Manufacturer: Creative Labs

Release Date: 8/30/2013

MSRP: $129.99

Speakers are something I’m extremely picky about. I have only bought a couple of sets in my life, and I love every set I get. However, my current setup was a Logitech stereo system with a small subwoofer, and that was 6 years ago. It was pretty good and did the job for the longest time, but it was time to move on.

I’ve never bought anything from Creative Labs, so this is a first-time experience with their products. It was either these or the Razer Leviathan, but there was a $70 difference between the two. Sure, Razer has snazzy features like an LCD display and a giant subwoofer, but it didn’t sound that great for a $200 soundbar. I wanted something wireless, so my only other option in the store, which was sub-$200, was this set from Creative Labs. For $130, I was really hesitant, and they are just satellite speakers. Usually, you need a separate subwoofer for good audio, but when I took them home, I realized I was dead wrong.

Plugging them up wasn’t all that much of a pain, but don’t let “wireless” throw you off. No speakers are truly wireless, as you need a power source. The left speaker also needs to connect to the right, but this could have been avoided with each speaker connecting to each other through Bluetooth and then having their own separate power cables. So two power cables, or one power cable and an RCA connection? Pick one. There’s also an option to use a 3.5mm jack for your PC, which I chose. While the Bluetooth pairing works great and is quick and simple, the sound card audio manager doesn’t detect Bluetooth speakers, so I couldn’t use my sound equalizer. I had to go through a 3.5mm jack, which kind of defeats the purpose of having Bluetooth speakers. I understand it was mainly designed for phones, as it has an NFC function on the right speaker to wake it up.

Outside of this small annoyance, I realized the RCA cable connecting the speakers is rather short. I had to buy an RCA extension cable to run the speakers on either side of my desk. The power cable was longer, which was kind of weird because it was reversed on my old Logitech set.

Once you get them plugged in and on, the sound is fantastic. These are the best stereo speakers I have heard, as the sound is rich, clear, and vibrant, and there are a lot of basses. These bad boys have bass speakers built into each satellite to pack a serious punch. After playing music for 90 minutes and turning it off, I noticed my head was buzzing from the bass. Playing video games also sounds rich and booming and provides a quasi-theater experience.

Outside of the two small issues I had, I have to say this purchase was well worth it. I don’t buy speakers very often (maybe once every 5 years) if they continue to work, so I should be happy with this for a long time. They are a great price, and having Bluetooth and a headphone jack in the front adds to their value. I also love controlling the bass and treble right upfront, like in the good old days, and not to mention the speakers look sleek and beautiful. I think I’ll be looking into more Creative Labs products.