Creative Stage Air – An under-monitor soundbar for your computer

Thanks to the fact that you can snag a soundbar for such an affordable price these days, they have been selling so much better now, especially for wall-mounted TV installations. They just look so clean compared to a multi-speaker system (assuming you aren’t looking for an impressive multi-channel system of course).

Now you can use the same setup for your computer using Creative’s new Stage Air, a small soundbar that sits in front of your monitor and does just what one would in front of a TV, giving you a close-up experience with minimal to no cords.

I say no cords since it can be charged using its internal battery and then connected to your system via Bluetooth (as long as your system supports Bluetooth). In this scenario, you will have zero wires. It is everything you would normally find in a wireless Bluetooth speaker, only in the shape/form of a soundbar, giving you a larger footprint for sound.

Since it is basically a Bluetooth speaker, this also means it will connect to any device that supports Bluetooth. So if you decide you want to blast some tunes using your smartphone or tablet, you can do so just like any other Bluetooth speaker.

Of course, it will only provide up to 6 hours worth of playback on a single charge. So unless you are mobile, it might be best to opt to at least keep the USB cable connected, and simply connect it directly to your system. This way you don’t have to ever worry about the battery dying out.

It features an all plastic design with a light aluminum mesh grill running across the front. Due to the simple construction and the smaller battery, it weighs in at just 2 lbs, keeping it light and portable. This also helps with the price too I’m sure.

You have controls on the side of the speaker that can provide multiple options each depending on how the speaker is connected. In general, you get a power button, a volume up/down set and a Bluetooth button to trigger pairing. If the connected device supports it, the Bluetooth button also acts as a play/pause button for music, and the volume buttons can also control the tracks (next/previous).

The backside of the speaker contains a few connections, including a USB port that allows you to plug in a thumb drive or external hard drive that you can control directly from the speaker’s side controls. Next to that is a normal 3.5mm wired aux connection for connecting the speaker via the included 3.5mm cable. Then, of course, you have the micro-USB port for keeping the speaker charged with (and it does come with that cable as well).

It sounds like a $35-$40 Bluetooth speaker, so it’s a good thing that they chose to keep the price down. Not only that but they have it on sale right now for just $29.99, making it even more worth the buy. Simplicity is the magic word for this one and it doesn’t seem to overprice itself.

Highs and mids are nice, adding clarity to what you are listening to, and it has a decent amount of bass for an affordable speaker.

Our Conclusion

A Bluetooth speaker turned the soundbar for your PC or Mac. It can also connect to anything else (device) that supports Bluetooth and can be connected wired as well. It also supports external USB media and has a built-in battery to go completely wireless with (like most Bluetooth speakers). It sounds like a $35-$40 Bluetooth speaker, so it’s a good thing that they chose to keep the price down. Not only that but they have it on sale right now for just $29.99, making it even more worth the buy. Perfect for when you are looking for a simple audio solution for your computer and do not require multiple channels running all over. It won’t compete of course with some of their higher in computer speaker packages, but it’s a great entry-level solution for those looking to keep things simple.

*Average price is based on the time this article was published

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Specifications:

• Dimensions (H x W x D): 70 x 410 x 78 mm, USB Cord Length: Approximately 0.5 m, 3.5 mm Cable Cord Length: Approximately 0.5 m
• Weight: 910 g (2 lb), micro USB Cable: 10 g, 3.5 mm Stereo Cable: 10 g
• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 45°C
• Power Output: 2 x 5 W, Total System Peak power: 20W
• Drivers: 2 x Drivers
• Frequency Response: 80Hz ~ 20kHz
• Battery Type: Built-in Li-ion, 2200 mAh
• Battery Life: 6 hours
• System Configuration: One-piece
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): ? 72 dB
• Bluetooth Operating Frequency: 2402 – 2480 MHz
• Operating Range for Bluetooth Devices: Up to 10 meters / 33 ft, (Measured in open space. Walls and structures may affect range of device.)
• Bluetooth® Version: Bluetooth 4.2
• Bluetooth Profile: AVRCP (Bluetooth Remote Control), A2DP (Wireless Stereo Bluetooth)
• Supported Codecs: SBC
• Connector Type: Bluetooth, AUX-in

Package Contents:

• Creative Stage Air
• micro USB Cable
• 3.5mm Stereo to Stereo Cable
• Quick Start Guide
• Warranty Leaflets

Are you a manufacturer or distributor that would like us to test something out for review? Contact us and we can let you know where to send the product and we will try it out.

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