Creative Labs T7900 Review

Creative have been involved in the computer audio business for so long that I've almost took their presence for granted. Starting out in the business of sound card manufacturing most well-known for its Soundblaster line, this Singapore-based outfit acquired Cambridge Soundworks, a premier computer speaker brand during its heydays, in 1997 to establish itself as a household name when it comes to all things related to computer speakers.

Their product development and marketing distribution plan is simple: a premium range catered for the more discerning (read: affluent) customers demanding top-notch sound quality; and the rest directed towards the mass market in terms of price. The Creative T7900 7.1 speakers of the Inspire range falls into the latter group.

At £99, Creative T7900 is one of the - if not the - most affordable 7.1 multimedia speaker system on the market at the moment. As such, I'm not sure if too much can be expected from this product, as the following paragraphs will reveal.

Setup is relatively easy (helped by a surprisingly easy-to-follow one-page instruction sheet), although I would have appreciated some sort of colour coding on its spaghetti of wires connecting to all 7 satellites. The front 3 speakers are blessed with tweeters which are absent in the side and rear satellites.

This contributed to sonic frequency difference between the front channels versus the side and rears. While the surround effect is still preserved, you may notice prominent accentuation of highs in the front, or sudden dips at the side and back depending on your listening track.

With a power rating of 92W RMS divided between what effectively are 8 speakers (7 satellites and 1 subwoofer), the Creative T7900 speaker system struggles at high volume: bass would be the first to distort followed swiftly by shrillness of the sats. The sound resolution and transient response also leaves much to be desired... clarity and reverb are mercilessly disposed as the audio signal passes through the speaker chain.

Overall, for a 7.1 system the Creative T7900 represents reasonable value for money, but if you are one of those who appreciate the finer qualities of audio reproduction you'd better look elsewhere.

Brand:	Creative Labs
Price:	£99 RRP
Type:	7.1
RMS:	92 Watt
Design:
Sound:
Value:
Overall: