Creative Stage 2.1

Soundbars / Basic Soundbars

A basic sound bar with 2.1 non-surround channels and a subwoofer.

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CR Expert Take

How did it perform in our expert lab testing?

Overall Score

The Overall Score for this model is derived from our expert lab test results.

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Current Range of Tested Soundbars

What goes into the Overall Score?

Sound quality

/ 5

Ease of use (TV)

/ 5

Ease of use (Features)

/ 5

Versatility

/ 5

Type (bar or base)

/ 5

Surround sound system

/ 5

WIFI audio streaming content

/ 5

Built-in digital assistant / voice control

/ 5

Detailed Test Results

Sound quality: Creative's Stage 2.1 delivers sound quality that falls in the Good range - it reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. In the Music EQ mode the bass has good impact, but is somewhat prominent and boomy and the deepest bass is lacking. The midrange is fairly even, but is a bit grainy and somewhat hazy. The treble is fairly extended but is a bit subdued, smeared, dry (papery and lacking in treble ambience) and the upper treble is muted. This model does a so-so to decent job of recovering room ambience (the sense of the acoustic space in which the music was recorded) and is somewhat congested sounding overall. The Cinema, Concert, and Gaming sound modes all make the bass very pronounced and boomy, and the overall sound becomes muffled. There was no significant difference in sound quality between the HDMI, optical, analog, USB, and Bluetooth inputs. The system can provide satisfying volume in a medium sized room.

TV ease of use: Very good overall.

Features ease of use: Very good overall.

About

A basic soundbar system with 2.1 non-surround channels. The Stage 2.1 comes with a subwoofer and features Bluetooth wireless audio connectivity.

Features & Specs

Features

No. of channels

2.1 non-surround

Number of speakers, as supplied

Active subwoofer

Wireless subwoofer

Wireless surround speakers

WiFi audio streaming platform

WiFi streaming audio services

WiFi video streaming platform

Optional multi-room sharing

Has On Screen Display (OSD) Feature

Audio USB host mode

Yes

Dolby Atmos

DTS:X

Simulated surround sound

Virtual surround sound

Yes

Dialog enhancement

Has "Night" Mode and/or Dynamic Range Compression

Tone adjustments

Treble, Bass

Built-in digital assistant mic mute indicator

data not available

Works with the following digital assistant(s)

None

Programmable to respond to TV remote controls

Can respond to remote controls from TVs with HDMI ARC CEC

Yes

Universal remote

Available app remote control(s)

None

App operating system(s)

Maximum pass-through HDMI video resolution

HDR video HDMI pass-through

Dolby Vision video HDMI pass-through

Auto speaker calibration

Speaker set-up test tone function

Updatable software/firmware

Sound bar/base is wall-mountable

Yes

Included surround speakers are wall-mountable

Included accessories

Stereo mini-plug to mini-plug analog audio connecting cable, remote control.

Warranty (mos.): parts/labor

12/12

Other features

None

Specs

Height (in.)

Width (in.)

21.75

Depth (in.)

3.5

Subwoofer dimensions (HxWxD)

16.5 x 4.75 x 10

Side surround speaker dimensions (HxWxD)

Rear surround speaker dimensions (HxWxD)

Connections

HDMI in (quantity)

Digital audio optical (input)

Yes

Stereo Analog Audio In (RCA jack)

Stereo Analog Audio In (3.5mm jack)

Yes

Active subwoofer pre-amp out

Bluetooth (input)

Yes

Bluetooth (output)

Wireless connection via Bluetooth to many Bluetooth capable TVs

Wireless connection via Bluetooth to some Bluetooth capable TVs of the same brand

USB port

Yes

WiFi connection

LAN connection

Wireless connection via WiFi to some WiFi capable TVs of the same brand

Other connections

None

HDMI Out

HDMI ARC

Price & Shop

Creative Stage 2.1

CR Expert Take

Overall Score

What goes into the Overall Score?

Detailed Test Results

About

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