Yamaha CBX-S3 Powered Monitor Reviews

On average, people found this review very helpful
Report this review

Good Points: Tough speaker design to last for years. Excellent buy second hand.

General comments: I bought a pair of these powered monitor speakers at a Cash N'Save for $US120 five years ago and have been served incredibly well for the price. I thought I should indulge in good computer speakers, and at the time was dismayed at the available range, although there are better computer speakers on the market now, though perhaps not as sturdy or versatile as these. The only problem I have really had was once when I was using the speakers as bookends and a heavy pile of books pushed one speaker off the table crashing onto the concrete floor. $US40 later and my speaker was repaired, and has worked fine ever since. These speakers have been exposed to dust, cups of coffee split on them, and come through with flying colours. Each speaker is rated at 30 Watts 40/60Hz and has three inputs: MIC phone jack, Line 1 phone jack, and Line 2 RCA, and a built in mains power chord on the back recessed panels. This makes them very adaptable to be used as computer or hi-fi speakers, or even studio monitors. The frequency response is good, although a little imprecise around 60-100hz given that the range only extends down to 60hz. The front panels have very sturdy metal grills, and a very neat row of horizontal small grey controls at the bottom, including, power on off push button, small red LED power indicator, "low" and "high" tone controls, and volume controls. The speaker cases are built from what looks like a very sturdy plastic or metal and are finished in the standard grey computer colour, which makes them ideal for computer use. They stand 22 centimetres tall, and have a deep wedge shape 13cm wide at the front and 11 centimetres at the back. The speakers are 20 centimetres deep, and this accounts for some of their good sound quality, though may be more difficult to locate on a desktop due to their depth, compared to some other computer speakers. There is a single 9 centimetre (3.5 inch) speaker in each box, with a 5 x 1 centimetre port below the speaker cone - quite a beautiful and simple design.