Disclaimer:
Good morning, readers! This time I have the opportunity to review the Creative Pebble X. A product mostly for desktop use but with Bluetooth connectivity that lends itself to various uses. I thank Creative for sending me this unit to review. The new setup I put together needed something compact but at the same time with a bit of power. This solution is certainly a good compromise if you are really short on space on your desktop.
I’m not an audiophile; I’m just a guy that likes to try out different IEMs and DACs and spends a lot of time listening to music.
So I’m not going to use super technical words to review it, but I will do my best to describe it.
Tech Specs:
Packaging:
The Pebble X packaging is well-finished. There is not much to say about the packaging other than its contents.
Inside we find the Pebble X, which are stable in the box despite not being excessively padded. Inside we find:
- Two type C cables
- An AUX cable
- Manual
The package has everything you need to get the Creative Pebble X up and running. Except for one pretty basic thing, to unlock their full potential, it’s clearly written that you need at least a 30W PD power supply. Since it’s not included, you’ll understand that you can’t get the most out of it. It’s absolutely true that nowadays we’re inundated with chargers and cables but at least in my case I don’t have any power supplies that I don’t use that I could have left connected to the Pebble X. Keep in mind that in addition to the purchase price of the speakers, you’ll also need a 30W power supply.
- Baseus 30W PD Charger Link (no affiliation)
19/10/24 – UPDATE:
Despite the 30W power supply, I had the impression that by raising the volume above a certain threshold, something electronic intervened to limit the bass, and when the absorbed watts were measured, they were limited to 9W. I therefore decided to make a more substantial upgrade by taking the following power supply:
I have included the product link so you can get it from wherever you want (I am not interested in affiliations).
The new measurement brought the wattage to 15W, which is what is actually declared; the difference is not substantial but it is still perceptible in terms of fuller bass. I looked for a power supply that had practically all the protocols and technologies of the one sold by Creative and the Rocoren is of excellent quality at a fair price and can be used for different devices.
Design/Build Quality:
The Creative Pebble X has a design that marries well with different setups. My setup is not gaming but more for music / productivity but they are equally good aesthetically. The shape is practically spherical, made entirely of plastic materials of good thickness that give a notable solidity to the product. The weight of the same is also excellent; the driver contributes in good part to its weight as the magnet should be quite large.
The driver is 2.75 inches and resembles those produced by Hivi speakers. I don’t think there are correlations but the aesthetics are very similar. In the back, to improve the sound output, they have adopted a portable speaker solution or they have inserted 2 passive radiators that, working together with the speakers, manage to increase the amount of bass and give a better feeling of staging.
The technical solution is truly optimal; even if for an even purer experience, the version with the mini subwoofer would certainly be even better. On the sides of the speakers instead,* we find RGB LEDs in quantity that make beautiful effects. Below there is a non-slip rubber base and a provision for mounting the speakers on some support. In the master speaker, we have the volume, power, mode, and light controls. On the back instead we have 2 Type C sockets (one data and one additional power) and a AUX-in, while on the side there is a headphone and microphone socket.
One thing I noticed is that the cable that goes from speaker to speaker is fixed and also a bit short. In part, I can understand that they are two speakers to be placed next to the monitor but on the other side, perhaps having a bit of margin would have been better.
Built-in Technology & App:
The technologies and special features are all usable only via the Windows Creative App. Unfortunately, the OSX app itself has not been updated for some time and only supports some devices. So if you want to take full advantage of its features, you will have to use a Windows computer connected via USB. I have tested with both OSX and Windows. The LED features can also be managed via Bluetooth via an app on your smartphone.
To update the firmware, you just need to connect it to your phone but maybe using a PC will be quicker.
The LED functions are totally customizable. Through the app, you can decide the colors of the light effect and the speed. There is also the possibility that they go to the rhythm of music. The scenic effect is excellent, the RGB colors are beautiful and especially in the evening/night they create a nice ambience effect.
Windows Creative App Features:
Surely if you want to use them 101%, you will need the app on Windows because it has different features and sound effects that can be activated.
The app is called Creative App and the one that works is only the Windows variant. Compatibility with minimum OSX 10.15 or higher is reported but they refer to the app that in this case does not work.
On Windows, the features are mainly used to improve or adjust the sound performance to your taste. In my case, having the Pebble X without a mini subwoofer, the possibilities are more limited. Obviously, there are different presets and you can create your own. The ClearVoice feature allows for clearer speech, especially when talking about video games or movies. The same goes for the Acoustic Engine feature, which virtualizes a surround effect.
