Prior to the launch of the Sound Blaster Live! last August Cambridge Soundworks released their PCWorks FourPoint Surround speaker system (Now renamed FPS1000).   With a suggested retail price of $99 we could not help but be impressed with the diminutive system which was built around the Cambridge Soundworks PCWorks design.  At the launch of the Live! I suspect that Creative Labs biggest concern was making a quality 4.1 system accessible to the masses as their initial marketing campaign for the Live! put almost all of their marbles into four speaker audio. The FourPoint Surrounds (FPS1000 from now on) while excellent speakers in their own right, were lacking the power and the precision that can be heard in higher end 3 piece speaker systems. While there was talk at the Live!’s launch event about a higher powered system I suspect Creative  was in no great hurry to create a perception of lower quality for the FPS1000s by introducing a high end 4.1 model.

Well the FPS1000s are now firmly entrenched as the best value for anyone look for a quick four speaker fix and Cambridge SoundWorks has released their higher end FSP2000 digital speaker system with satellites using the same format as the highly acclaimed SoundWorks speakers.  Don’t let the "digital" in the name scare you away as the system  comes with standard analog inputs along with the Sound Blaster Live’s proprietary digital DIN connector.

Just like the FPS1000, the FPS2000 comes with four satellite speakers and a subwoofer which houses the amplifier. Those of you with the FPS1000 will be asking how this new system compares to your set. Well first off, the satellites use the same format as the highly acclaimed SoundWorks speakers. They use high-output 2 1/2" long-throw drivers. The other difference is a brand new design for a high-output powered subwoofer. Housed in the subwoofer enclosure is a newly designed Class H subwoofer amplifier that delivers 25 watts RMS to the 5 1/4" woofer. The subwoofer also contains a four-channel amplifier (7 watts RMS x 4) for the satellite speakers. This is obviously significantly more powerful than the 3.5 watts RMS satellites and 10 watts RMS subwoofer that makes up the FPS1000.

Another nice touch (similar to the FPS1000) is the separate volume control that’s on a separate cable for very easy access.  What's new is the addtion of a front/rear fader and on/off switch with a power LED to the handy control.  The system also comes with four desktop satellite stands and a pair of (still) too short (18") tripod-style floor stands for the rear satellites plus the required cables, fasteners and speaker wire and a well laid out installation and operating instructions manual.

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