Ensemble® IV &Ensemble IV

Home TheaterSpeaker Systems

by Henry Kloss

Important—Please Read First ................................................................... 1Unpacking The System ............................................................................. 2Installing And Connecting The Speakers .................................................. 3Speaker Placement ................................................................................... 3Wiring Diagram ........................................................................................ 6Preparing Speaker Wires .......................................................................... 7Making Connections ................................................................................. 7Configuring Your Surround Sound Electronics ......................................... 8Optimizing The Sound Of Your System .................................................... 8About Amplifier Power ........................................................................... 10Finalizing Your Installation ................................................................... 1110-Year Limited Warranty ...................................................................... 12Difficulty? ............................................................................................... 12

Contents

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Instructions for:

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sound, we urge you to experimentwith placement at some length, aprocess aided by the instructionsthat follow.

If you have any questions orproblems, please consult the storewhere you purchased the system,or call a Cambridge SoundWorksAudio/Video Consultant toll-free.

TImportant – Please Read First

hank you for choosing anEnsemble IV speaker system.The basic model comes withtwo satellites for regularstereo reproduction, while the

Ensemble IV Home Theater (HT)comes with five satellites forreproducing the left, right, center,and surround channels of a hometheater surround system. The twomodels are otherwise identical.

Like all speaker systems, thesound of either Ensemble IV is verymuch influenced by its placementin the listening room. Unlikeconventional models, however,Ensemble IV systems consist ofseveral compact units that can beplaced where they sound bestwithout intruding on your livingspace. There is no need to sacrificesound quality to decor, or vice-versa.

If you place your Ensemble IVsystem in the listening roomcasually, it will sound at least asgood as conventional speakers.However, to achieve even better

Cambridge SoundWorks1-877-YES-HIFI

(1-877-937-4434)24 hours a day,

every dayIn Canada: 1-800-987-9104

Outside US or Canada:Tel: 617-332-5936Fax: 617-527-3194

www.cambridgesoundworks.comE-mail:

info@cambridgesoundworks.com

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Unpacking The SystemAs you unpack Ensemble IV, pleaseexamine each speaker unit carefullyfor signs of shipping damage. Ifthere is any damage, do not discardthe shipping carton, and do notinstall or use the system. Consultthe store where you purchased thesystem or call Cambridge Sound-Works at 1-877-YES-HIFI forassistance. It’s a good idea to savethe carton and its packing inserts incase you have to ship your system.

All the items shown should beincluded; inform your store orCambridge SoundWorks if anythingis missing.

Center & Surround Satellites (3)

Ensemble IV (white model similar)

Subwoofer

The white version of this system includes one black satellite for use as the center channel.

Ensemble IV Home Theater also includes…

Satellites (2)

Satellite feet(2 strips of 4)

Cambridge

SoundWorks

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B Y H E N R Y K L O S S

ENSEMBLEIV®

RIGHT IN

LEFT IN

RIGHT OUT

LEFT OUT

DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED BY

CAMBRIDGE SOUNDWORKS, INC.NETON, MASSACHUSETTS USA

1-800-367-4434 USA1-800-525-4434 CANADA

Cambridge

SoundWorks

Cambridge

SoundWorksCambridge

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Cambridge

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Additional feet(3 strips of 4)

5 screws andwall anchors

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45°

Installing And Connecting The SpeakersOnce you have determined the

likely placement for the satellitesand subwoofer, consult page 6.The “Wiring Diagram” shows howto interconnect the speaker unitsand your amplifier.

Prepare each length of speakerwire according to the section onpage 7. Leave an extra three or fourfeet of length on each individuallength of wire. This extra length lets

All satellites are functionallysimilar. The single black satellite inthe white Ensemble IV Home Theateris intended for use on or above the TVmonitor as the center channel speaker.

First decide where to placeEnsemble IV’s speaker units in yourlistening room. The section “SpeakerPlacement” which follows gives youpractical guidelines.

you experiment with placement.Then make the connections asinstructed on page 7.

If possible, listen to the com-plete system before you make theinstallation permanent. You mayfind small changes in the satellitepositions improve the sound. Thesatellite and subwoofer may besafely moved while playing ifsufficient slack is left in thespeaker wires.

Cambridge SoundWorks

Cambridge SoundWorks

Cambridge SoundWorks

Cambridge SoundWorks

B

A

SpeakerPlacementThe left and right satellites(both models)• For stereo music listening, try

to place the satellites to form anequal-sided triangle with yourfavorite listening position (A).Because the room’s surfaces tendto integrate the sound before itreaches you, perfectly symmetri-cal placement is not necessary.

