Creative Stage V2 Archives

When I received a soundbar from one of the leading PC audio component manufacturers in India, I knew I was in for something good. Creative’s Stage V2 Soundbar promised to offer an even better output than its already good predecessor. But did it live up to its name? Here’s what I think.

First impressions:

Creative has taken an effort to make the Stage V2 soundbar even more compact, and it shows. Knocking off a considerable portion, it is now just 68 centimetres wide. That makes it eligible to fit in most spaces under TVs, regardless of the crampedness. It sports an all-black body with a metal grille at the front accompanied by the company logo on its left. Creative has also equipped Stage V2 with a wired subwoofer with a 5.25-inch driver. It is hardly 12 centimetres wide, making it slimmer than most of its competitors. Users can also wall-mount the soundbar with a pair of screws, though it could be inconvenient for some as all the input ports are at the back of the soundbar. Though they face sideways instead of facing the wall, they can be tricky to locate and slot in. Nevertheless, it is a manageable setup and is not difficult to the point of dissuasion.

Usage:

The soundbar can be operated with a power button, volume control keys, and the Bluetooth button, all of which are placed on the soundbar’s right side. A white 7-segment LED display shows all the relevant data on the soundbar. Stage V2 also displays the volume, bass, and treble levels along with the input mode, among other things, which is quite nifty. The soundbar can also be operated via a full-function wireless remote that comes in the package.

Speaking of the input ports mentioned above, Creative has provided Bluetooth 5.0, a 3.5 mm Aux jack, Optical input, USB, and HDMI ARC. Surprisingly, Creative has opted for a Type-C USB instead of the standard USB-A. Though a Type-C to USB-A cable is added to the bundle, the USB-A port is a male connector, implying you cannot connect to a pen drive. However, considering its available connectivity options, I did not find that to be much of a hindrance.

The audio output is handled by two 2.25-inch drivers that deliver 40W RMS combined and take care of high and mid-range frequencies. I was impressed with the combined 80W RMS of power that the soundbar gives, including an additional 40W RMS from the 5.25-inch subwoofer.

Verdict:

One downside is that the speaker isn’t Dolby-certified which lowers its value-for-money parameter. Consequently, a price tag of Rs 9999 means it will have to be a well-thought-out investment. Nevertheless, Creative offers a solid package with Stage V2, and there are hardly any aspects to criticise it over.

Creative Technology today announced the release of Creative Stage V2, an upgraded successor to the well-received Creative Stage which packs some nifty new features. Debuting with new audio technologies powered by Sound Blaster and sporting bigger dimensions, it offers users not only better and clearer audio, but also wider surround soundstage that delivers more bang for the user’s buck with high-quality audio at a pocket-friendly price.

The Stage V2 packs a bigger audio punch and features better connectivity than its predecessor. With the new Clear Dialog audio technology, users can hear each syllable clearly without cranking up the volume as the spoken dialogue is extracted and amplified without compromising the ambient effects. On top of that, the Surround technology adds an expanded soundstage to offer the ultimate movie experience right at the comfort of one’s home. Fitted with two custom-tuned mid-range drivers along with a powerful subwoofer, the Creative Stage V2 can fill the living room with rich audio and impactful bass that will bring users closer to the action.

Creative Stage V2 also comes with a wide range of connectivity options —TV ARC, optical, AUX, Bluetooth, and even audio streaming via USB— making it a one-stop audio entertainment system for devices including TVs, computers, mobile phones, or even gaming consoles. In addition, the soundbar is conveniently accessible via remote control, and users can switch input sources, adjust treble and bass settings as well as toggle Surround and Clear Dialog on or off with a simple press of a button. With a sleek and minimalistic design, the Creative Stage V2 can fit right into any room and be wall-mounted to deliver a truly immersive audio experience.

Creative Stage V2 is priced at the MRP of Rs 17,999 but will be available at the attractive marketing operating price (MOP) of INR 9,999 on Amazon and Flipkart around the third week of December 2020.