Creative Technology has released the Creative Stage Pro. This is a new 2.1-channel soundbar and subwoofer system designed to deliver cinematic audio in compact spaces. This latest addition to Creative’s Stage series is a much smaller soundbar than you’d be used to seeing, but it is still powerful.
At the heart of what makes this soundbar special is Creative’s “SuperWide” technology. This is soundstage-expansion tech that literally projects audio beyond the physical limits of the soundbar itself. This creates an expansive and spatial listening experience, and in a way you wouldn’t expect outside of speakers.
The system delivers 160W of peak power through custom-tuned full-range drivers and a long-throw subwoofer. This should give bold performance and dynamic sound, despite being a smaller soundbar. You can place it in front of your monitor, and it will fit the length of it as it’s 21 inches wide. This is unlike most sound bars, which can be almost as big as a TV.
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Keep in mind that this soundbar also comes with custom-tuned full-range drivers, a remote, and a long-throw subwoofer. So it should be no problem to give you realistic explosive sounds down to those subtle, intricate sounds in dialogue that give real emotional intensity. To push this, the Stage Pro supports Dolby Audio (Dolby Digital Plus), which should improve dialogue, tonality, and detail across different content types.
The most impressive part for me is that the soundbar also offers two dedicated listening modes that should make it easy to change between setups. It has Near Field Mode for close-up use with desktops and gaming setups, and Far Field Mode for room-filling sound from a distance in your entertainment centers.
Connectivity is a breeze with the Stage Pro, which is always a relief. It supports HDMI ARC with CEC, Bluetooth 5.3, Optical-in, AUX-in, and USB audio. This means you can easily hook it up to your TV, PC, or even your mobile devices, getting high-quality audio for all your favorite content. Anyone with a console is covered because you can hook up your Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, or PlayStation 5 to your TV via HDMI, and then the Stage Pro to your TV through HDMI ARC. So, as long as your TV or monitor is compatible, your console is too.
The soundbar itself measures 21.65 x 3.07 x 2.95 inches (550×78×75 mm), and the subwoofer is 4.53 x 16.61 x 9.84 inches (115×422×250 mm). These dimensions make it easy to fit into various setups without taking up too much space. The soundbar is nice and slim, so it won’t block your TV, and the subwoofer is tall and narrow, perfect for tucking away next to a desk or fitting into your audio setup.
The Creative Stage Pro packs a lot into its small package, and I really expected a much higher price. Instead, this device doesn’t break the bank like many soundbars do. It’s available now at Creative’s online store for $169.99, and it should appear at other retailers soon.
Source: Creative
