C entre Stand
assembly's vertical attitude, grip the
satellite in one hand and the stand
base in the other.

On Top of the Monitor

For safety and convenience, adhere
the base of the Monitor Stand to the
top of the moni tor using the two
strips of hook and loop fasteners.

Adjust the satellite to point
horizontally or downward.

In Front of a Moni tor

T o prev ent mo vement on the desktop,
apply the soft feet as shown.

Adjust the satellite to point upward.

10

Audio Source Connection - Analog

Use the triple cable

T o Sound Blaster Audigy/Live! 5.1 series sound card

A

❒ Front, rear and centre/subwoofer miniplugs.
❒ 5.1-channel output is produced.

T o 4-channel sound card

B

❒ Front and rear miniplugs.
❒ 4.1-channel output is produced.

T o 2-channel sound card

C

❒ Front miniplug only .
❒ 2.1-channel output is produced.

D

T o 2-channel stereo player

❒ Front miniplug only .
❒ 2.1-channel output is produced.

11

Audio Source Connection - Digital

Use the Digital cable

T o Sound Blaster A u digy/Live! 5.1 series sound card

❒ Digital Out miniplug only.
❒ 5.1-channel output is produced.
❒ Be sure the “Digital Output Only” option is selected in the

sound card's control software.

To oth e r so un d ca rd s w it h mi ni ja ck d i git a l o u tp ut

Use the D igital cable

❒ Digital Out miniplug only.
❒ Channel output is dependant on the sound card.

T o a digital output that is not a minijack:

Use an adapter (not pro vided) to con ve rt the program source's digi tal output to a 3.5 mm
minijack, then connect to Digi tal In. The mos t commo n ou tput type w ould b e an RCA
jack. Use a mono RC A p lug to mono m ini jack adapter .

A second audio program source can be mixed with the
main program (analog or digital) when connected to AUX. For a source
with a 3.5mm stereo minijack output (like a headphone or line out jack
on an MP3 or CD player), use a 2-meter signal cable with a 3.5mm
stereo miniplug at each end. Other sources may need a cable with a

3.5mm stereo miniplug and two RCA plugs or a 3.5mm stereo miniplug
and a 3.5mm stereo minijack.

12

Speaker Connections

13

Volume Control and Power Connections

Tonal Adjustments

Adjust the Bass level
control to achieve the
bass output you like

Adjust the Treble switch to
your preferred setting.

14

Controlling Noise and Distortion

MegaWorks 510 D has moderately
high input sensitivity, so it may
amplify the hum and hiss inher ent in
some audio program sources (more
common in an alog rath er t ha n dig ital
sources).
Any noise is not due to a faul t in th e
speaker system. You can minimize
background noise as follows:

Use the MegaWork s 510D volume
control as your master level control.
Examine your computer's sound
control software (Mixer program in
Sound Blaster software). Turn off
any inputs you don't need
(Microphone, for instance). Set the
remaining input volume controls to
about 70% of their overall scale.

Adjust the sound control program's
master o ut pu t level so tha t th e
MegaWorks 510D reaches a
comfortably loud output le vel when
the control is set straight up (12
o'clock).

Specifications

MegaWorks 510D

Six-C h a n nel Amplifier

Satellite amplifiers, each of five:
60 watts RMS pe r channel at less
than .1% t otal harmonic distortion at
1 kHz.

Subwo ofer amplifier:
150 watts RMS at less than .3% total
harmonic distortion at 100 Hz.

Amplifier signal to noise (analog or
digital):
Greater than 95 dB.

15

™

EAX is a collection of powerful,
innova ti ve aud io techn ologies .
Designed by Creative's world-class
audio scientists and built into
groundbreaking Personal Digital
Entertai nmen t (PDE) solu tions , EA X
is changing the way audio is
experienced.
EAX o ffer s ad van c ed , in te ractive
audio and high-definition sound to a
new gener ation of portable audio
appliances, audio applications, and
internet services.

With its five compact, amplified
satellite speakers and separate
subwoofer, theMegaWorks 510D is
an ideal 5.1 entry-level EAX speaker
system for your home theatre
entertainment. With it, you will
exper ience ex ceptiona l 3D posit ional
and 5.1 audio for movies and games,
when used with the powerful Sound
Blaster Live! series of audio ca rds.
For more information on EAX, be
sure to visit EAX.creative.com.

16

Technical Support

W e are committed to giving you the best products aswell as the
best service by provi ding you with a comprehensive suite of
eService options complemented by telephone support.

With Creative's eService strate gy, we deliver the best possible
customer experience using our multilingual Customer support
portal, interactive chat, email support and our self-service
knowledgebase.

The European support area on our website at

www.europe.creative.com

Knowledgebase

Creativ e' s Self-service knowledgebase empowers you to
quickly resolve you r queries by us ing na tural lan guage support
and stepping you through targeted questions to help pinpoint
the best solution to your particul ar problem. Should you need
additional help, y ou can esc alate your que ry onli ne through live

contains the following options:

chat or email ensur ing that you rece iv e the best possi ble se rvice
in the manner that is most comfortabl e to you.

Webchat

Creativ e's interactive TextChat enables you to contact our
T echnical Support team through a real-time chat f acility.
Additional feature s, such as web page pushing, collaborativ e
browsing and file and brochure exchange, transfo rm your chat
session into a fully interactive support experience.

eMail

Should you not obtain a solution to your quer y using our
Knowledgeb ase sys t em , you can clic k the 'No t Solved' button
located at the bottom of any sugg ested solution document to
escalate your query via eMail. If you do not have access to our
website then you can mail us directl y at

[e-mail]

.

