Creative SBS Vivid 80 Speakers

Creative SBS Vivid 80 Speakers

Overall Rating: 6/10
Acquired June 2007

Overview: I bought the Creative SBS Vivid 80 speakers to replace the stock (crappy) Altec-Lansings that came with my Dell. After a bit of searching on Google Product Search, I found that the lowest price was direct from the manufacturer: $10.00. The main purpose for these speakers was to listen to music at low volume while working. I also have limited space at my workstation, so a 2.1 system with subwoofer wasn't an option.

Upside: These speakers look great, they're compact, they are inexpensive, and for my needs, sound great.

Downside: These speakers lack any hint of bass. They offer clear sound, but the absence of any bass makes certain types of music sound flat. Also, the blue LED on the right-hand speaker is extremely bright. Since I'm not in the habit of turning my speakers off, my computer area is awash with a blue glow even after I've shut down all my monitors.

Specifications:

• 4 Watts RMS Power
• 2 Watts RMS per speaker; 110 Hz - 20 kHz
• 7 Watts Total System Power
• Dual Driver Design: one active micro driver and one passive radiator
  

Verdict: Would I buy another pair of Vivid 80 speakers? Maybe. For the price, their sound is decent, but I'd like more bass. Perhaps a few more dollars for speakers with a little more low-end would be a smarter buy. And I'd avoid using these speakers in a bedroom; the LED will keep you awake! Overall rating: 6/10, losing points for missing bass.