• In a home theater installation, tryto place the satellites so that theyform a 45° angle with yourpreferred seat (B), which takesbest advantage of how moviesoundtracks are mixed. Thesatellites are magneticallyshielded, so they can be placedclose to the TV. The subwoofer isnot magnetically shielded,however, and must be at least 18inches from the set to preventpicture distortion.

• Have a clear line of sight to eachsatellite. This insures that higherfrequencies are not blocked.

• For music listening, if thesatellites are across the roomfrom the listening area, theirheight is usually not critical; they

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• If possible, mount the surroundor rear satellites on either sideof your listening position, notdirectly behind it. Each satellitehas a convenient “keyhole” toallow for easy wall mounting.Ideally, the satellites should beplaced two to three feet abovethe listeners.Placing the surround speakers

directly behind the listeners (likethe inner pair in Diagram D) will

• Take advantage of the satellites’small size and consider locationswhere regular speakers wouldn’tfit, such as window sills or amantelpiece.

• The satellites can also be wallmounted as described on page 11.Use No.10 screws and anchors.However, don’t mount thempermanently until you’ve had achance to experiment withplacement and are sure of theirfinal location.

can be placed at eye level on thewall, up near the ceiling, or mostanywhere in between. If they areclose to the listening area—and inany home theater system—it isbest to have them at or nearear level.

• If you put the satellites inbookshelves or in a wall system,place them with their frontsurfaces flush with the front of theshelves; you can then surroundthem with books, CDs, tapes, etc.(See diagram below).

D

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SPEA

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SPEA

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SPEA

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1 2 3

The Sun A

lso Rises

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MOZARTSymphoniesNo. 39 & 41

Flush with edge of shelf

C

E

The Center/Surround IVsatellites (Ensemble IVHT only)

Arrange the three remainingCenter/Surround IV satellites forcenter and surround channelreproduction using the guidelinesthat follow.• See Diagram C. Place the center

channel’s satellite directly ontop of the TV or directly belowit. This satellite’s primary func-tion is to blend the sound ofspoken dialog or special effectswith what you see on-screen.

• Place the left, center and rightsatellites close to the “ear level”of the listeners.

Left Satellite Right Satellite

Subwoofer

Left Satellite Right Satellite

Subwoofer

Left Satellite Right Satellite

Subwoofer

Subwoofer placementfor most bass output

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F

The subwooferThe ear can not “localize” low-

bass sound, so Ensemble IV’ssubwoofer’s exact placement cannot be heard. It can be placedinconspicuously for the most bassoutput, independent of the satel-lites’ location.

To start, simply place thesubwoofer on the floor against thewall nearest the satellites. Aftersome listening, you can experimentfurther using these guidelines:• Be sure the bass port (the hole in

the subwoofer next to the inputterminal) has at least two inchesof clearance.

• The maximum potential lowbass output results with thesubwoofer placed in a corner(on the floor or mounted highagainst the ceiling). It is pos-sible this placement will re-quire you to decrease the basscontrol of your amplifier forbalanced sound. Use a cornernear the front satellites ifpossible. Corner placement isalso the best way to fill a verylarge room with bass output.

• If space is tight or if you wishto conceal the subwoofer, tryplacing the subwoofer behindthe listening area.

• Less bass output results fromsubwoofer placement on thefloor away from any walls orplacement off the floor. Avoidthis placement if possible. Itmay be necessary to increasethe Bass Control of your ampli-fier to compensate for the poorbass reinforcement of thisplacement.

• Don’t place the subwoofer in thesame cabinet or on the sameshelf with a turntable. A condi-tion called “acoustic feedback”could result that will muddy thebass or set up a loud, low-frequency rumbling.

Subwoofer placementfor good bass output

Subwoofer placementfor less bass output

decrease the left to right “surroundeffect”. Try placing the satellitesfurther apart, like the outer pair inDiagram D. Or you can try thefollowing techniques:• See Diagram E. Place the rear

speakers as high as possibleand aim them away from thelistening area.

• See Diagram F. Place the speak-ers so each faces upwards–eitherdirectly on the floor, on smalltables or stands or using rightangle wall mounts (available fromCambridge SoundWorks at1-877-YES-HIFI).

