Creative Launches Zen-Inspired Creative Pebble Desktop Speakers

#5507309 Posted on: 01/04/2018 06:55 PM

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They are nice looking....but how's the sound quality? How is the bass production?

#5507375 Posted on: 01/04/2018 09:18 PM

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I wonder when is Creative going to produce any wooden 2.0 contenders to Edifier or Microlab or SVEN or some low-end studio monitors like Mackie ... all they do now is plastic micro-gigaworks or plastic-micro 2.1 i want something bigger that works

#5507409 Posted on: 01/04/2018 11:08 PM

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Unless Creative have found a way to bypass the laws of physics, these aren't going to have enough bass. Small speakers can't push enough air. No way around that.

These will need a sub. I assume these are just for looks and not for sound quality and in order to make them not sound like crap, they're obviously just going to use EQ and apply a V-shaped curve to make the sound less offensive.

#5507502 Posted on: 01/05/2018 07:04 AM

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Seems every year speakers get worse....

#5507623 Posted on: 01/05/2018 03:50 PM

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"But it's got the beats logo on it. It's got to be good."

#5507629 Posted on: 01/05/2018 04:16 PM

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It's all going to change really soon. A lot of speaker companies have been designing in circles the past few decades but now that Google/Apple are entering the relatively higher-end market with DSP corrected speakers that are self amplified - it's going to wake a lot of these companies up.

Audiophiles typically gravitate towards component oriented systems because it allows them to experiment/mix&match but the best designed systems are going to be active speakers with DSP corrected built in. KEF's LS50W's are a good example - I have the regular LS50's powered by a Marantz 5011 and I've heard LS50Ws that are powered by their own integrated 200w amps + DSP - the W's are significantly better than my setup despite having the same driver/cabinet because KEF is in control of the entire chain.

Here is a good video that explains the advantages of having active speakers:



But yeah, i think with these higherish end stuff coming from tech companies that just use algorithms to make up for lack of driver design, it's going to force a lot of these companies to innovate or die.

#5507656 Posted on: 01/05/2018 05:31 PM

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@Denial

You sure this is the right thread? 'cause this thread is about some overpriced cheap crap from Creative

#5507668 Posted on: 01/05/2018 06:09 PM

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@Denial

You sure this is the right thread? 'cause this thread is about some overpriced cheap crap from Creative :p
It would be nice if something would force mainstream companies to produce better quality speakers..... I haven't tried a set of Creative speakers for over 20 years, but the last set I had sounded like complete garbage, even for their time. A former co-worker suggested I try Bose speakers, but the last time I "tested" a set, they had a hollow sound.

#5507682 Posted on: 01/05/2018 07:24 PM

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@Denial

You sure this is the right thread? 'cause this thread is about some overpriced cheap crap from Creative :p

Lol yeah - I just think a large part of the speaker industry, Creative included, is in a "race to the bottom" type of situation. There are so many speaker companies producing garbage cheap speakers and it's mostly because nothing exciting has happened at the high end for a long time - until now, with Google/Apple getting into the game. It's similar to what occurred with laptops - they stagnated forever, cheaper TN screens, garbage keyboards, etc - then Microsoft Surface/Apple/Intel started pushing Ultrabook type devices a few years ago with IPS 4k+ screens, aluminum chassis, nifty folding/convertible features, etc and then suddenly the entire laptop market turned over again - now a lot of that stuff is bleeding down and making cheaper laptops better and forcing companies like lenovo/asus to come out with their own "premium" alternatives at relatively affordable price-points.

IMO the same thing is going to happen with the speaker industry, it kind of already has started with companies like KEF/B&W etc all launching active "AIO" speakers/amp combos with DSP and whatnot at the high-end (LS50Ws are $2100+). The technology has been around for decades but none of them were really pushing it until Apple/Google showed up with products that have it. It's only a matter of time before it all starts bleeding to the low end and companies like creative are forced to innovate or get out.

#5507689 Posted on: 01/05/2018 08:06 PM

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@Denial

There's some good DSP active speakers on the market in the ~$300-$500 price range. Bosse and Edifier for example have made some really good speakers in that segment in the last couple years. You can now get multimedia speakers with DSP that put out sound that's actually decent. I've got a pair of S1000DBs recently, and they have no trouble filling the whole room with high quality sound.

Last time I was in the market (around 2012,) there was nothing available. Things seem to have changed. What hasn't changed, is the majority of the "gaming" manufacturers (Creative, Logitech, etc.) putting out crap. But if you do some research, you'll know to stay away from those brands now and go for the decent ones.