Product Description: The JBL Creature 3 piece speaker system includes two desktop speakers and a subwoofer. Both speakers and the subwoofer are magnetically shielded to provide the greatest protection against image distortion on a computer monitor. The JBL Creature comes with unique "capacitance touch" volume control buttons on the right satellite. Both satellites also have down firing LEDs for a cool desktop look in minimum lighting environments.
Amazon.com Product Description: JBL's stylish Creature three-piece speaker system consists of two powered desktop speakers and a powered subwoofer, all of which feed off a single stereo analog minijack (.125-inch) input. Both the speakers and the subwoofer are magnetically shielded to prevent undesirable image distortion when placed on or near your computer monitor. The Creature comes with elegant "capacitance touch" volume control buttons (up/down) positioned on the right satellite.
The units are rated at eight watts apiece for the satellites and a hefty 24 watts for the subwoofer (which handles audio from the upper-bass region, 180 Hz, down to a reasonably solid 50 Hz or so). The speakers' 10-percent distortion at their rated power is fairly high, but you'll get much cleaner sound and still-decent power when driving the system only half as hard, especially if you're using the system in near-field.
Both satellites boast fancy, green down-firing LEDs, which look particularly cool in low-light settings. And while the Creature system is not expandable beyond the three pieces it comes with, some sound cards support multiple analog outputs, which would let you drive multiple Creature systems simultaneously.
What's in the Box Two satellite speakers, one subwoofer, a user's manual, and warranty information. Note: The Creature is designed specifically for regional voltages (US, Euro, UK, Japan, and some parts of Asia). Using a voltage converter will damage the system and void the warranty. You will need to purchase the JBL Creature system in your area for the correct power supply.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Just OK...
I did not buy this product brand new but am fortunate not to have done so. It does have decent sound but lacks any punch if used with an iPod. I expected better than this. My $20 "Evermax" 2.1 speaker system purchased at a computer show sounds better than this.
Rating: - Power supply overheats
As far as range of sound, this is an excellent and economical system. However, the power supply is risky because it overheats. It gets soo hot that you can barely touch it. I turn it off every night because I'm afraid it might catch fire.
Rating: - Great for the price.
Very very loud-enough to make you're ears ring (thats a good sign)
Bass is very deep and the silver volume dots on one of the speakers are touch sensitive like the ipod-now thats cool.
Great great desktop speakers, and they can hook up right to your ipod. Worth the money.
Rating: - They're satisfactory for the price.
Coming from a 10 year old Aiwa set that was simply too large for my desk with an 8" woofer in each speaker, this JBL set was a nice change and a very nice gain in space.
However, they basically sound like quality laptop speakers with a subwoofer.
Like most speakers that have such small drivers, these really lack a good midrange. Well I should say you can get a decent midrange sound out of them, at the sacrifice of any clear highs. The bass is more than what you'd expect out of a 4" subwoofer, but due to its smaller size and lower wattage when you rise above half volume the bass notes start to blend together and become muddy, instead of crisper and clearer at low volumes.
Although there is good bass and clear highs, these speakers just simply don't deliver in the mids. They sound empty and hollow.
In my opinion, at this price point and comparing the wattage of these speakers compared to the competitors in this range, they would have been perfect if JBL would have made the driver an inch larger, and added a dedicated tweeter to really be able to produce a full range of sound like speakers should.
Rating: - Very cool....
I thought these speakers looked a little strange to begin with, but I then put the subwoofer under my desk and left the non-obtrusive satellite speakers next to my i-book and I think they look great. The bass is deep and the treble is clear, although I really only use for music, so I can't confirm the sound for gaming. I'd highly recommend to anyone looking for an economical system that sounds terrific!
- Just OK...
- Power supply overheats
- Great for the price.
- Very cool....