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Wiring Diagram

CAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKS

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CAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKSCAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKSCAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKS

B Y H E N R Y K L O S SENSEMBLEIV®

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RIGHT INLEFT IN

RIGHT OUTLEFT OUT

DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED BY CAMBRIDGE SOUNDWORKS, INC.NETON, MASSACHUSETTS USA

1-800-367-4434 USA1-800-525-4434 CANADA

Left Main Speaker

Right Main Speaker

Receiver or Amplifier

Left Front Satellite

Right Front Satellite

Left Rear Speaker

Right Rear Speaker

Center Speaker

CAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKS

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Left Rear Satellite

Right Rear Satellite

Center Channel Satellite

Ensemble IV Subwoofer

Sub Out

ENSEMBLE IV® ENSEMBLE IV®

CENTER/SURROUND IV

DO NOT USE

CENTER/SURROUND IV CENTER/SURROUND IV

Ensemble IVEnsemble IV owners–connect theLeft and Right speaker outputs ofyour amplifier to the Subwoofer’s“From amplifier left and rightspeaker output” inputs. Connectthe satellites only to the Left andRight satellite speaker outputs onthe Subwoofer. See “SubwooferOutput Note” in the next column.

Ensemble IV Home TheaterEnsemble IV Home Theater owners–connect the Left Front and Right Frontspeaker outputs of your amplifier’smain speaker outputs to theSubwoofer’s “From amplifier left andright speaker output” inputs. Connectthe satellites to be used as the LeftFront and Right Front speakers only tothe Left and Right satellite speakeroutputs on the Subwoofer.

Connect a satellite directly to eachof your receiver or amplifier’s left rearspeaker, right rear speaker, andcenter speaker outputs.

Subwoofer Output Note:(For both Ensemble IV or Ensemble IV HT )The Ensemble IV or Ensemble IV HTdoes not connect to the “subwooferoutput” found on most Dolby Sur-round and all Dolby Digital receivers.If you have a Dolby Digital receiver, besure the subwoofer output is turned“OFF”. Consult your receiver or ampli-fiers’ instructions to accomplish this.

This subwoofer output would beused if you decide to connect a large,internally-amplified subwoofer to yourreceiver in addition to the Ensemble IVor Ensemble IV HT.CAMBRIDGE

SOUNDWORKSCAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKS

CAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKSCAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKSCAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKS

B Y H E N R Y K L O S SENSEMBLEIV®

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RIGHT INLEFT IN

RIGHT OUTLEFT OUT

DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED BY CAMBRIDGE SOUNDWORKS, INC.NETON, MASSACHUSETTS USA

1-800-367-4434 USA1-800-525-4434 CANADA

Right Main Speaker

Left Main Speaker

Receiver or Amplifier

Left Front Satellite

Right Front Satellite

Ensemble IV Subwoofer

Sub Out

ENSEMBLE IV® ENSEMBLE IV®

DO NOT USE

Making Connections• With either Ensemble IV or

Ensemble IV Home Theater, theleft and right satellites must beconnected to the subwoofer’sLeft Out and Right Out connec-tors; the subwoofer’s Left In andRight In connect to the left andright speaker outputs on yourreceiver or amplifier. Only thecenter and surround satellites ofan Ensemble IV HT systemconnect directly to the appropri-ate outputs of a surround soundreceiver or amplifier.

• Each connector on the satellitesand subwoofer works the sameway: Press the spring-loaded redor black tab back to reveal the

connection hole. Insert thestripped end of the speaker wire.Release the tab.

• Connect all the speaker unitsidentically. Connect the red (+)and black (–) terminals on thespeaker units to their red andblack counterparts on yourreceiver or amplifier. Use themarked/copper leads for inter-connecting the red terminals,and the unmarked leads for theblack terminals.

Left Right

Preparing Speaker Wires• The two conductors of each

speaker wire are usually dif-ferentiated by a ridge or colorstripe down one conductor’sinsulation, or by using differentcolor conductors (copper andsilver). This is important to notewhen making connectionsdescribed in the next section.

• Use at least 18-gauge wire forruns of up to 50 feet and at least16-gauge for longer runs.

1. After choosing the connectionconfiguration, cut speaker wireinto the appropriate lengths.We recommend you use a wirecutter/stripper.

2. Separate the two individualconductors at the end of eachspeaker wire for a distance ofone inch (see G, below).

3. Strip 1/2 inch of insulation fromeach individual conductor,being careful to apply onlyenough pressure to cut throughthe insulation and not thewire strands.

4. Twist the bared wire strandstightly together (H). Be surethere are no loose strands thatcould short across the connect-ing terminals on the speakersor receiver (I).

Satellite Connector

1"

1/2"

G

Ridge or bead on insulation

I

H

Subwoofer Connector (detail)

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J

Surround sound receivers and decod-ers may require the user to configureamplifier channels for different sizespeakers. The selector may be:• Switches in the back of the

amplifier.• Front panel read-outs selected by

a remote control.• On-screen video monitor options

selected by a remote control.Be sure to set your surround soundprocessor or receiver as follows:Dolby Surround® with Pro Logic®

• Center Speaker: NormalDolby Digital®

• Left and RightMain speakers: LARGE

• Center and Rear(or Surround) speakers: SMALL(The OFF or PHANTOM centerchannel mode cancels output tothe center channel of Dolby Digitalor Dolby Surround with Pro Logic.Do not use these settings withEnsemble IV HT.)

