This little Bluetooth -speaker and subwoofer caught me overwhelmed with some big sound

It shocks me how well Bluetooth -speakers have come over the years. I remember that I bought my first Bose Bluetooth speaker, thinking that it had set the bar quite high. But if I now listen to that speaker – versus what has become available in the past year – the shame is made; Not only in sound quality but pure volume.

I recently received various Bluetooth speakers to assess. Some are single Portable speakersWhile others are couples. Then there is the Creative Pebble X PlusThat not only contains a matching pair of speakers, but also the smallest subwoofer I’ve ever seen.

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Of course, when I pulled the speakers out of the box, I could only think: “What a cute little subwoofer … I bet it has a cute little sound.” I was wrong.

To my surprise, this tiny sub (6.14 x 6.16 x 6.24 inches) has a serious punch. No, it hardly supplies the sound, my SVS SB 1000 Pro Offers, but considering how small it is, I was shocked about how well it keeps the low side in balance for the Pebble X -speakers. You would not think that such a small set of speakers could produce such a well -rounded, exciting sound, but certainly this.

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Of course there is an app that you can install, which is the Creative Labs app (Android/iOS), but I was surprised that the quality of the sound of the Pebble X Plus did not need the attention of an EQ. However, if you are so inclined, you can install the app, which gives you access to the acoustic engine (for different sound profiles), adjust the RGB lights and perform a firmware upgrade.

My experience

Like I said, these speakers impressed me from the start. I decided to use them in my bathroom because I discovered that it was a very live room and I wanted to test the clarity of the sound, even when I was in the shower. To my surprise, these speakers performed much better than I expected in a room with such high ceilings and very few surfaces that absorb sound.

I started with my go-to-test album, “signals” from Rush. I wanted to see if the sub the bass of Geddy Lee could keep track of ‘The Analog Kid’. I found the sound clean, spicy, agile and not harsh. In fact, the Pebble X Plus treated the song much better than I expected.

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At that time I moved to some environmental music, in particular the latest album “Seeker”, especially on carbon -based lifformorm, and found each song a pleasure. The entire soundscape of each song was wide, clear and rich. ‘Cloudbusting’ by Kate Bush was as beautiful as it should be.

It doesn’t matter which number I threw at the speakers, they delivered the full sound of the sound that I would expect from something much bigger and more expensive. The only song with which these speakers even had the least problems was “Nessun Dorma”, as sung by the big self, Pavarotti.

In defense of the Pebble X Plus, this song never fails the voice of the singer a little in the front and in the middle, which limits the soundstage and makes it a bit too thin. Besides that, these speakers performed remarkable.

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ZDnet’s buying advice

Straight up, the Pebble X Plus is an excellent set of Bluetooth -speakers. The addition of the subwoofer gives them a depth of sound, without having to hit the volume to uncomfortable levels.

I would recommend these speakers to anyone looking for rich sound if space is a problem. The costs are perfect for what you get, and regardless of the genre, you will be happy with how these speakers deliver your favorite music.

Creative Pebble X Plus Tech Specs

• RGB lighting
• Connectivity: USB Audio/Power, Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5 mm aux, 4-pole headphone connection, 3-pin microphone connection.
• Food output: maximum 15 W RMS and peak power up to 30W.
• Drivers: 2.75-inch speakers of the full distance and a 3.5-inch subwoofer with double passive radiators.
• High reinforcement mode: car
• Frequency response: 45-20,000 Hz
• Signal-noise ratio:> 93 dB
• Work reach: up to 33 feet
• Price: $ 120