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Creative Sound BlasterX Kratos S3 review
Posted by: on: 02/19/2018 12:34 PM [
18 comment(s) ]
Armed with a small sub and two satellite speakers we'll today have a look at Creative Sound BlasterX Kratos S3 speaker kit. It is small, light-weight and doesn't look half bad either. But will it perform for the 79 USD / 69 Euros it costs?
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masterboy
Member
Posts: 70
Member
Posts: 70
Posted on: 02/19/2018 01:53 PM
Can we compare it with Logitech Z625? Which one is better?
Can we compare it with Logitech Z625? Which one is better?
Athlonite
Senior Member
Posts: 1254
Senior Member
Posts: 1254
Posted on: 02/19/2018 01:54 PM
Does Creative's speaker designers fail to realize that their Sound cards come with an optical out port so why no optical in on these seems kind of pointless these days to not have one I mean even lowly onboard Audio has optical out
@masterboy stick with the Logitechs they're pretty good and hard to beat at the price
Does Creative's speaker designers fail to realize that their Sound cards come with an optical out port so why no optical in on these seems kind of pointless these days to not have one I mean even lowly onboard Audio has optical out
@masterboy stick with the Logitechs they're pretty good and hard to beat at the price
Hilbert Hagedoorn
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 34849
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 34849
Posted on: 02/19/2018 02:03 PM
That is a fairly good analogy. People who download FLACS are more audiophile, MP3 users perhaps a demand a little less. The speaker kit is not at all high-end, but mainstream. It sounds decent for the money, but do not expect that premium sound.
So it's good for listening to .mp3s but not for listening to .flac is what I got out of this.
That is a fairly good analogy. People who download FLACS are more audiophile, MP3 users perhaps a demand a little less. The speaker kit is not at all high-end, but mainstream. It sounds decent for the money, but do not expect that premium sound.
Alessio1989
Senior Member
Posts: 1072
Senior Member
Posts: 1072
Posted on: 02/19/2018 02:06 PM
A license key for a software mixer that works only with those speakers.....
A license key for a software mixer that works only with those speakers.....
Shaxuul
Member
Posts: 20
Member
Posts: 20
Posted on: 02/19/2018 02:21 PM
Sounds perfect for laptops...
Sounds perfect for laptops...
C-Power
Senior Member
Posts: 101
Senior Member
Posts: 101
Posted on: 02/19/2018 02:26 PM
As always with budget 2.1 speakers.. don't buy them
It's better to get a pair of Creative T20's or T40's without a sub, they sound way better (especially quality of sound wise) and don't compromise to have a very cheap sub to go with it.
The only 2.1 sets I'd reccomend are the ones no longer on sale - and even those weren't perfect but decent, like the Logitech Z2200 or z2300's, Klipsch Promedia 2.1.
If you really enjoy your sound, try and stretch your budget slightly and get an external dac (there are a ton of cheap ones out there that will do a fine job, even the ones from eBay), and some nice budget speakers like Cambridge S30's (If you can still find them somewhere.. lol).
This kind of setup can be bought anywhere from really cheap (100-150 euro's) to something extremely audiophile and insanely expensive (like a 5k costing dac and a pair of stereo speakers costing 15k+ lol).
It's *nearly* always better then whatever you buy of the shelf from any of the audio companies that make budget 2.1 sets, even the cheapest stuff you can find.
As always with budget 2.1 speakers.. don't buy them
It's better to get a pair of Creative T20's or T40's without a sub, they sound way better (especially quality of sound wise) and don't compromise to have a very cheap sub to go with it.
The only 2.1 sets I'd reccomend are the ones no longer on sale - and even those weren't perfect but decent, like the Logitech Z2200 or z2300's, Klipsch Promedia 2.1.
If you really enjoy your sound, try and stretch your budget slightly and get an external dac (there are a ton of cheap ones out there that will do a fine job, even the ones from eBay), and some nice budget speakers like Cambridge S30's (If you can still find them somewhere.. lol).
