Customer Reviews

Creative Labs Inspire 6600 6.1 Computer Speakers (7-Speaker, Black)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Summary:

1. Good on distortion (THD)
2. BAD on NOISE
3. Good bass and treble
4. BAD frequency response at cross-over
5. Unnatural sound (because of 4 above)

Details:

Speakers with built-in amplifiers (also called self-powered amplifiers or just powered amplifiers) have a few important means of specifying performance -- distortion, signal-to-noise ratio, RMS power output.

This one has 120W power output which is a plus. Most computer speakers have less.

Distortion (which is different from noise) is the "chir" sound you hear with full sound volume. Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) is distortion as percentage of actual music (signal). Now you know what 10% THD means -- as much 10% of sound is bad! Typically, full power is power cited for 10% THD (unless specified otherwise). With lower sound volume distortion reduces fast. Typically, if full power is enough, one does not use a system to it's full power -- that means distortion will be less than 10% (anything less than 0.5% is excellent). So these speakers are good on distortion unless you want to put them in a big hall and use them to their full power.

Noise performance ("hissssss" you hear specially with sound has a low volume) is BAD. I returned the speakers because of that. My speakers I got with my PC have less noise.

BASS is good. Bass is drum sound -- it is sound at low frequencies. Treble is good too -- it is sound at higher frequencies. Problem is that this is a good "gap" between the two. Sound at this gap is not reproduced properly. To be more precise, in order to fool people into believing that sound reproduction is good, these manufacturers over-boost bass and treble (and leave out middle band, the gap). That makes sound unnatural.

Next I have bought Bose Mediamate speakers. They have better noise performance (though not perfect). Those TWO speakers have better sound than SIX speaker set from Creative Labs. And that's too when Mediamate is Bose's cheapest and Inspire 6.1 is Creative Labs's costliest (for computer speakers)!

Also consider Polk Audio AMR130 speakers. They are the best I have found. Have best-in-class noise performance (90dB). Power specification is 40W RMS, more than enough for a room.

I spent months looking for an adequate 5.1 speaker set to go with my system without having to break the bank!!
I looked at the Logitech Z640 (boy that stuff sells like cheap dirt), I also looked at the inspire 5200, altec lancing and Monsoon 505-H.

Well after listening to them all; the inspire 5200 caught my attention because of the quality of its sound reproduction and clean base.

The monsoon could be turned up all the way with out loosing it quality but it did not sound as good as the inspire though it had good base and looked cool (depending on your taste).

The Altec Lancing sounded great also; the Logitech had the worst sound quality (like cardboard paper was used to make its speakers). Its base was not bad though.

I finally settled on the 6600 because it was 6.1 even though I was not going to buy an audigy 2 card, I figured that I will finally be able to squeeze everything out of my SB live 5.1 digital. I am not using the center rear speaker.

The 5200 sounded great and since the 6600 is more modern, more powerful and cost approximately 20.00 more, I went with it.

These speakers sound great.
It is quite loud 1/2 way up.
Games like UT2003, Jedi Knight 2 and NOLF2 sound great with 5.1 enabled.
I have not tested them with a DVD movie yet but the base from my VCDs sound excellent.
The base is not going to rock your house, but the speaker set will definitely bother your neighbors if turned up 70% of the way.

...

If you don't want to break the bank and want to be sure you get the most resent technology from creative get these; you don't need the audigy 2 unless you are interested in 6.1 surround sound, 5.1 is what is supported the most today.

These speakers may be alright to some people. They were the first 6.1 computer multimedia speakers on the market, but they were NOT the best. Klipsch, Logitech, and even Cambridge are all working on high-end speakers that support 6.1 digital sound. Why avoid these speakers? Because even for the price, they don't deliver a good enough quality range! The lows are VERY dull due to the low quality subwoofer and the highs are very squeaky due to the paper-cup-type cones for the speaker's drivers. Since there is not much 6.1 audio available to the general public right now, there isn't much value added to these speakers just because there are seven speakers instead of six. Truthfully, I wouldn't listen to Creative. If you bought these speakers beacuse Creative said they paired well with the Audigy 2, I suggest you return them. These speakers will not sound any better than any Logitech or Klipsch speaker system that you install into an Audigy 2. Take that HorsePlop creative tells you and throw it into a can. These speakers are not worth the value or the bundle with the amazing Audigy 2 sound card. If you REALLY want a 6.1 system that can play 6.1 digital sound for all your music, games, and DVDs, wait for a newer 6.1 model from a high-end provider such as Klipsch, Logitech, or Cambridge. These speakers are no more than a trick to get un-aware buyers to think that these speakers paired with an Audigy 2 will sound phenominal. Not true folks! Don't buy them!

