Creative Pebble X Plus ZDNET's key takeaways The Pebble X Plus speakers are available now for $120 on Amazon.
The rich, deep bass perfectly matches the mids and highs delivered by the satellite speakers.
However, they don't have built-in battery power, so your portability is limited to a power source. View now at Amazon
It shocks me how good Bluetooth speakers have come over the years. I remember when I bought my first Bose Bluetooth speaker, thinking it had set the bar pretty high. But when I listen to that speaker now -- versus what has become available over the last year -- it's put to shame; not only in sound quality but sheer volume.
Recently, I received several Bluetooth speakers to review. Some are single portable speakers, while others are pairs. Then there's the Creative Pebble X Plus, which not only includes a matched pair of speakers but also the tiniest subwoofer I've ever seen.
Also: These budget earbuds turned an audiophile into an open-ear believer
Of course, when I pulled the speakers out of the box, all I could think was, "What an adorable little subwoofer… I bet it has an adorable little sound." I was wrong.
Much to my surprise, this minuscule sub (6.14 x 6.16 x 6.24 inches) packs a serious punch. No, it doesn't deliver nearly the sound my SVS SB 1000 Pro offers, but given how small it is, I was shocked at how well it balances out the low end for the Pebble X speakers. You wouldn't think such a small set of speakers could produce such a well-rounded, exciting sound, but these certainly do.
Also: How to get early access to Alexa+ (and which Amazon Echo devices will support it)
Of course, there is an app you can install, which is the Creative Labs App (Android/iOS), but I was surprised that the quality of sound produced by the Pebble X Plus didn't need the attention of an EQ. However, if you are so inclined you can install the app, which gives you access to controlling the Acoustic Engine (for different sound profiles), customization of the RGB lights, and perform a firmware upgrade.
... continue reading