Verdict
The Creative Stage 360 ’s 5.1.2 Atmos dream are overstate , but it ’s a decent compact soundbar capable of unassailable bass . However , it can be rough around the edges , with sea bass that overspills into stiffness with some content .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Creative Labs broke onto the fit with its Sound Blaster PC cards and personal medicine actor in the 1990s , and since then the Singaporean - based society has branched out with an more and more large-minded range of products .
I would n’t have needfully pegged it as a soundbar manufacturer , but the company now offers a turn of options in its range , include the Stage 360Dolby Atmossoundbar .
At £ 199 , it ’s one of the cheaper Atmos models on the market . However , the Stage 360 is n’t a dead on target up - kindling effort ; it ’s a bar that simulates an immersive audio effect through digital processing . And given its compact and slim conception for both the principal and subwoofer unit , the degree 360 could make muckle of sense for those for whom quad is at a agio , or even bedroom gamers .
Design
The phase 360 is only 565 mm full , making it a estimable fit for those who sit reasonably close to their cover or monitor . A tall and slender subwoofer partners the unit , extend a front - facing larboard that can sit either side of the master building block without learn up much blank .
The front - firing port wine on the subwoofer should also provide a level of flexibility in price of positioning , but you also want to take into account that this is wired to the primary unit ; it is n’t a wireless exertion .
esthetically , there is n’t much to say about the Stage 360 ’s looks . It ’s a functional piece of menage cinema design : the rectangular shape , acoustical grille and blue fateful exterior does n’t scream “ look at me ” . For those with no fashion interest , the Stage 360 will fade into background knowledge and let its sound do the talking .
There ’s a bright display smack - bang in the centre of the meshwork grille , which depend basic , whether it ’s because there ’s only outer space for three theatrical role or that the inscription looks a little crude – the type of font you ’d see on the screen of a Casio estimator .
On top are power , volume and source buttons , which continue the motif of “ canonical ” looks , with the power release pulling double duty – a threefold - tap tyro Bluetooth pairing . On the bottom of the soundbar is an sphere where you’re able to attach a pair of rubber eraser foot that upgrade it five degrees so audio can travel directly towards auricle spirit level if you ’re around 1 m to the bar .
Features
There are several modality usable , but it ’s better to excuse them in the setting of two groups . hearing modal value comprise Cinema , Music , Night and Wide ; Night reduces the general volume and bass production , while Wide expands the sound field .
nearly and Far colligate to the soundbar ’s carrying out at different distance . Near refers to near - field positioning , maximising the soundbar ’s output if you ’re sit within 1 metre . Far does the same , allowing the soundbar to optimise its performance for turgid room if you ’re sitting 3 metres away from the Stage 360 . you may change these mode using the supplied remote , through which you may also aline basso and treble levels ( -6/+6 ) .
Connections can be found around the fanny of the soundbar and extend to anHDMI ARCport ( no eARC ) , two HDMI 2.0 inputs for connect , say , anXbox Seriesconsole orPS5 , an optical input plus a port for connecting the subwoofer . There ’s also aBluetooth 5.0wireless association with support for SBC , which is the gloomy - qualityBluetoothcodec available .
The number one wood setup sees the chief unit make use of two 2.25 x 3.85 - inch custom - tune track driver ; the subwoofer has a 5.25 - inch , high - excursion driver . With 60W pump to the racecourse drivers and 60W to the subwoofer for a 120W power output , Creative order the Stage 360 can make a peak output of 240W – a material amount , given the numeral of speakers at its disposal .
Creative claim its 2.1 configuration can produce a 5.1.2 Atmos soundstage , which is challenging to say the least , specially without any dedicated up - firing drivers for the height channels . The microscope stage 360 create its immersive soundstage via digital processing , which can be in effect but not as potent as up - fire utterer .
Sound Quality
What ’s telling about the Creative Stage 360 is the academic degree of bass and punch it offers . That bass can become rough-cut and broad at prison term , but if you wish low-pitched frequencies with power and explosiveness then the point 360 is only too well-chosen to birth it .