Te l e p h o n e

You have the option to contact our service support team via

17

telephone. Telephone numbers can be found in the

European Contact Centre'

section below.

'Creative

If you hav e a proble m installi ng or using your Crea ti ve product,
please use the Creative eServices and/or telephone support for
assistance. Should you contact Technical Support, you may be
asked for informati on regarding the following:

Download Drivers

The Creative website offers a range of updates and drivers for
our products in a variety of operating systems.

Download Manuals

Browse Creative's extensi ve library of product installation and
user guides to find documenta tion for your Creative product.

If You Have a Problem

Please retain all contents including packaging and proof of
purchase until you are fully satisfied with your product.

18

❑

The model and serial number of your Creative product

❑

Error information on the scree n and how it came about

❑

Information on the adapter cards which may be causing a
conflict

❑

Hardware configuration information such as the base I/O
address,
IRQ line, DMA channels used

❑

Motherboard information: BIOS manufacturer/version and
chipset manufacturer

❑

Type and version of your operating syst em, e.g., Windows
95/98 or Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows Me

If, after using the Creative support services, you believe your
Creativ e product to be defecti v e, you shoul d ve rif y the purc hase
date and the take the appropr iate action as detailed below:

Less than 30 days since date of purchase

Should your st ore receipt indicate that the product is less tha n 30
days old, you h av e the option of re turning the full p rod uct to the
Dealer/Retailer for a replacement or credit. The 30-day time
period may not apply in all instances, so please check the
Dealer/R et ai ler rep l ace me n t/cr ed it terms.

More than 30 days since date of purchase

Contact European Technical Support to c larify the nature of the
problem and to obtain details of our repair/replacement
procedure.

Returning a product for repair

❑

Creati ve Labs requires tha t all returns for r epair/repla cement
must first be iss ued with an authorisation number, therefore
you need to contact Technical Support to receive this
number.

❑

Technical Support will communicate how to return the
product in question for
repair/replacement.

❑

You should only return the hardware item in question and
return it to the address provided b y T echnical Support. Please
retain all software , acce s sor ie s and the o rig inal pack ag in g.

❑

Please quote the aut horisa tion n umber clear ly on t he outside
of the packaging
in which you return the hardware item.

❑

After receiving the hardware, Creative will process the
return.

Creative may replace or repair the product with new or re­conditioned part s, and the f aulty part s will bec ome the property
of Creative. The warranty period for your r epaired/replacement
item is 90 days from the date of shipment fr om Creati ve, or what
is left on the original item’s warranty, whichever is longer.

To av oid tariffs w hen shipping a product to Creative Labs from
outs ide the E. U. or from zones with special tax status, yo u must
complete the rele vant customs document ation before shipping the
product.

Operating Hours

Knowledgebase
Webchat
Telephone

*

*

Available on-line 24 hours a day
10:00-18:30 CETMonday - Friday
10:30-19:00 CETMonday - Friday

*

Closed Sat-Sun & Public Holidays

19

Limited Warranty

Creative Labs (Ireland) Limited (“Creative”) warrants to you, the
original buyer and holder of this warranty, as it stands in the
accompanying warra nty card, that t he hardware produc t will be free of
defects in materials and workmanship for a period of two years after
the date of purchase, or such other period as may be expressly
specified by Creative or required by applicable law (“Warranty
Period”).

Creative's entire liability and your remedy will be, at Creative’s sole
discretion, the repair or replaceme nt (with the same or si mi lar model)
of any hardware or accompanying item(s) not meeting the "Limited
Warranty" explained above that is returned to Creative's authorised
distributor or dealer during the Warranty Period with a copy of your
receipt.

What this warranty does not cover

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable la w, Creative
disclaims all other warranties and conditions, expressed or implied,
including the cond itions of quality , merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose with respect to t he use of this produc t. Creati v e also
disclaims any obligation to support products for all operating
environm ent s - for example, by ensuring interoperability with future
versions of software or hardw are . In no e vent shall Creative or its
licensors be li able for any ind irect, in cidental, s pecial or conse quential
loss or for any lost profits, savings or data arising from or relating to
the use of this product, even if Creative or its licensors have been
advised of the possibility of such loss.

Specific ally , t his warranty does not c ove r failure s of the prod uct which
result fro m accident, abuse, misuse, alterations (by persons other than
Creative or it s au th o r i zed r ep air agents), moist u r e, cor r o sive
environments, shipping, high voltage surges, or abnormal working
conditions . This warranty does not co ver normal wear and tear. You are
specifically advised to take a backup copy of any software provided
with the Creative product for security purposes.

This warrant y gives you specific legal rights. You may
have other rights which vary from country to country.
Certain limitat ions in this warrant y are not permitted by the
jurisdiction of some countries, so some limita tions here
may not apply to you.

20

Creative European Contact Centre

CREA TIVE LABS (IRELAND) L TD.,

Technical Support Department,
Ballycoolin B usi nes s P ark, B lancha rds to w n, Dubli n
15, Ireland.

Fax: [phone]
United Kingdom

Tel [phone]

Germany

Tel [phone]

Ireland

Tel [phone]

France

Tel [phone]

Spain

Tel [phone]

Italy

Tel [phone]

Austria

Tel [phone]

Belgium

Tel [phone]

Denmark

Tel [phone]

Finland

Tel [phone]

Norway

Tel [phone]

Sweden

Tel [phone]

Holland

Tel [phone]

Switzerland

Tel [phone]

Portugal

Tel [phone]

Czech Republic

Tel [phone]

Poland

Tel [phone]

Hungary

Tel [phone]

Russia

Tel [phone]

Please note that international call rates will apply. Please contact your telecoms company to verify the exact rate you will be
charged.