Creative Labs Inspire 5200 5.1 Computer Speakers (6-Speaker, Black)

by Creative

Product Details

Product Manual [4.14mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 14 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 17 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006RVPG
• Item model number: 5200
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 17, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Creative's Inspire 5.1 5200 speaker system offers full-bodied sound from a compact design, making it a terrific choice for stereo PC music, movie, or game listening--including EAX and DirectSound 3D games. The system comes with a set of five bookshelf/satellite speakers and a 17-watt powered subwoofer made of reinforced-wood. Convenient speaker stands angle the satellites toward your listening position. The Inspire series aims to provide the highest-value speakers that Creative can offer, balancing cohesive psychoacoustic "imaging," sonic accuracy, and affordability.

Inspire 5.1 5200 has the ability to simulate 5.1-surround sound from Sound Blaster 4-channel sound cards using Creative's proprietary CMSS upmix technology. The 6-watts-per-channel satellites use Creative's Image Focusing Plate (IFP) design for broad sound dispersion that doesn't interfere with the speakers' natural tonal balance. You can mount the supplied wired remote control anywhere on your desktop so volume adjustments will always be right at your fingertips. The system offers an independent bass-level control and a single stereo minijack (.125-inch) analog audio input.

The system's five compact speakers--earmarked for center channel, front left and right, and surround left and right--and subwoofer are designed as a cohesive set. Each speaker is sonically matched and driven by its own discrete amplifier. The center, front, and rear satellites take up minimal desktop space, while the non-directional subwoofer can be placed behind or under furniture, or anywhere else that's out of the way.

What's in the Box
Three front speakers with attached 6-foot cables, two rear speakers with attached 16-foot cables, one subwoofer, a wired volume/bass control with power switch and a headphone jack, a power supply adapter, and a quick-start guide.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to beat, June 25, 2004

By 

M. Groves (Layton, UT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creative Labs Inspire 5200 5.1 Computer Speakers (6-Speaker, Black) (Personal Computers)

I've owned these speakers for 18 months now and have them set up in my home office. I drive them with a SB Audigy card and from the day I set them up, they have produced nothing but sweet sound. The bass is clean and not overpowering. The wired remote not only has volume and bass adjustments, but also a headphone jack that when used, cuts off the audio to the speakers allowing me to work late and not disturb the family.

I have never heard any "popping" noises (other than a small pop when I power down my PC.) I have the AC plugged into the surge protector side of a UPS. I don't know if that makes a difference or not, as I've never tried it any other way.

The only drawback I found was if you want to wire the rear speakers to the back of a standard bedroom, you'll have to buy a set of RCA M-F extension cables, as the existing cables are too short. If you shop around, you can pick them up for a few bucks. I just wish I knew that before, so I could have had them on hand when I first installed these.

There are many junk surround speakers being sold today, but these are not one of them. For the price, it's very hard to beat the quality.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for the price, December 7, 2002

By 

sfcaptainrob "starfleetcaptainrob" (Plymouth, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative Labs Inspire 5200 5.1 Computer Speakers (6-Speaker, Black) (Personal Computers)

I just purchased these speakers last night and stayed up later than usual testing them out. I found that they are very easy to set up and you get a very nice full sound out of them. I'm not much of a audiofile so some of the finer points of speaker placement and stuff like that are beyond me. However for the price you really can't beat these speakers. My only complaint was that I noticed a slight "popping" or "cracking" noise. It wasn't something that happened all the time, but if the band on the CD I was testing it with would hit a certain note I could pick up that popping noise. I don't know if that has to do with my cheap sound card or if it's the speakers themselves. However, considering the price I paid for these I can live with it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply, These Speakers Rock, December 10, 2003

By 

"existentist" (Lubbock, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative Labs Inspire 5200 5.1 Computer Speakers (6-Speaker, Black) (Personal Computers)

Hardware: Turtle Beach Santa Cruz

Had I known how much richer my mp3's would sound, I would have bought these speakers long ago. As I write this review, my roomates are sleeping (or trying to), and it's all I can do to not jack the volume up. But now, even at low volume, the music resonates. Such depth. I may never be able to use headphones again.

If you've got a 5.1 sound card, you can't beat these, especially for the price. If you don't have a 5.1 card, make sure to get the an excellent Turtle Beach card.

Initially, I had the same center speaker issue as noted in 2 reviews listed here. I had to select the 'Virtual 5.1' setting in my audio control panel and the center speaker worked just fine. [Plug the center speaker jack into the Turtle Beach 'Versa' plug.]

I couldn't be happier with this sound.