Creative Stage V2 review: A shockingly good cheap soundbar
Our Verdict
The Creative Stage V2 makes big promises on a small upkeep, and delivers. This soundbar/subwoofer combo is a fantastic selection for upgrading your home theater on the cheap.
For
- Affordable
- Adept connectivity
- Adjustable audio
Against
- Short subwoofer cable
- Plastic is a dust magnet
Tom'southward Guide Verdict
The Creative Stage V2 makes large promises on a small budget, and delivers. This soundbar/subwoofer philharmonic is a fantastic pick for upgrading your abode theater on the cheap.
Pros
- +
Affordable
- +
Good connectivity
- +
Adjustable sound
Cons
- -
Curt subwoofer cablevision
- -
Plastic is a grit magnet
The Creative Stage V2 is a masterclass in doing more with less. It's less than 30 inches wide so doesn't naturally suit large TVs, it but has ii drivers in the main soundbar unit and information technology lacks tricks like vocalization controls and Dolby Atmos — simply despite all this, it starts to impress almost as presently every bit it comes out of the box.
Artistic Stage V2 specs
Price: $109
Speakers: 2 x full range drivers, 1 x subwoofer
Ports: three.5mm aux in, optical in, USB-C in, HDMI ARC, sub out
Wi-Fi: N/A
Size: 3 x 26.8 x 3.9 inches (soundbar), half-dozen.7 ten 4.six x ix.8 inches (subwoofer)
Weight: 4.4 pounds (soundbar), 7.3 pounds (subwoofer)
What's more than, there's a reason for the lack of features: information technology's inexpensive. In fact, at $109, it'south one of the best inexpensive soundbars you tin purchase, especially when dissimilar most sub-$150 models, information technology comes with its own dedicated subwoofer. To detect out how this and other qualities brand for ane of the biggest bargains in home audio, read on for our total Artistic Stage V2 review.
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Some actress credit is due to the Creative Stage V2 likewise, every bit information technology's won big in the Tom's Guide Awards 2021 Sound categories: it's the overall winner of our Best soundbar award. Congrats to Creative, and be sure to check out the main Tom'south Guide Awards 2021 hub for the balance of the categories and winners.
Creative Phase V2 review: Cost and availability
The Creative Stage V2 costs $109. While that's a few bills more than than truly entry-level soundbars like the Vizio SB3820-C6 or LG SK1, it's still not much at all for a soundbar and subwoofer philharmonic package.
You can buy the Stage V2 from Creative directly, as well every bit from Amazon or Micro Center.
Artistic Phase V2 review: Design
Happily, the Stage V2 neither looks nor feels as cheap equally it is. Other than some slightly chunky plastic around the rear ports, it'south nice and sleek, with a sleeky finish on top and a business firm, finely-crafted metal grille on the forepart. The shiny plastic seems prone to attracting dust, or at to the lowest degree making it more visible, but otherwise Artistic has done well on aesthetics and build quality. The manner the soundbar tapers slightly towards the back is a detail comeback on the original Creative Stage.
Inside the soundbar are just 2 drivers, half that of the $129 Roku Streambar, but the unusually svelte subwoofer is on manus to deliver some extra power. Combined, power output peaks at 160W, which is most 100W more than than the Streambar.
A handy set of book, power and Bluetooth pairing controls sit flush with the right edge, though you can as well use the included remote. You'll need the latter to switch between sources, of which there are potentially many: HDMI ARC, optical and three.5mm ports are all tucked away on the rear, and there'due south even a USB-C input and so you tin utilise the Stage V2 with PCs and laptops.
Betwixt these ports and Bluetooth functionality, the Stage V2 serves upwardly a commendable variety of connections. HDMI ARC is peculiarly useful if you desire to connect another device, like a games console or Blu-ray histrion, without the clutter of several additional cables.
At 3 inches tall, the Stage V2 keeps a decently depression profile, though it does come up with built-in hooks for wall hanging too. A 2-digit, seven-segment display behind the grille also helpfully keeps track of volume and playback mode changes without being overly distracting when you lot're trying to lookout man TV.
Creative Phase V2 review: Setup
In the absence of whatever satellite speakers or wireless amplifiers, setting up the Stage V2 is easy plenty for whatsoever home theater newcomer. As long equally you call up to plug in the subwoofer to the rear of the soundbar, but connecting your Idiot box via an HDMI or optical cable is all you need to get started.
Bluetooth pairing is elementary, too: both the soundbar and the remote have buttons that activate pairing mode, from which you only need to notice and connect your source device through its respective Bluetooth bill of fare.
One thing that isn't wireless in any way is the subwoofer, and the cable it uses to connect to the soundbar is pretty brusque. As such it can't be placed very far away from your Goggle box, which might disappoint if you were hoping to keep it adjacent to your sofa or favorite chair. Nonetheless, the subwoofer's slimness could help it fit on top of TV stands and inside AV cabinets.
The IR remote is straightforward as well. It's a scrap odd that three buttons share the job of switching between five potential sources, merely so you lot'd just e'er want to apply one at a time anyhow.
The Stage V2's remote tin can besides switch the soundbar between its Surround and Dialog sound profiles, and lets you cull between accentuating the bass or treble.
Artistic Stage V2 review: Sound quality
Admittedly, the Stage V2's 160W peak power output doesn't actually translate into the kind of sonic force that shakes pictures off the wall and rattles loose your fillings. All the same, together the soundbar and subwoofer all the same provide a punchier, fuller sound than virtually Television set speakers.
The subwoofer tangibly delivers the rumble, and it's not a flabby, unrefined kind of bass. It's tight and composed, which enhances the kinetics of a big fight scene or dramatic score without overpowering the rest of the frequency range
In straight contrast to the LG SK1, which struggles with keeping dialog clear, the Stage V2 handles spoken language with ease. It doesn't strictly need the Dialog setting, merely flicking this on brings conversations even closer to the forefront with minimal adverse effects.
Still, the Environs style is more compelling. The name is a picayune ambitious — the soundstage is prissy and wide in spite of the Stage V2'southward modest size, but it's not eveloping enough to laissez passer for digital surround sound. Notwithstanding, this item setting makes everything sound bigger, bassier and more exciting. What yous lose in high-frequency sparkle is gained in a richness that'southward usually alien to such affordable soundbars — a quality that elevated the shootouts in Ghost in the Beat: SAC_2045 and made the product-added oversupply noise in soccer games a little more than believable.
In comparing to switching between Surround and Dialog modes, borer the remote's Bass and Treble push button produces more than subtle changes. Selecting Treble creates a slightly cleaner sound, but Bass will get y'all closer to the cinema sound you'd probable want from a soundbar and subwoofer — if only modestly. I too preferred Bass mode for music playback, as it added a piddling extra free energy without spilling over into distracting boominess.
The closest thing to a fault here is that the Phase V2's sound isn't quite every bit detailed as that of premium soundbars. However, that'south not a surprise, and is vastly outweighed by the various ways in which this philharmonic punches in a higher place its weight.
Creative Phase V2 review: Verdict
Some depression-cost soundbars are worth buying specifically because they're cheap, or because they can fill a certain niche; the LG SK1, for example, is well-suited to small TVs for which larger and more expensive soundbars would be overkill.
The Creative Stage V2 is different. It's affordable, only also a very good soundbar in its own correct, with stiff performance and extensive connectivity. By all means, spend more than if you desire features like Dolby Atmos, or perhaps the power to add wireless speakers for true surround sound. Just on sheer value, the Stage V2 might only be one of the best soundbars effectually right at present.
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Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/creative-stage-v2
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