Can't Hear Tv Dialogue? This Soundbar Fixed My Audio Problems For Cheap

Creative Stage Pro soundbar

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Creative Stage Pro soundbar is disposable connected Amazon for $170.
• This cost-effective soundbar excels astatine producing clear dialogue.
• The Stage Pro subwoofer won't rustle you away, but it does adhd immoderate extent to voices.

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This space-saving soundbar/subwoofer combo from Creative mightiness not meet nan lofty demands of an audiophile, but for anyone who wants much sound from their movies aliases television, it ticks a batch of boxes.

Also: This stereo amp made maine consciousness for illustration I was proceeding my favourite set for nan first time

Selling for $170 connected Amazon, nan Stage Pro is simply a midrange soundbar that does 1 peculiar point very well: guarantee you tin perceive each connection of speech spoken, an rumor that frustrates immoderate to nan constituent of watching pinch subtitles on. Thanks to this soundbar, though, you won't person to do that immoderate longer.

Let's chat astir what this soundbar tin do. 

My experience

First off, nan barroom has been group very precocious for soundbars successful my house, acknowledgment to nan JBL Bar 1000. That soundbar produces amazingly meticulous and rich | sound, and I've yet to travel crossed 1 to champion it. Of course, nan Bar 1000 sells for $1200 connected Amazon, which is beyond nan fund of many.

Thankfully, location are plentifulness of low- to midrange soundbars to take from, and though nan Stage Pro lives successful nan precocious low-end spectrum of devices, it sounds overmuch amended than its value would imply.

Also: One of nan best-sounding speakers I've listened to is not made by JBL aliases Klipsch

As soon arsenic I received nan Stage Pro, my contiguous thought was, "This is small." Because of nan "Pro" name, I assumed it would astatine slightest beryllium adjacent to nan size of nan Bar 1000. Alas, nan magnitude of nan sound barroom is simply a specified 21 inches long. You mightiness deliberation that would preclude it from producing capable measurement to beryllium usable, but that you'd beryllium wrong.

I connected nan Stage Pro to my TV via HDMI/eARC port, connected nan subwoofer (via nan attached cable), and plugged some nan soundbar and subwoofer into a powerfulness outlet. I past opened Netflix. I'm presently re-binging "Travelers," truthful I pressed play and sat backmost to spot really this mini speaker did. 

Left: nan JBL Bar 1000; Right: nan Stage Pro subwoofer. 

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Needless to say, I was impressed. Now, fto maine beryllium specific.

What instantly impressed maine was nan dialogue, which was very crisp, clear, and large enough. Kudos to Creative, because we each cognize really overmuch of an rumor speech successful modern movies and TV tin be. The Stage Pro delivered each connection spoken truthful intelligibly you mightiness deliberation nan characters were opinionated successful nan room speaking straight astatine you.

Also: How a mini subwoofer caught this audiophile disconnected defender (and successful nan champion measurement possible)

What a activity of caller air.

On apical of nan clear dialogue, nan setup and usage were incredibly easy. In fact, I would opportunity that this was nan easiest soundbar I've ever connected to a TV. Plug it in, move everything on, and you're bully to go.

The Stage Pro distant is very easy to use, but doesn't see AAA batteries.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

On nan remote, you'll find a fastener branded "Super Wide," allowing you to move betwixt acold and adjacent fields, meaning you tin move betwixt distances from nan source. If you're watching successful a mini room, usage nan adjacent section option. If you're successful a larger room pinch plentifulness of abstraction betwixt you and nan source, prime nan acold section option. Believe it aliases not, it does make a quality successful nan clarity of nan sound based connected your watching position. 

There's besides nan Mode button, which allows you to prime from movie, TV, audio, and gaming. I urge you usage this feature, arsenic it besides makes a quality successful nan sound. 

Also: These fund earbuds turned an audiophile into an open-ear believer

As acold arsenic nan bass is concerned, it's not booming, but it surely does bring retired nan debased extremity of what you're watching. This subwoofer is obscurity adjacent nan value of nan Bar 1000, but astatine $170, I wouldn't expect it to be. That being said, nan sub did impressment me, particularly for TV. 

With nan sub cranked up (you tin summation bass and treble connected nan remote), it gave overmuch much extent to nan voices. I've tested different soundbars that either don't see a subwoofer aliases don't usage it properly, which equates to hollow-sounding speech (a pet peeve of mine). The Stage Pro avoids that pitfall and delivers rich | speech and a spot of low-end "thump" erstwhile needed.

ZDNET's buying advice

Do I urge nan Creative Stage Pro soundbar? It depends connected what you're looking for. If you're successful nan marketplace for a soundbar that produces sonic booms connected nan debased end, crisp highs, and a massively wide soundstage, nan Stage Pro isn't for you. 

Also: What is EQ and why is it an important facet successful improving sound?

If, connected nan different hand, you want a cost-effective soundbar that puts speech beforehand and halfway and elevates it pinch a spot of rich | bass, this soundbar is correct up your alley. The Creative Stage Pro is an inexpensive soundbar that will make you deliberation you're listening to 1 doubly nan cost. Because it's truthful easy to group up, anyone tin bask this babe wrong minutes of unboxing.

Creative Stage Pro 2.1 soundbar tech specs

• Frequency consequence - 50–20,000 Hz
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio - > 85 dB
• Power Output - 2 x 20Wrms (L/R), 1 x 40Wrms (Sub) (Total 80Wrms, 160Wpeak)
• Connectivity - HDMI 2.0, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Audio, and optical.
• Dimensions - Sub: 4.53 × 10.43 × 16.54 inches, Soundbar 21.65 × 4.41 × 3.18 inches