Product Listing

Tiny Inspiration - Creative Inspire S2 2.1 Speakers

By Kenny Yeo - 10 Sep 2009

The Creative Inspire S2 & Test Setup

The Creative Inspire S2

As we unpacked the Inspire S2 from its package, we soon realized that Creative's claims about the compactness of the speakers are indeed accurate. The twin satellites are truly no larger than tennis balls and the subwoofer weighs merely one kilogram! Despite the small size, Creative promises the Inspire S2 will deliver on sound, thanks to quality drivers in the satellites and the special DIRECT-THROW subwoofer (click on the link to find out more).

But while the compact dimensions were commendable, we were left flustered at the fact that there was no way to detach the cabling between the right satellite and the subwoofer. This would be a problem for those looking to route the cables through their table's cable grommets, or users with fixed place furniture. Oddly, the left satellite's cables could be detached, so we don't see why Creative couldn't do the same for the other side.

As you can see, juxtaposed with an iPhone, the satellites of the Inspire S2 are amazingly tiny.

The volume control dial, headphones and auxiliary jacks are conveniently located on the right satellite speaker.

It's annoying that Creative couldn't have made the right satellite and subwoofer detachable from one another, making the Inspire S2 a hassle to setup.

Test Setup

We'll be using our trusty setup of a Shuttle XPC SD37P2 (Intel 975X), which is mated to an Auzentech X-Fi Prelude soundcard. In turn, the Inspire S2 was plugged into the soundcard by way of its supplied 3.5mm stereo jack.

Testing would be done across four categories: CD, MP3, movies and games. We'll be testing the Inspire S2 across a wide variety of tracks to gauge its performance. To gain a better understanding of how we are rating the speakers, please head to our test setup section of our mega 2.1 speaker shootout.

The Inspire S2 includes a bass level adjuster on its subwoofer and by default, we left it in the middle position, and adjusted it only when we wanted to have a feel at how the speakers would perform with stronger bass.

The complete list of testing material is as follows:

CD Testing:

  • Pod Race Scene from Phantom Menance
  • Tyrannosaurus Rex Sound Effects from Jurassic Park
  • Theme from Jurassic Park
  • Apollo 13 Lift-off Sound Effects
  • Theme from Cutthroat Island
  • Fanfare for Louis, performed by the Dallas Wind Symphony

MP3 Testing:

  • Hotel California - Eagles
  • Sail on Soothsayer - Buckethead
  • Melt My Heart to Stone - Adele
  • Elements of Life - Tiesto

DVD Testing: 

  • Lord of the Rings - (Starting sequence, Balin's Tomb & Bridge of Khazad-dum)
  • Swordfish (Starting sequence)

Game Testing:

  • Far Cry 2

 

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