Creative Gigaworks T40 Series II
As the developer of the iconic Sound Blaster brand, Creative needs no introduction to PC users. The company has been producing PC speaker systems for years, and continues to offer a number of notable products. The Gigaworks T40 Series II is its premium offering in the two-channel speaker market, and can be purchased for $149.99 on newegg.com. The kit features a comparatively modest one-year warranty.
The Gigaworks T40 Series II sets itself from the pack with a single 1” soft dome tweeter and dual 2.5” woven glass driver cone configuration in each enclosure. The Gigaworks has the smallest drivers in the roundup, but twice the number of them. The enclosures need to accommodate three speakers each, and at just over 12” high, they’re the tallest in our roundup (almost twice as high as the MM-1s).
The enclosures are designed to point at the listener while sitting on a desk, so they tilt upward slightly. The user even has some control over the look of the speakers, with the ability to remove the flat black cover to reveal the orange-colored drivers behind them, similar to many home audio speaker setups.
The T40s come with wider speaker stands for owners who’d prefer a little more stability. There’s also a 1/8” stereo mini-to-RCA adapter and a nice long 6’ mini-to-mini cable for the inputs. The left satellite has a permanently-attached speaker cable that can be plugged into the right enclosure.
The rear of the right enclosure hosts a 1/8” mini-jack input and the docking station input. This unique input is an interface for Creative’s X-30 docking station for iPods. This is also where the power input and left speaker output are located.
The Gigaworks T40s are one of two products in our roundup that offer an auxiliary input on the front of the speaker for easier access. There’s also a conveniently located headphone output for times when you prefer to keep the sound to yourself.
When it comes to the controls, Creative gets it right with volume, bass, and treble. Our only complaint here is the lack of grip on the slippery knobs, but we’ll still take this control mechanism over buttons any day of the week. It’s great to be able to have some variable control over frequency response.
Has the reviewer heard of Audioengine A2 speakers? They are outstanding 2 channel speakers for $199.
No love for the budget minded folk?
Has the reviewer heard of Audioengine A2 speakers? They are outstanding 2 channel speakers for $199.
Indeed, A2s are really good, though a bit on the weak side with 30 watts. But since you went with B&W you could have tested Audioengine A5s which are insanely awesome and cheaper than B&W's at ~$325.
Large knob that feels quick robust?
I like that Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 - but yes theirs a bit lacking to the design.
I'm really happy with my 4 year old creative soundworks 7.1 system... until now it still offers great sound, and having true 7.1 really rocks, especially in FPS... although i'm considering the logitech z5500.. hat sounds amazing and looks even better...
Nice review, I bought the Creative Gigaworks T40 Series II about 4 months ago, and have loved them, the sound is superb.
The AV 40s were the first speakers I've ever owned that failed on me. I don't care how good they sound if reliability is an issue. I'm never purchasing another M-Audio product. Decided to go with a pair of Gigaworks refurbs for a fraction of the price afterward and have been very pleased.
2.0 is way too low.For gamers, a 5.1 is the minimum requirement.
Nice Speakers but i like my Monitor Audio RX8 teamed with Definitive Technology Supercube I sub and Cambridge Audio Azur 840A Amp.......
Too bad the nuberts arent out yet
Well, I'm not a hardcore gamer, but I'm well into music. I tried lots of 'computer' speakers, only to find that none comes close to even sub-par 'hifi' speakers.
So, I went for a pair of Mackie MR8 - which are pro audio monitors. They're not much more expensive than high-end PC speakers - but it's a totally different world in any respect: sound quality, power, you name it.
If you're serious about sound, check them - they're discounted everywhere.
By the way, I'm driving them with a Fucusrite Saffire Pro24 DSP: a killer combination.
KRK Systems RP5G2 Rokit G2 Powered Studio Monitor - 5 inch, 75 Watts
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product
Just Better.
My pc is connected to my old audio receiver & speakers through a fiber optic cable. The sound is outstanding.
For that kind of money I would rather just get this...
http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/produ [...] -overview/
That way I also get a dedicated sub.
Hopefully we'll see a 5.1+ article soon as well. I have a Logitech z5500 that I use for PC as well as TV and Xbox, and I'd love to see how other surround systems stack up.
I do find it odd that you'd include a $500 2 speaker setup, yet you don't include any systems in the ~$50 range. It seems like $500 2 speaker systems is a very niche market, my 5.1 system cost less than that, and it can function as a home theater system as well. It would be interesting however to throw a cheap system in there to see if there is a big difference. The $100 and $500 seemed amazingly close.
The article should have provided additional parameters around which the selections were determined (unless you sampled only speakers that manufacturers were giving you for free in exchange for the review... though that would be nice to know). Price is probably the number one differentiation that consumers would consider. Then you have physical dimensions, power, inputs/outputs, and perhaps frequency response, which would be the collection of main factors that might categorize purchasing decisions.
The only two criteria cited were 2.0 configuration and "pc speakers" which would presume that all of the samples had to have their own internal powered amplifier. If you were trying to get a sampling amongst a wide price range, your sample size is too small, though that might also be due to the limited vendor options noted.
THG, you can be more comprehensive than this. You guys do Video Card reviews by price bracket and you're claiming sound is the big #2 sense used in computer use. You could do 2.0 speakers in two or three price brackets, 2.1 speakers in the same brackets and 5.1 or 7.1 in same brackets. We know you have the intelligence and enthusiasm
Harman/Kardon's Soundsticks should've definitely been a part of this roundup
No love for the budget minded folk?
While a bit of a pain to set up in Windows 7, these are great for the budget lover
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6836157008
LOGISYS Computer SP8000BK 4.1 Speakers for $30 from newegg.
Or you could go the other route, and just use a receiver and hand select your own speakers. Unfortunately it is hard to find nice used receivers at a decent price.