Creative media "Creative Stage 360", a compact and high-performance sound bar that allows you to enjoy Dolby Atmos movies with a sense of realism [Exploring the masterpieces of Torii Kazutoyo]

The latest model of the sound bar "Creative Stage 360" has been released by Creative Media. Although it is a compact sound bar that sells for less than 30,000 yen, it is a major feature that it is compatible with Dolby Atmos. You can enjoy powerful 3D sound even if you combine it with a large screen TV in the living room or install it in a personal room by taking advantage of its compact size. To test the power of the product, I enjoyed playing various movies against a 120-inch screen.

Soundbar Creative Media Creative Stage 360 ​​Open price (direct sales price ¥ 27,800 including tax)

A two-piece product that includes a soundbar body and a subwoofer. The latest model of the company's Stage series, which is designed for use in a home theater environment, features HDMI input (2.0 compatible) and support for the Dolby Atmos format.The bar body is equipped with a custom-tuned oval driver, and the subwoofer is equipped with a newly developed high excursion driver, providing a total output of 120W (RMS).

Main specifications of Creative Stage 360 ​​● Speaker configuration: 2.1 channels ● Speaker output: Total 120W (30W x 2 + 60W x 1) / Peak output 240W ● Frequency characteristics: 55Hz-20kHz ● SN ratio: 75dB ● Connection terminal: HDMI input 1 / 2 (HDMI2.0, HDCP2.2), HDMI output (HDMI2.0, HDCP2.2, ARC), optical digital input (square type), dedicated subwoofer output, AC input, USB-A (service terminal) ● Compatible Audio format: [HDMI input] Dolby Atmos (True HD / Digital Plus), Dolby Digital, Liner PCM / [HDMI output (ARC)] Dolby Atmos (Digital Plus), Dolby Digital, Liner PCM / [Optical digital input] Dolby Digital , Liner PCM ● Bluetooth version: Bluetooth 5.0 ● Supported profile: A2DP, AVRCP ● Supported codec: SBC ● Power supply: AC100-240V / 50-60Hz 2.3A ● Dimensions: [Soundbar] Approx. ] Approx. 115 x 422 x 250 mm ● Weight: [Soundbar] Approx. 1.7 kg / [Subwoofer] Approx. 3.4 kg ● Accessories: Dedicated subwoofer (approx. 2 m with dedicated audio cable), remote control (separate AAA dry battery x 2) This required), power cable (approx. 1.5m), optical digital cable (square type, approx. 1.5m), quick speaker guide / hardware warranty

Equipped with the latest functions such as "Dolby Atmos support" and "HDMI 2.0 support" that are convenient for home theater environments

The "Stage" series of creative media is a compact size soundbar lineup. It is popular because it can be used in various places, such as a desktop environment combined with a personal computer and a large screen TV in the living room.

The latest model "Creative Stage 360" is a set of a compact sound bar with a width of about 566 mm and a slim subwoofer, and it is characterized by being compatible with Dolby Atmos while maintaining its easy-to-use size. When it comes to supporting Dolby Atmos, it tends to be expensive, but with "Creative Stage 360", you can enjoy Dolby Atmos at a reasonable price.

In addition, it is also appreciated that it has two HDMI terminals that support the HDMI 2.0 standard and also support pass-through transmission of 4K / 60p video, and one output system (ARC). If you connect a game console such as PS5 or a UHD BD player to the HDMI input, you can immediately play movies that support Dolby Atmos audio, and if you use the ARC function of HDMI, a video distribution service built into 4K TV etc. You can also enjoy the Dolby Atmos content that is lined up by.

Inexpensive soundbars may omit the HDMI input, so having HDMI input / output would be appreciated by anyone who wants to connect and use a variety of devices. In addition to this, the input terminal has an optical digital audio input and also supports Bluetooth connection.

The speaker has a 2.1ch configuration, and the bar body uses a custom-tuned oval driver. The subwoofer has a built-in large-diameter driver and is driven by an amplifier with a total output of 120W. By combining a high-performance driver and a high-output amplifier, it is a specification that allows you to enjoy a compact yet powerful sound.

I tried the 3D sound of Dolby Atmos in combination with a 120-inch screen.

I immediately tried the power of "Creative Stage 360" in the listening room at home. Combined with a 120-inch screen, the Creative Stage 360 ​​looks unreliably small. However, when I try to make a sound, a sound field with a large scale appears in front of me. The dome-shaped sound field space, which spreads to the left and right and has a sense of height, spreads abundantly throughout the room.

When I played the BD (Dolby Atmos audio recording) of the movie predecessor version of the popular anime "Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway of the Flash", I enjoyed the mobile suit battle that unfolds in the air on a rich scale. You can clearly see the positional relationship of the federal military mobile suits that fly in formation on the sub-flight system, and firmly reproduce the difference in height when attacking the muffty mobile suit from a high place in a free fall state. Has been done. In addition, the footsteps of the mobile suit landing in the park as it moves around, and the appearance of the hotel burning under the attack are well transmitted. This is probably because there is a separate subwoofer. The strength of the bass is also more than the compact size. Since it is a sound bar that costs less than 30,000 yen, you may feel a lack of sound quality. I thought, but it turned out that I had quite a good ability to reproduce the space of Dolby Atmos. I think this is amazing.

