Creative T4 Wireless

THE TOP END OF OLD-SCHOOL 2.1 SPEAKERS.

FINDING A DECENT set of premium 2.1 speakers today is hard work. The speaker system needs to do more than just pump out your favourite tracks from your rig. It needs to come with Bluetooth, have multiple inputs for other devices, look stylish and provide thwomping bass, alongside a well-rounded soundscape at a price that’s not too outlandish. And in our eyes at least, Creative’s T4 Wireless hits almost all of these marks.

Opening the box, you’re greeted with two small, stylish tweeter satellites, featuring a stunningly polished chrome top, black base and single driver. Although you can’t adjust the angle of these two speakers, they are naturally slanted slightly upward, and thanks to their small size, they’re easy to position on even the most cramped of desks. The aluminium drivers provide a crisp and rich sound, especially with the subwoofer. Music is clear and precise, as you’d expect from a $450 2.1 speaker system. For value for money, it hits the nail on the head.

The subwoofer is impressive and compact, far smaller than anything from the likes of Edifier or Logitech at this price point. But don’t let its size fool you — the level of bass output is simply astronomical. There’s a small dial located at the back of the device to adjust bass levels from 1 to 11; however, in our testing, we found that keeping it at the absolute minimum setting was perfect. Your experience may vary, of course.

Setup is relatively painless — simply position your speakers where you need them, hide your sub under the desk, then route the cables into the back of the woofer. There’s an optical input for HD TVs, RCA-toanalog input for your system and to connect the speakers to the sub. Annoyingly, you can’t detach the cables from the satellites, but otherwise there’s little to complain about. If your phone has NFC, you can pair the Creative T4 up to the device wirelessly—simply hold your phone to the control pod, and you’re good to go.

Creative really has nailed what a small 2.1 speaker system is all about. For those looking for a compact replacement for a set of cheap studio monitors, these might just fit the bill.