Personally, I’m not a big user of these effects because I don’t watch films but I listen to music more, which I try to reproduce as faithfully as possible.
However, I recognize that the Acoustic Engine feature has potential and is the one that surprised me the most. It’s a shame that all these features are not integrated into the speakers but you need the Windows app with a USB connection to exploit their potential. I hope in the future they can also implement at least the equalizer via smartphone.
Audio Codecs:
Let’s talk a bit about the quality of data transmitted in wired or wireless mode. Via cable, the maximum supported format is 16-bit 48 kHz, which honestly is fine but perhaps I would have expected at least 24-bit 96 kHz. Nowadays, at least 24 bits are the bare minimum. As for the Bluetooth on my Mac Mini 2012, the connection is not very clear but it could be due to the difference in Bluetooth modules. While with Windows it works very well and no qualitative differences are noticeable (codec used is SBC). I assume this codec was used because it is lighter and the latency is minimal.
Equipment used for the testing above:
Device:
- HP Elitedesk 705 G4 Mini (W10)
- Poco M4 Pro
- Mac Mini 2012 (OSX 10.15.7)
Software:
- Amazon Music UHD 24bit 96kHz
Sound impressions:
The first test ever was done with a 20W PD power supply but right away the sound seemed surprising when compared to the size of the Creative Pebble X. But I immediately took into account the purchase of a 30W PD power supply at least and luckily there was a Baseus power supply on offer on Amazon and I paid less than 10 USD. I honestly believe that this accessory should have been included with the product because it is the only way to immediately enjoy the maximum potential of the drivers. The biggest difference is noticeable in the low range, which was softer before.
I do not deny that I have some doubts about the power supply chosen. The 30W could also be too little so if you have the possibility, I would find one that exceeds this wattage. The sound quality is extremely enveloping (there seems to be a surround effect by default) and the sound is extremely clear and clean.
The high frequencies are rich in detail and reach very high volumes. The mids are a bit thin but I think it is due to the response of the low frequencies. Even though the passive radiator is present, the bass has a different perception than a bass reflex or a dedicated submodule. With this, I absolutely do not want to say that they disappoint. The sound that comes out of these two very small drivers is so exceptionally wide and detailed that it seems to come from multiple satellites. Creative has certainly included sound improvements; I do not think the sound comes out pure but slightly processed.
Overall, it’s not the highest-fidelity audio but what my ears hear is much more than I expected. My setup isn’t in its final form right now but once the speakers are properly placed with a wall behind them, the bass will definitely come to life.
Fast Comparison:
Vs. Bose Companion II
They were my first 2.0 speakers for PC; they paid maybe the same or a little more than the Creative Pebble X. Nowadays they still work; I gave them to my partner for her PC. They have always done their job more than honestly, even if the maximum volume has always left a little to be desired. Today they are undoubtedly obsolete if compared to the sound quality of the Pebble X. The bass, even if more limited, had a slightly more natural sound due to the bass-reflex system. They have background noise due to the power supply.
Conclusion:
The Creative Pebble X are exceptional; if you have little space, they can certainly be a great choice. The sound quality is engaging and, all in all, quite rich in details. At maximum volume, the high frequencies are favored over the low ones (many speakers behave like this). In the package, it would have been much appreciated to find the appropriate power supply already.
Honestly, I would have liked to try the Pebble X Plus with the mini subwoofer. I don’t know if I’ll be lucky enough to compare them in the future but if I had to recommend which one to buy, I would say without a shadow of a doubt the full ones. There is never enough bass and even if the Pebble X manages to recreate the frequencies through passive radiators, they don’t have that necessary force on some tracks that are a bit harder on bass. For the price difference, especially when they are on sale, the X Plus model is worth it.
Considering the full price that is frequently offered on sale, the price drops to less than $75 USD, which appears to be extremely good given the performance. Remember, however, that you also require a PD power supply of at least 30W, which was not included in the package but, in my opinion, would have been appropriate to include.
8.6/10
Pros:
- Build quality and design look
- Super detailed and crispy sound
- Immersive stage effect
- LED RGB
- Powerful for the size
- Really small size
- Stable connection over BT
- Firmware updates
Cons:
- Length of speaker cables
- PD Power Adapter not included
- Complete app only for Windows
- Codecs can be improved
- The sub cannot be purchased and added later