The lines are not heard from the sound bar, but are localized in the center of the screen as if the characters on the screen were talking with the three-dimensional sound field space. The reproduction of the surround space around here is wonderful. The localization of each sound is also clear and clear, and even if the space is wide, the sound does not fade vaguely.

I took good care of the sound and tried to play the music content. There are "MOVIE", "MUSIC", "NIGHT", and "WIDE" in the sound mode, and MUSIC is selected here. Basically, it seems to be reproduced with the effect of expanding the sound field in all modes, but I enjoyed the natural sound field with a feel close to stereo playback. There is no artificial feeling that the lateral spread is forcibly expanded, and it gives the impression of listening with two speakers. There is a clear sound image localization, and the vocals are also clear. The way it sounds sharply is a balance suitable for movies with an emphasis on mid-low tones, but the rhythm goes through firmly and it sounds powerful, so you can enjoy music comfortably.

Enjoy a variety of Dolby Atmos content, from packaged software to video distribution sites

In UHD BD software, I saw "Monster Hunter" (Dolby Atmos audio recording) based on a popular game. In the desert scene, the power of Diablos that suddenly appears from the ground and the characteristic roar are reproduced on a rich scale, and the attack with the exploding bow and arrow is also powerful. At a loud volume, both the sound bar and the subwoofer vibrate quite a bit, so if you devise a way to place it, such as by sandwiching an insulator at the foot of the sound bar, the muddy sound will be reduced and the playback sound will be clear.

If you use an insulator to place the subwoofer horizontally instead of vertically, the unnecessary overhang of the bass will be settled, so you should try various things. If you put it on your desktop in a personal room, or put it on a TV rack in the living room, you can set it properly according to how you put it, and the sound will be even more satisfying.

Also, in the battle with Rio Leus, the king of the sky in "Monster Hunter", you can enjoy flying around in the air with a high-level expression. In this system without enabled speakers, the sound field spreads mainly in the front, but the sound field in the front is considerable, including the lateral spread and the sense of depth. I was able to enjoy the powerful battle that fills the 120-inch screen with a sense of realism.

Next, play "Cruella" (Dolby Atmos audio recording) depicting the birth of the villain of Disney's "101 Doggy". Set in London in the 1970s when punk was in full swing, the evil entertainment that used the hit songs of the past in luxury is a fun work, and the live show in the outdoor park set by Cruella and others is powerful guitar play and powerful. You can enjoy various vocals. The spaciousness of the sound, which seems to be live outdoors, and the sharp melody of punk rock resonate comfortably. The sound is crisp and full of energy. In addition, the expanse of space that is typical of Dolby Atmos and the way the sound images of individual sounds such as dialogue and musical instruments stand are solid, creating a well-balanced sound field. It can be said that this area has sufficient ability as a sound bar compatible with Dolby Atmos.

And what is unique is that you can switch between "near field" and "far field" according to the position where the user sits. Select "Near" if the viewing position is close to the sound bar installed on the desktop, and select "Far" if the viewing distance is far, such as in the living room. The optimum sound field feeling can be obtained depending on the installation location.

"Far" is good when the viewing distance is close to 2m like when interviewing, but if you switch to "Near" and listen to it closer to the sound bar, the expansion of the sound field itself will be smaller. A feeling of siege with a higher density comes out. Basically, it is used properly according to the distance from the viewing position, but it is also good to choose the preferred one.

At NETFLIX, I watched the science fiction movie "The Midnight Sky". Can be played firmly with Dolby Atmos. Similarly, on Prime Video, I was able to enjoy "Tom Clancy / CIA Analyst" at Dolby Atmos. The number of titles that use Dolby Atmos audio is increasing in video distribution services, but these can also be enjoyed properly with Dolby Atmos audio. Also, since 5.1ch audio movies are upmixed, the 5.1ch surround sound field where the sound spreads back and forth and left and right is reproduced firmly, although it is not as good as Dolby Atmos's work. Since the number of games such as PS5 is increasing in 5.1 / 7.1ch surround, you can enjoy a lot of content in surround with a sense of realism.

A wide range of choices, from Dolby Atmos compatible to compact systems for personal use

"Creative Stage 360" is an inexpensive sound bar, but it is a system that allows you to enjoy the stereophonic sound of Dolby Atmos. It can be said that it is a perfect model for those who want to try a different sense of reality from the 5.1 / 7.1ch surround sound so far. I hope many people will enjoy the charm of Dolby Atmos.

Also, it should be noted that the lineup of creative media soundbars has a wide range of systems. If you want to choose a model that is compatible with Dolby Atmos and has higher sound quality, there is the top model "Creative SXFI CARRIER".

If you use it in combination with a computer, there is a gaming sound bar "Sound Blaster Katana V2". Although it does not support Dolby Atmos, it is a model that allows you to enjoy 5.1 / 7.1ch-based PC games with realistic sound.

In addition, there are models such as "Creative Stage V2" and "Creative Stage Air" that are cheaper and can be easily used as TV speakers. You should be able to fully enjoy movies, music, and games by choosing the right product for the installation location and the equipment to be combined.

A 2.1ch soundbar with HDMI 2.0, HDMI ARC port, optical digital input and Bluetooth that supports Dolby Atmos and allows you to easily enjoy home entertainment with surround sound that wraps around you.

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