• Subwoofer orSubwoofer Output: OFFSee “Subwoofer OutputNote” on page 6.

Optimizing TheSound Of Your SystemIt is almost impossible to find anacoustically ideal placement for aconventional, single-cabinetspeaker in a listening room. This isbecause room acoustics affect thelow-bass frequencies differentlyfrom the rest of the range. If youplace the speaker so that the roomhelps the bass, it is likely to hinderthe upper ranges (and vice-versa).

Thus placing conventional speak-ers almost inevitably entails acompromise, even before properstereo effect, decor, and conve-nience are taken into account.

The usual restrictions don’tapply to Ensemble IV because itssubwoofer separates the low-bassout from the rest of the range. Youcan place the subwoofer and the

Surround Versus StereoListening

When viewing movies or otherDolby®-encoded programs, set yourreceiver or decoder to Pro Logic orDolby Digital (AC-3).

Most TV broadcasts and almost allmusic recordings are not DolbySurround-encoded. When listeningto this program material, be sure toturn off Pro Logic processing. Switchto either normal stereo operation orsome non-Dolby surround mode.This will ensure correct stereo effect.

On program material that isn’tencoded for Dolby Surround, the ProLogic circuits cause the centerspeaker to play instead of the leftand right speakers. Most stereoeffect will be lost and the centerchannel speaker will play too loudly.

A Dolby Digital system will notproduce any sound in the DolbyDigital mode if the source is notDolby Digital-encoded.

Configuring Your SurroundSound Electronics

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satellites differently to take advan-tage of the room in both the lowerand upper ranges. Yet the units areso compact that even when placedoptimally, they have little or novisual impact on your living space.

We urge you to take full advan-tage of Ensemble IV by trying thespeaker units in different locationswithin your listening room. Ofcourse, if the system sounds

satisfactory from the moment youconnect it and first turn it on, youmay wish to go no further. But ifyou have any doubts or simplywish to see if an improvement canbe made, we suggest you experi-ment with placement using thefollowing guidelines:• Let your ears be your guide, and

trust them. When Ensemble IVsounds right to you, you’vefound the best placement.

• Low-bass increases as you movethe subwoofer closer to theintersecting room surfaces.

The sound is apparentlybrighter with the satellites closeto the listening area than withthem across the room. Theapparent fullness of the sound, afunction of mid-bass rather thanlow-bass, is greater with thesatellites against a wall thanwith them out in the room.

This is not to imply that “moreis better,” be it bass, brightness,or fullness. The point is that achange can be easily affectedsimply by moving one or more ofthe speaker units—and withEnsemble IV, that is easy to do.

• The recorded quality of programmaterial varies greatly, so besure to listen to a variety ofrecordings to prevent beingmisled by unusual characteristicsof a particular recording.

• If it is necessary to place thesatellites close to the listeningarea and you find the sound toobright, try placing the units at anangle so that listeners aren’tdirectly on their axis(J, previous page). In a smallroom, you might even try aiming

the satellites away from thelisteners altogether into thecorners of the room, to scatterthe highs for a more spacioussound (K, below).

• The subjective “fullness” of thesound is not so much a functionof the low-bass as it is of themid-bass. Similarly, the subjec-tive “openness” of the sound isnot so much a function of thehigh treble as it is of the lowermid-range. Both of these criticalranges are reproduced by thesatellite units, and so are affectedby their placement.

Mid-bass and mid-range bal-ance are usually best with thesatellites against a wall. If theyare out from the wall and soundtoo thin, particularly on vocalrecordings, try moving them backagainst the wall. Conversely, ifthey are against the wall andsound too heavy or boomy,particularly on male voices, movethem out from the wall.

• Remember that the strength oflow-bass sounds is markedlyaffected by the position of thesubwoofer. Refer to the illustra-tion on page 5 for guidance if thelow-bass is either too strong ornot strong enough.

K

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• If you’re not happy with whatyou hear and are having troubleimproving it, check with yourstore, or call a CambridgeSoundWorks Audio/VideoConsultant at 1-877-YES-HIFI(1-877-937-4434) toll-free.

Ensemble IV can be used safely toplay music with most amplifiersand receivers designed for homelistening. However, use commonsense to prevent strong non-musical transients; keep thevolume down when connectingor disconnecting components,raising or lowering yourturntable’s tonearm, and so on.This will help protect your earsas well as the speaker units.