This kind of setup can be bought anywhere from really cheap (100-150 euro's) to something extremely audiophile and insanely expensive (like a 5k costing dac and a pair of stereo speakers costing 15k+ lol).
It's *nearly* always better then whatever you buy of the shelf from any of the audio companies that make budget 2.1 sets, even the cheapest stuff you can find.
alanm
Senior Member
Posts: 8511
Senior Member
Posts: 8511
Posted on: 02/19/2018 02:57 PM
Computer speakers have never sounded good to me, even at 3 or 4 times the price of this kit. Hi-fi gear for home audio is the way to go if you want decent sound and have the space/budget.
Computer speakers have never sounded good to me, even at 3 or 4 times the price of this kit. Hi-fi gear for home audio is the way to go if you want decent sound and have the space/budget.
mackintosh
Senior Member
Posts: 207
Senior Member
Posts: 207
Posted on: 02/19/2018 02:59 PM
An entry level amplifier with a decent set of cans is more than enough for nearly anyone bar the most discerning listeners. Don't waste your time on PC speakers.
An entry level amplifier with a decent set of cans is more than enough for nearly anyone bar the most discerning listeners. Don't waste your time on PC speakers.
Evildead666
Senior Member
Posts: 904
Senior Member
Posts: 904
Posted on: 02/19/2018 04:07 PM
Computer speakers sounded good on the Amstrad, but that only just had Stereo sound
+1 for Buying an AMP and a couple of Good speakers.
They will follow you around for most of your life, and won't need replacing almost ever.
Nowadays you can get a cheap A/V Amp that does all the decoding DTS-HD, TrueHD, DTS-X, Atmos,...HDMI to it and you're golden.
Computer speakers have never sounded good to me, even at 3 or 4 times the price of this kit. Hi-fi gear for home audio is the way to go if you want decent sound and have the space/budget.
Computer speakers sounded good on the Amstrad, but that only just had Stereo sound
+1 for Buying an AMP and a couple of Good speakers.
They will follow you around for most of your life, and won't need replacing almost ever.
Nowadays you can get a cheap A/V Amp that does all the decoding DTS-HD, TrueHD, DTS-X, Atmos,...HDMI to it and you're golden.
sykozis
Senior Member
Posts: 20826
Senior Member
Posts: 20826
Posted on: 02/19/2018 08:06 PM
Not everyone wants a set of cans though. Some of us prefer a decent set of speakers...
The only time I really listen to music at home is when I'm doing chores around the house. Rather hard to work in various rooms or on a different floor entirely with a pair of headphones on that are directly connected to my PC by a cable...
An entry level amplifier with a decent set of cans is more than enough for nearly anyone bar the most discerning listeners. Don't waste your time on PC speakers.
Not everyone wants a set of cans though. Some of us prefer a decent set of speakers...
The only time I really listen to music at home is when I'm doing chores around the house. Rather hard to work in various rooms or on a different floor entirely with a pair of headphones on that are directly connected to my PC by a cable...
matox
Junior Member
Posts: 19
Junior Member
Posts: 19
Posted on: 02/19/2018 08:25 PM
Not a fair comparison man.
The Z625 are much better:
Optical cable (digital audio vs analog)
Higher wattage (more power)
Better quality materials
But more expensive, it's another league.
Like a Kia Optima and a VW Passat.
Can we compare it with Logitech Z625? Which one is better?
Not a fair comparison man.
The Z625 are much better:
Optical cable (digital audio vs analog)
Higher wattage (more power)
Better quality materials
But more expensive, it's another league.
Like a Kia Optima and a VW Passat.
mackintosh
Senior Member
Posts: 207
Senior Member
Posts: 207
Posted on: 02/19/2018 08:28 PM
Not everyone wants a set of cans though. Some of us prefer a decent set of speakers...
The only time I really listen to music at home is when I'm doing chores around the house. Rather hard to work in various rooms or on a different floor entirely with a pair of headphones on that are directly connected to my PC by a cable...
