Laptops are plucky little devices, willing to take on desktop PCs in pretty much any challenge. They usually lose, of course, but not without a hell of a scrap. When it comes to producing audio, though, they can barely lift their scrawny little arms to swing a punch.
Headphones are no good when you have company, and they can be fatiguing over long periods of time. External speakers are better options, but laptops often have poor quality amplifiers and trailing wires can be a pain.
However, there's a possible answer in the form of wireless speakers, which are such a smart idea that it’s surprising it’s taken so long for the concept to gain momentum. They not only make using a laptop on the sofa much more pleasurable, but they also turn a laptop or MP3 player into a wireless music system, tapping into Spotify or your own MP3 collection in the living room.
The Creative T12 Wireless uses Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, so most laptops and smartphones, iPads and the iPod Touch [except first-generation models] can connect without needing extra hardware. Creative sells a BT-D5 iPod transmitter and BT-D1 USB transmitter in the Creative Store, but £40 for each is an absurd price; a Belkin Bluetooth USB adaptor costs around £8, for example.
Reliability is a key concern for Bluetooth audio, though. We’ve used headsets and other audio receivers that work fine across the room, while others have struggled over a distance of just a metre. Thankfully, these speakers sit in the former camp. We tested with a Toshiba laptop and Nokia phone, and both gave glitch-free audio within a 5m radius.
Pairing the speakers was easy too. There’s a button on the right speaker that must be held down to pair a device for the first time. After that, the connection is made as soon as the speakers are turned on.
At just 180mm high, this is Creative's smallest speaker system, but it can pump out surprisingly generous helpings of bass. The back of each speaker has an oblong diaphragm described as ‘BassFlex technology’. We’ve heard lots of spurious claims about extending bass response in tiny speakers, but in this instance it works. The 20Hz-20KHz spec is optimistic, but in our tests, a 60Hz sine tone sang out loud and clear.
The bass response varied depending on where we placed the speakers – it was weak near a wall, but with some space around the units, it was hard to believe there wasn’t a subwoofer hidden somewhere. The top volume was surprisingly loud too – the T12 won’t recreate a nightclub in your living room, but we happily shook our booties after turning the speakers up to full whack.
Conclusion
Compared with the M-Audio AV 40 – a superb 2.0 speaker system that costs around £125 – the T12’s bass was a little boxy, and higher frequencies weren’t as glossy and refined. However, the T12 set acquitted itself extremely well considering its much lower price and smaller size.
Factor in the wireless capability and it’s a superb value system that’s ideal for unleashing a laptop’s sonic potential. Subwoofer-based wired speakers make more sense for desktop PCs, but when space is an issue, these speakers are a great option. With bigger, better sound than the price and tiny size suggest, this is a cracking little system.
Если вы серьёзно задумались над тем, чтобы взять деньги в долг, то рекомендуем вас рассмотреть микрофинансовую компанию в качестве организации-кредитора. В МФО возможно получить кредит, предоставив только паспорт гражданина России, дополнительные документы не потребуются. Подача заявки осуществляется онлайн, а одобрение займа происходит почти мгновенно. Также существует возможность получить бесплатный микрозайм.
Computer Speakers | Editorial Reviews | Feature Articles | Speakers | Wireless Speakers
What You Need To Know About The Creative Inspire T12
Creative has been making computer desk top, surround sound speaker systems, PC sound cards and headsests for many years. They are one of the largest selling brands when it comes to computer speakers for a reason and the creative Sound Blaster PC audio card has been the benchmark in computer home audio. They make speakers and surround sound systems that sound good and don’t fall apart.
The Inspire T12 are a top selling speakers at the Apple Store because they follow in Creative’s tradition. These inexpensive speakers produce clean and crisp high end and a thunderous low end. Almost every reviewer and user has commented on the bass out put. Very well defined without being over bearing, fat, and slow. Creative seems to have really nailed it with these little desktop speakers. Though they do have their limits. It appears the Inspire T12′s sound better on most pop, hiphop, rock music than classical or choral. Such is the fact of audio. Many $100,000 systems can’t get classical right either.
Many users have commented on the quality build of the speakers and even on the volume knob being weighted and being of high caliber. They are magnetically shielded so you can put them right next to your laptop or CRT without any issues. [Do people still use CRTs?] There is also a 1/8th-inch headphone plug on the front of one of speakers so you can use them in the office at your cube. Sometimes your co-workers don’t like your music… and that would be a good time to use your headphones.
There is a Bluetooth version of the T12 speakers that supports A2DP [Wireless Stereo Bluetooth] AVRCP [Bluetooth Remote Control] and supports the SBC and apt-X codecs. The Inspire T12 come with a universal power adapter so you can take them anywhere you might possibly travel to.
These are perfect speakers for the dorm room because they are small, produce some good sound, and will play at a high volume without crackling. They easily connect to your laptop, desktop, iPod/iPhone without any issues.
Do you use the Creative T12 Speakers?
Let others know how they work for you.
Use the comments below or write a full review using the below links.
Related Articles
Facebook like pop up widget
Like Audioreview on Facebook
Get it in your News Feed before everyone else.
NOTE: There are two ways to comment on our articles: Facebook or Wordpress. Facebook uses your real name and can be posted on your wall while Wordpress uses our login system. Feel free to use either one.
Are creative speakers any good?
Excellent product. Honestly, I still can't believe these are speakers that sit on my desk so neat and out of the way. Easy to install, amazing sound quality, great volume range and most importantly, a powerful bass. Which still surprises me since the speakers are, well, small.
How do I turn on creative speakers?
To power ON the Creative OMNI speaker, press and hold the Power button until the speaker is powered ON. To power OFF the Creative OMNI speaker, hold the Power button until the speaker switches OFF.