When bass hits hard , however , it does the level 360 fiddling favour with some contentedness . Bassy male voices sound overcooked ; the hard - boiled vibe of Hugh Jackman ’s Nick in Reminiscence is a minuscule leaden in description , and it ’s a standardized upshot with Sapper and K ’s dialog in Blade Runner 2049 ; their voices lay out with a rigidness that lacks niceness .
At least with 2049 ’s Atmos soundtrack the soundbar live comparatively unscathed , and with some credit in the bank . There ’s no famed deformation or crepitation , with the bass notes that vocalise over the possibility text presentation deliver with good solidity and weight .
At the other goal of the frequency drift the phase 360 is bright and needlelike , with no rigorousness or hardness present in the pianoforte notes of Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch ’s Blade Runner score . Kong vs Godzilla is another heavyweight soundtrack , with the Stage 360 hitting those deep notes emphatically , the vibrations from the subwoofer so impregnable that a removed next to the prevention slid off the TV single-foot .
Height effects in 2049 are treated ok , but as an Atmos ginmill the phase 360 is n’t the most convincing . A good early test of the Stage 360 ’s immersive capabilities is at Sapper Morton ’s farm in Blade Runner ; while the stock of K ’s spinner commence above the video , the sound effect as the thread maker choke down is n’t press home with much detail .
I also would n’t describe the sound that comes away to be room - take or talkative – but you certainly get lots of energy and power . Dynamically , it does n’t agitate gears with particular fluidity , with not much version between the loudness of action at law sequences in The Force Awakens and the talks scene .
Switching to the Wide mood does n’t seem to let out the soundstage ; it only makes certain details louder , which causes the bar ’s carrying into action to lose a degree of shape , presenting some of that severeness again .
In world-wide terms , there are good grade of detail and sharpness wrench from films and TV . The screeching audio of K ’s bassline in the “ interlinked ” scene from 2049 impinge on the proper tone , while in a later fit , when K and Joi go out to the rooftop , the soundbar brings to bear a decent sensory faculty of ambience and atmosphere as the rain pings off alloy surfaces . However , like many aspects of the Stage 360 ’s sound , it ’s heavy - handed rather than insidious .
Dialogue is treat with clarity , but there can be a slight sibilant boundary with some capacity . Mostly there ’s a smoothness to the various accents in Netflix ’s The Dig , while check Peaky Blinders on iPlayer , the West Midlands ’ accents are loan a natural enough air and feel – although another try of the all-encompassing mode bring a arcdegree of ruggedness and a clue of sibilance to the dialogue . This mode sound a little too processed to be lifelike .
With euphony the Creative Stage 360 is an enjoyable petty performer , despite support only SBC Bluetooth playback . The hard freshwater bass spirit level act well when unite with its solid grasp of item and good clearness with vocals . Again , though , dynamically it is n’t the most fluid , with the difference between highs and lows dull .
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Should you buy it?
This is n’t an area touched upon much in the review , but the suspicion is the point 360 is more suited to nigh - field heed with a play console of pick by your side than bighearted - filmdom TV screening .
Y The Dolby Atmos performance is n’t specially profound with this model , but the similarly compact JBL MultiBeam 5.0 is a more capable immersive performer .
Final Thoughts
The Creative Stage 360 is raspy around its immersive edges . It delivers punchy bass ( perhaps too much at default levels ) , decent clearness and point ; but the Atmos effect is overstated . If you think of it as more a 2.1 soundbar than one equal to of immersive spatial sound , it will keep your expectations grounded .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every soundbar we review thoroughly over an extended full stop of prison term . We use diligence standard test to compare features properly . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , take money to look back a Cartesian product .
Find out more about how we screen in ourethics insurance .
FAQs
The subwoofer unit is telegraph to primary unit , so it is n’t a wireless submarine .
Full Specs
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