Creative Stage 360 2.1 Soundbar Review – Dolby Atmos Soundbar on the cheap ideal for PC gamers and consoles

The Stage 360 is the latest affordable soundbar from Creative, sitting somewhere in the middle of their product lineup and being geared a bit more towards TV use than the gaming focussed Katana range.

At the top of the Creative lineup is the premium SXFI Carrier priced at £900, while the older Stage V2 is under £100.

This sits at a sensible price point of £200 RRP or £180, and I’d say this is likely a sweet spot of pricing, with the more affordable option being a bit underpowered, depending on your requirements and expectations.

Specification

Design / Features

This is a compact soundbar that will work well for a small TV or will fit comfortably under a monitor as a PC speaker.

The subwoofer is quite light and plugs directly into the soundbar with the built-in cable. With the cable being integrated, there is no option of buying a longer cable should you wish to have a more flexibly installation. It is quite slim and stands up vertically, so it is relatively unobtrusive.

Inputs include two HDMI inputs then one being HDMI ARC which outputs to the TV but also accesses audio back from the TV. This makes it ideal for modern TV, consoles and streaming devices such as the Fire TV Stick 4K. The other inputs are optical or Bluetooth 5.0. Optical is adequate for PC audio, but 3.5mm/aux input would have been a bonus

You have basic controls on the soundbar itself, including the ability to adjust volume, change source and power on the soundbar. The remote then has some additional features, this includes the ability to adjust the bass

In Use – PC Speakers / Home Theatre

I tested this both as a PC speaker using it for music and gaming and then also in my TV room as a home theatre soundbar for console gaming as well as TV/Movies.

Currently, I am using the superb Edifier R2000DB bookshelf speakers for my work PC. They are quite large, and bookshelf speakers are just an awkward shape for the desk. Until recently, I was using an old pair of Bose Companion 3 Series 2.

For home theatre audio, I have a Monitor Audio audio 5.1 system in one room and the Bose SoundTouch 300 in another. I also have the Gen 1 Sonos Beam in my kitchen.

As a PC speaker, this system performs well. Not quite as good as the Edifier or the Bose 2.1, but this is cheaper and in a more convenient form factor. The HDMI inputs also make the Creative more useful with consoles.

The subwoofer is OK, it makes a massive difference compared to cheap soundbars, and you can adjust it up +5 or down -5. With the setting dialled up, it does provide some room thumping bass, but it lacks some of the oomph that my Bose subwoofer had. With the bass box being physically light, it just feels like there is a bit of shallowness to the bass.

For use with a TV, again, this works well. It is a little harder for me to compare here as the two systems I use personally are both considerably more expensive and physically massive in comparison.

It is a significant upgrade from the built-in TV audio, which is likely what most people are looking for when considering this. It is considerably more powerful with far superior bass compared to my Sony TV.

For someone looking for a compact soundbar, either for a small room or to fit under a small TV, this works well. The bass is more dominant than the Sonos beam, but the overall sound quality is not quite as good.

Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 audio

With the soundbar only having two drives plug the subwoofer, the surround sound effects are somewhat limited.

There is a moderate amount of sound separation with a decent soundstage for an affordable soundbar. The height effects are less pronounced, bordering on unnoticeable.

It is quite possible that my experience of the Dolby Atmos was subpar due to my arrangement. In the PC speaker arrangement, I am too close to the speaker to appreciate it, and in my living room, the room is physically too large with high ceilings for this little soundbar to fill out.

I am not entirely convinced of the need for Dolby Atmos on a small affordable soundbar, but it is an added feature that most other soundbars at this price lack.

Price and Alternative Options

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	CREATIVE Stage 2.1 Channel Under-monitor Soundbar with...	No ratings yet	£79.99	Buy on Amazon
	Sonos Beam (Gen 2) The compact smart soundbar for TV, music...	No ratings yet	£443.99	Buy on Amazon

The Creative Stage 360 is priced at £180 currently and is £200 RRP.

The older, less powerful Creative Stage V2 2.1 is a bargain price of £85/

You’d have to jump up to the £300 Katana V2 if you wanted the same power output and HMMI ARC compatibility, but it lacks the other HDMI inputs. It looks like it would make a much better PC/console soundbar, though.  

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is £449, and it is a better speaker overall but lacks the bass and costs more than double the price.

The Sony HT-SD35 2.1 is around the same price but has a higher power output rating and wireless subwoofer; however, it lacks Atmos.

Overall

The Creative Stage 360 is a decent little soundbar being best suited for smaller TVs and rooms. I would say it would work well in a flat or in a bedroom and this also seems like a perfect option for anyone with a dedicated consoles/PC gaming set-up.

I also found that it worked quite well as a PC speaker, having a more convenient form factor than bookshelf speakers or 2.1 active computer speakers.

Looking at other options on the market at a similar price, I don’t think that there is much, if anything, that can directly compete with the overall specification and features you get here.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.

Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API