That's fair enough, but good quality speakers aren't terribly expensive either. I have a pair of JBL ES30s and an old Samsung subwoofer leftover from an ancient hifi that I run through an old Denon AVR-1911, they're more than enough. That kind of a setup can be had for very little second hand. I can honestly say I can hardly hear any difference between that configuration and a much more expensive rig I use in my living room as far as speakers are concerned. Now, when I plug in a pair of HD650s into it, there is a difference... but that's a whole different ball game.
Not everyone wants a set of cans though. Some of us prefer a decent set of speakers...
The only time I really listen to music at home is when I'm doing chores around the house. Rather hard to work in various rooms or on a different floor entirely with a pair of headphones on that are directly connected to my PC by a cable...
That's fair enough, but good quality speakers aren't terribly expensive either. I have a pair of JBL ES30s and an old Samsung subwoofer leftover from an ancient hifi that I run through an old Denon AVR-1911, they're more than enough. That kind of a setup can be had for very little second hand. I can honestly say I can hardly hear any difference between that configuration and a much more expensive rig I use in my living room as far as speakers are concerned. Now, when I plug in a pair of HD650s into it, there is a difference... but that's a whole different ball game.
sykozis
Senior Member
Posts: 20826
Senior Member
Posts: 20826
Posted on: 02/19/2018 10:24 PM
I haven't priced speakers in quite a while. I'm perfectly happy with my Logitech Z313s... I didn't pay a whole lot for them and sure, they don't sound as good as my headphones but they sound good enough at the volume I keep them at.
I haven't priced speakers in quite a while. I'm perfectly happy with my Logitech Z313s... I didn't pay a whole lot for them and sure, they don't sound as good as my headphones but they sound good enough at the volume I keep them at.
SweenJM
Senior Member
Posts: 191
Senior Member
Posts: 191
Posted on: 02/20/2018 01:07 AM
I got the Kratos S5 for my dad, they sound pretty good for tiny speakers.
I got the Kratos S5 for my dad, they sound pretty good for tiny speakers.
dragonlord
Senior Member
Posts: 132
Senior Member
Posts: 132
Posted on: 02/20/2018 02:02 AM
In my experience, any of the Logitech series are going to be better across the board than the Creative offerings. I mean you can get the full 5.1 Logitech Z506 for $61 at Amazon so that's 5.1 for the less than the price of 2.1...and they sound far better, IMHO.
This is only for computer use, however. Though it's pretty damn loud and robust for movies, etc. you'd want something like a proper amp and speakers setup for you big screen home TV rig.
In my experience, any of the Logitech series are going to be better across the board than the Creative offerings. I mean you can get the full 5.1 Logitech Z506 for $61 at Amazon so that's 5.1 for the less than the price of 2.1...and they sound far better, IMHO.
This is only for computer use, however. Though it's pretty damn loud and robust for movies, etc. you'd want something like a proper amp and speakers setup for you big screen home TV rig.
ChisChas
Member
Posts: 94
Member
Posts: 94
Posted on: 02/20/2018 03:05 PM
For when you're wearing your pinny and doing chores around the house, headphones and a digital audio player would be your best bet
The only time I really listen to music at home is when I'm doing chores around the house. Rather hard to work in various rooms or on a different floor entirely with a pair of headphones on that are directly connected to my PC by a cable...
For when you're wearing your pinny and doing chores around the house, headphones and a digital audio player would be your best bet
sykozis
Member
Posts: 20826
Member
Posts: 20826
Posted on: 02/21/2018 01:39 AM
Why? My Logitech Z313's get loud enough to hear through my entire house just fine. I mean, I live alone for the most part so the volume doesn't bother anyone.
For when you're wearing your pinny and doing chores around the house, headphones and a digital audio player would be your best bet
Why? My Logitech Z313's get loud enough to hear through my entire house just fine. I mean, I live alone for the most part so the volume doesn't bother anyone.
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Senior Member
Posts: 151
So it's good for listening to .mp3s but not for listening to .flac is what I got out of this.