Quick Takes - Cerwin-Vega E-706 Bookshelf Speakers - July, 2000


Jared Baldwin

 

Ratings:
		Extraordinary
		Good
		Acceptable
		Mediocre
		Poor

Cerwin Vega E-706 Bookshelf Speakers

Drivers:  1" dome tweeter, 6 1/4" woofer

MFR:  50 Hz - 20 kHz

Impedance:  8 Ohms

Sensitivity:  90 dB

Recommended power:  100 watts rms

Size:  14 1/4" H x 8 1/4" W x 9" D

Weight:  12 1/2 lbs each

Finish:  black

Video shielding:  yes

Connector type:  push

Enclosure type:  ported

Speaker matching:  Voiced matched to Cerwin-Vega E-series 2 models

MSRP:  $300/pair

What they say:

Although roughly the size of a legal size sheet of paper, the E-706 speakers deliver the big sound of your local cinema.  Included inside the solid jet-black cabinet is a two-way system using a 1" dome tweeter designed to deliver effortless and clear output armed with thermal overload protection designed to reset automatically when you're ready to rock again.  Also housed is a 6 1/4" lightweight mid-woofer that handles the mid to low frequencies with minimal effort.  "Visually striking" grilles cover the fronts with a flush mount.  The E-706s are also video shielded to provide maximum protection against video distortion when used as the main channels in a home theater setup. 

What we found:

The best thing the E-706s have going for them is their very solid build construction.  The 3/4" medium density particleboard really does the trick, providing for high output and with less cabinet resonance.  A very decent amount of bass output can be achieved when driving the E-706s hard, which was a welcome conclusion considering the promises of many bookshelf speakers and which allows for a compact 2-channel setup.  These speakers are small enough to hide as rear surrounds, but still have big enough sound to work as the main speakers in a compact home theater setup.  They also perform very well with other Cerwin-Vega E-series 2 model speakers creating an almost seamless soundstage.  The E-706s are very plain looking speakers when compared to other choices available, and the inflexible push spring connectors may disappoint some users.  In fact the "visually striking" grille is simply a normal looking cloth grille, nothing to get excited over.  They do cost a little less than the average bookshelf speaker with the same driver compliment that may cause the seasoned listener to shy away from them and opt for a more expensive speaker.

Rating:

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Sound:
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Value:

- Jared Baldwin -

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