About Amplifier PowerIf at a given volume level the

sound is consistently “grainy” or“gritty”, and/or there is clearlynoticeable distortion on deep bass,you may be overdriving your ampli-fier or receiver. Back off on thevolume control until the symptomsdisappear. If that is not loudenough for you, and you suspectthat your amplifier or receiver isinadequate, contact your store orcall a Cambridge SoundWorksAudio/Video Consultant who willadvise you on how much powerwould be appropriate for yourparticular circumstances.

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CAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKS

ENSEMBLE IV®

Plastic anchors may beneeded to secure the screws inparticularly hard or soft mate-rial. If so, drill 1/4 inch holes inthe wall, and tap the anchorsinto the holes until they areflush with the wall. Then screwthe screws into the anchorsuntil they protrude 3/8 inch fromthe wall.

• The threaded fitting in the backof each satellite allows attach-ing swivel wall-mounts andspeaker stands available fromCambridge SoundWorks.

• The satellites can be cleanedwith a window cleaning prod-uct. Use a soft, lint-free clothonly. Avoid spraying thecleaner directly on the speakergrilles to prevent damage to thespeaker drivers.

• Clean the subwoofer with adamp cloth. Do not use polish.

• Apply the self-adhesive rubberfeet to the bottom of a satelliteif you place them on a flatsurface. It will protect thesurface and keep the satellitefrom sliding. If you ever need toremove a foot, gently slide theedge of a knife under one edgeand slowly peel it off. If you tryto “pop” it off, you may damagethe cabinet’s finish.

• The satellites may be hungdirectly on a wall. Simply screwNo. 10 screws into the wall sothat their heads protrude about3/8 inch to fit into the keyholeslots on the back of each satellite(see diagram at right).

Finalizing Your Installation

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purchased. Or, if you boughtdirectly from CambridgeSoundWorks, call for a ReturnAuthorization Number for the unitand return it to the address below,freight prepaid, together with acopy of the original sales slip toestablish warranty status. Pleasedo not return the speaker system,or any of its parts, to the factorywithout prior authorization.

This is the sole and expresswarranty. This warranty is in lieuof all other warranties, expressedor implied, of merchantability,fitness for purpose or otherwise. Inno event shall Cambridge Sound-Works be liable for incidental orconsequential damages or haveany liability with respect todefects other than the obligationsset forth herein.

To ensure warranty coverage itis incumbent upon the originalpurchaser to inform CambridgeSoundWorks or any of its Autho-rized Service Agencies of the defectwithin the warranty period. Theonly acceptable method of estab-lishing warranty status is a copyof the original proof of purchaseindicating customers name andpurchase date.

For warranty informationcontact:

Cambridge SoundWorks, Inc.311 Needham St.

Newton, MA 024641-877-YES-HIFI

(1-877-937-4434)www.cambridgesoundworks.com

email:info@cambridgesoundworks.com

To the original purchaser,Cambridge SoundWorks, Inc. willwarrant the Ensemble IV orEnsemble IV Home Theater speakersystem to be free from defects inmaterial and workmanship for aperiod of ten (10) years from dateof purchase. With respect to de-fects, Cambridge SoundWorks will,at its option, replace the productor repair the defect in the productwith no charge to the originalpurchaser for parts or labor.

This warranty does not extendto any defect, malfunction orfailure caused by misuse, abuse,accident, faulty hookup, defectiveassociated equipment or use of thespeaker with equipment for whichit is not intended.

This warranty is valid onlywhen the speaker is returned to anauthorized store where it was

10-Year Limited WarrantyIf you suspect there’s aproblem with your Ensemble IV orEnsemble IV Home Theater system,contact the store where youpurchased it, or call a CambridgeSoundWorks Audio/Video Consult-ant who will help you track theproblem, which could be in someother component in your system. Iftogether you agree that there issomething wrong with yourspeaker system, you should returnit to the store where you bought it.Or, if you bought directly fromCambridge SoundWorks, we willsupply you with a Return Authori-zation Number for the unit. Pleasedo not return the speaker system,or any of its parts, to the factorywithout prior authorization.

Difficulty?

® Dolby, Pro Logic, Dolby Surround and Dolby Digital are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation® Ensemble and Cambridge SoundWorks are registered trademarks of Cambridge SoundWorks, Incorporated.

311 Needham Street, Newton MA 024641-877-937-4434 Fax: 617-527-3194

www.cambridgesoundworks.comEmail: info@cambridgesoundworks.com

P81-0700 0400 A Company