These are the Creative Stage Air V2, and yes, the V2 does mean that this is a successor model just like the Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2. However, that’s a soundbar that’s on a whole other level. For this one, let’s take it down a notch as this is a compact, under-monitor USB soundbar that has Bluetooth connectivity. That’s the best way I can put it, so let’s take a look at some of its features.
Creative Stage Air V2 – Quick Specs
- 2ch Audio
- 20W Total System Peak Power
- 6-Hour Battery Life
- Dimensions: 410 x 94 x 75mm
Design
The Creative Stage Air V2 is made mostly out of plastic, with a mesh grille on the front of the soundbar. The front also sees a small Creative logo on the left, with an LED status light hidden behind the mesh grille on the right. The LED lets you know which audio source you’re currently connected to – blue for Bluetooth, purple for USB.
On the right side, there’s the power button, volume up and down buttons, as well as the Bluetooth pairing button. I do wish the volume controls were a dial instead of buttons, that would’ve made it a whole lot easier to control volume. On the back, there’s only the USB-C port for connection/charging, and the 3.5mm audio jack for AUX-in connectivity.
Setup
To setup the Creative Stage Air V2, simply take it out of the box, plug a USB-C cable in for charging, and you’re ready for listening. Alternatively, you could just long press the power button to turn it on and start pairing it to your device via Bluetooth. Simple, no fuss.
User Experience
I’ve started using the Creative Stage Air V2 a couple weeks back, and since then, my minimalist PC setup has gotten much better audio. It also doesn’t take up too much space like the Edifier speaker did, which gives me more desk real estate.
Using the Creative Stage Air V2 with Bluetooth worked out well, without a hitch. But when it comes to USB-C, things started getting confusing. When the USB-C cable is plugged in, the LED light on the back shows you it’s charging cause it’s red. However, the PC doesn’t detect it as a speaker. When it does, then you’re considered lucky for the day. Sometimes, the LED lights on the front doesn’t light up to show what connectivity mode you’re in. But after a couple of restarts, the soundbar finally finds its place in my PC’s folder of drivers and works great.
On days when I need a Bluetooth speaker in other parts of my home, especially when I have guests over, I can unplug the USB-C cable and carry it out effortlessly. Sure, it has a little weight to it, but nothing a 5-year old can’t shoulder.
Audio Quality
The most important part of this review, the audio quality. Well, to sum it up in a few words – “It has more bass than I expected it to.” The soundbar comes with two drives and a passive radiator to enhance bass performance.
For a PC soundbar that’s meant to channel everyday audio content, it works great. Bass performs really well, highs tend to get drowned out sometimes, but the mids come across nicely so vocal performance is a plus. However, at higher volume levels, it does fill up the room but it does get a bit muddy. The sound doesn’t have a lot of range, but that shouldn’t matter much since it’s an inexpensive PC soundbar that sits less than a meter away from you.
Conclusion
The Creative Stage Air V2 is great entry-level soundbar for those who aren’t too picky with audio quality. For day to day audio like music and movies, the soundbar works great. It’s a great choice mostly thanks to its connectivity options, allowing it to function with any device like game consoles, or even laptops and smartphones. It is also portable, so your next BBQ session wouldn’t be awkward where people struggle to find conversation starters.
To learn more about the Creative Stage Air V2, you can click here. To get one for yourself, you can purchase it from Creative. Or if you have a little more cash to spend, try upgrading to the Creative Stage 360 instead.
