Creative Pebble X review: Big PC sound in a tiny package

Price When Reviewed

89.99

Best Prices Today: Creative Pebble X

Creative’s Pebble audio system have carved out a status for themselves as nice sounding audio system. The Creative Pebble X suits into the lineup as an reasonably priced sub-$100 choice ($90) and, whereas it could be a less expensive choice, it’s no much less succesful. It options clear sound that makes it a pleasure to hearken to. It additionally has wonderful connectivity choices and enticing RGB, which makes it a improbable accompaniment to any desktop PC or laptop computer.

Creative Pebble X: Design and construct

The Creative Pebble X consists of two audio system. Just like the opposite audio system in Creative’s Pebble lineup, every speaker takes a spherical form with small cutouts for the drivers. The audio system are comparatively compact, sitting at 5.3 inches tall to allow them to simply match below a monitor or subsequent to a laptop computer with out being obtrusive. They additionally weigh simply 2.6 kilos, in order that they’re light-weight and transportable.

The Pebble X has bigger 2.75-inch drivers in comparison with its stablemate, the Creative Pebble Pro which has 2.25-inch drivers. The cutout spherical design angles the audio system at 45 levels upwards, so the sound is projected at a cushty angle in direction of your ears. Along the edges of the satellites you’ll discover RGB lighting. It takes the type of small rectangles and creates a mottled impact that’s fairly enticing when the ability is on.

Dominic Bayley / Foundry

There are additionally threaded tripod mounts on the underside of the audio system in case you wish to place them on pedestals. The audio system are manufactured from onerous plastic. They look extraordinarily properly made and sturdy sufficient to resist small drops onto a tabletop.

Creative Pebble X: Connectivity and controls

The Creative Pebble X offers each wired and wi-fi connectivity. Wired connectivity is by way of USB-C or 3.5mm aux-in. Wireless connectivity is by way of Bluetooth 5.3. The ports are on the again of the right-hand speaker. There are two USB-C ports, the reason is is one handles 30W energy whereas the opposite offers as much as 60W peak energy for a bigger audio output.

Dominic Bayley / Foundry

To join, you get a USB-C to USB-C cable and a 3.5mm cable to hook up with the aux-in port. There’s additionally a headphone port and a microphone port on the facet of the appropriate speaker.

You can join the audio system to any desktop laptop or laptop computer. The Creative Pebble X can also be suitable with gaming consoles just like the PS5.

The audio controls are discovered on the entrance of the appropriate speaker. They’re very minimalist, taking the type of a quantity knob and two tiny buttons. One button is for Bluetooth pairing and the opposite is to alter the RGB lighting results. I might have preferred to see bigger buttons right here because it’s onerous to see what they’re with out being up shut.

The companion apps for Android and iOS are fairly restricted and solely will let you improve the firmware and alter the lighting results, however the software program app for Windows PCs is quite a bit higher. It has a built-in equalizer and means that you can make the most of a bunch of various presets. There’s additionally a Crystal Voice mode that supposedly improves the sound of your voice once you hook up with a microphone.

Creative Pebble X: Sound

To check out the audio system, I performed U2’s Beautiful Day, adopted by Opportunity by Pete Murray after which All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor. I then performed the soundtrack from the Lord of the Rings.

First issues first, the Pebble X has a powerful sound that may actually mission for such a small gadget. The sound can also be very clear. In Beautiful Day, the devices sounded very outlined. It was attainable to pick the devices from a cacophony of sound. In Opportunity, the guitar was vivid and zingy and the vocals heat and lightweight. While in All About That Bass, the bass a part of the observe popped noticeably and hit some first rate lows.

As good because the bass was within the Pebble X, the bass is healthier within the Pebble X Plus, which is actually the Pebble X with a subwoofer. You can’t purchase the subwoofer as an add-on to the Pebble X, you must purchase the Pebble X Plus as a single bundle so the Pebble X Plus is price some consideration for an additional $30 when you actually wish to improve the bass response.

The audio system did an incredible job bringing to life the tracks from Lord of the Rings. The tracks from the Elves had been delivered with an etherealness that was general very stirring. These are absolutely audio system that can be utilized to take pleasure in a film too.

The Pebble X audio system are related by a 5.9-inch wire, which implies I might have them a good distance aside on my desk and revel in sound from totally different angles. That made listening extra pleasant than in the event that they had been bunched up collectively.

Overall, I used to be extraordinarily impressed by the sound from the audio system, which simply stuffed my house workplace. There was a superb quantity of element within the soundscape, and the audio system might hit treble and bass notes with none distortion. For the worth level these audio system hit the nail on the top, providing nice sound and good worth for cash.

Creative Pebble X: Conclusion

The Creative Pebble X has a powerful and clear sound that’s very spectacular for a speaker of this dimension. It’s compact and may simply be moved from place to position. It additionally seems nice because of its enticing RGB accents that actually add aptitude. It options wonderful connectivity with each wired and wi-fi choices. Overall, it is a nice selection for a desktop PC speaker.