This Tiny Bluetooth Speaker And Subwoofer Caught Me Off Guard With Some Big Sound

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Pebble X Plus speakers are disposable now for $120 connected Amazon.
• The rich, heavy bass perfectly matches nan mids and highs delivered by nan outer speakers.
• However, they don't person built-in artillery power, truthful your portability is constricted to a powerfulness source.

It shocks maine really bully Bluetooth speakers person travel complete nan years. I retrieve erstwhile I bought my first Bose Bluetooth speaker, reasoning it had group nan barroom beautiful high. But erstwhile I perceive to that speaker now -- versus what has go disposable complete nan past twelvemonth -- it's put to shame; not only successful sound value but sheer volume.

Recently, I received respective Bluetooth speakers to review. Some are single portable speakers, while others are pairs. Then there's nan Creative Pebble X Plus, which not only includes a matched brace of speakers but besides nan tiniest subwoofer I've ever seen.

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Of course, erstwhile I pulled nan speakers retired of nan box, each I could deliberation was, "What an adorable small subwoofer… I stake it has an adorable small sound." I was wrong.

Much to my surprise, this minuscule sub (6.14 x 6.16 x 6.24 inches) packs a superior punch. No, it doesn't present astir nan sound my SVS SB 1000 Pro offers, but fixed really mini it is, I was shocked astatine really good it balances retired nan debased extremity for nan Pebble X speakers. You wouldn't deliberation specified a mini group of speakers could nutrient specified a well-rounded, breathtaking sound, but these surely do.

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Of course, location is an app you tin install, which is nan Creative Labs App (Android/iOS), but I was amazed that nan value of sound produced by nan Pebble X Plus didn't request nan attraction of an EQ. However, if you are truthful inclined you tin instal nan app, which gives you entree to controlling nan Acoustic Engine (for different sound profiles), customization of nan RGB lights, and execute a firmware upgrade. 

My experience

As I said, correct from nan start, these speakers impressed me. I decided to usage them successful my bath because I recovered it's a very unrecorded room, and I wanted to trial nan clarity of nan sound, moreover erstwhile I was successful nan shower. To my surprise, these speakers performed acold amended than I would person expected successful a room pinch specified precocious ceilings and very fewer surfaces that sorb sound. 

I started retired pinch my go-to trial album, "Signals" by Rush. I wanted to spot if nan sub could support up pinch Geddy Lee's bass connected "The Analog Kid." I recovered nan sound to beryllium clean, punchy, agile, and not heavy-handed. In fact, nan Pebble X Plus handled nan opus overmuch amended than I would person expected.

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I past moved to immoderate ambient music, specifically Carbon Based Lifeform's latest album, "Seeker," and recovered each way a delight. The full soundscape of each opus was wide, bright, and rich. Kate Bush's "Cloudbusting" was arsenic beautiful arsenic it should be.

No matter what way I threw astatine nan speakers, they delivered nan full-bodied sound I'd expect from thing overmuch larger and much expensive. The only way these speakers had moreover nan slightest problem pinch was "Nessun dorma," arsenic sung by nan awesome 1 himself, Pavarotti. 

In defense of nan Pebble X Plus, this way ne'er fails to spot nan singer's sound a spot excessively beforehand and center, narrowing nan soundstage and making it sound a spot excessively thin. Outside of that, these speakers performed remarkably.

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ZDNET's buying advice

Straight up, nan Pebble X Plus is an outstanding group of Bluetooth speakers. The summation of nan subwoofer gives them a extent of sound, without needing to punch up nan measurement to uncomfortable levels. 

I'd urge these speakers to anyone looking for rich | sound erstwhile abstraction is an issue. The costs is spot connected for what you get, and nary matter nan genre, you'll beryllium pleased pinch really these speakers present your favourite music.

Creative Pebble X Plus tech specs

• RGB lighting
• Connectivity: USB audio/power, Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm AUX, 4-pole headphone jack, 3-pole mic jack.
• Power output: Up to 15W RMS and highest powerfulness up to 30W.
• Drivers: 2.75-inch full-range speaker drivers and a 3.5-inch subwoofer pinch dual passive radiators.
• High summation mode: Auto
• Frequency response: 45-20,000 Hz
• Signal-to-noise ratio: > 93 dB
• Operating range: Up to 33 feet
• Price: $120