I recently bought these speakers, and I am very satisfied. Sure, they are relatively cheap, and therefore, not top of the line. But I am very satisfied with the sound quality.
I am using this on my PC Gaming system, and for that, these speakers are perfect. Let's face it: You do not need home-theater quality for a PC gaming system. At least not yet (there are very few games that actually support a system this advanced). So if that's what you want to use this for, you should be happy with these speakers.

i got these speakers from singapore as it was too expensive in India,These speakers are truly worth every Cent of your money,couple it with the audigy series soundcard and watch the fun.I just popped in Saving Private Ryan DVD and started the movie...wow was it fun to hear the bullets whizzing past hear your left ear the the rear and then the right.The speakers are really good...way better than logitech and are inexpensive...should buy...

Don't you just not like it when peeps over Explain something in a
review. Oh Ok read the title of this review. well thats it (bye)

Hahaha ok

I'll say a little more heh..

Well, they are cool speakers and great bass . These things are good for
Movies,Games,Music and or ummmm hearing your PC turn on at startup heh: )

This system has a Hhadphone jack on the volume and bass volume
selector Which can be put anywhere you want like in your lap for
example (Warning: This may make you even more lazy)

I can say that I can't even use the rxtra bass on this it already has
enough!!! So on most Defualt Pc's you use the microphone input for the
subwoofer and venter speaker plug for this system. With that said I unplug
it I need it for the microphone but, great thing tho it sctually doesn't
change the bass dubwoofer at all. It still has very good sound that comes
out even with that unpluged and my volume bass delector turned almost down
all the way. Still has too much bass, is that a good thing or a bad thing?
I have sctually have been shocked at times jumping to the vol knob as it
sounded like I would have busted my speakers with what came out sometimes
if I didn't run and shut if off but, everything is fine.

Well as far as blowing out your speakers go, you would really have to
Turn bass & vol up on the selector and put on your best bass mix. Also
turn up PC vol & bass and whatever media players vol & bass up and just
let it go all day to blow it out lol

I use defualt sound card but, with creatives newier sound cards this
wouldn't Hurt but sounds awesome without that setup so I can only imagine
the great sound that would make.

And..

So there you go a nice and short review heh not like those other reviews huh...

(Update 12/08/06)
Yep still working after using it everyday just about. Sounds fine.

since the speaker is [less] after rebate, it worth a try.
i don't have the same problem as the other reviewer
but have a major problem with 6.1 speaker
the extra speaker is rear center
if you are using a computer, that is the worst place to put a speaker. since you cannot walk without move that ...speaker
so i return this one and buy 5200 instead

the other reviewer have some problem in their review
the 6700 is older version compare to 6600
so does 5300(discontinue model)

6700 use the same speaker as 4400 which is a old model and with less power output(the center is the same as 6600's speaker)
they create 6700 because they recycle the 5700 and 5300's speaker to make the 6700(100% sure)
...

I actually use these babies for music rather than gaming and movies, an let me tell ya, these speakers ROOOOCK!!!
Now I enjoy all my favorite rock tunes with quality sound and bass that throws away my advanced stereo!
I you want to annoy your neighbours and rock the house, than these speakres are for you!

Wait for the 6700's. They will release in America soon(as did the 5300's), and the 6700's have a better front center speaker than these.(for the same price) The 6600's system specs are based on the "standard specs" of Creative Labs, All speakers(including front center)of the 6600's are rated at 8 RMS, not 20. The sub is still 22(note the extra star). It infuriates me when they release the superior product to Europe before us!

since the speaker is around [dollar amount] after rebate, it worth a try.
i don't have the same problem as the other reviewer
but have a major problem with 6.1 speaker
the extra speaker is rear center
if you are using a computer, that is the worst place to put a speaker. since you cannot walk without move that damn speaker
so i return this one and buy 5200 instead

...
the 6700 is older version compare to 6600
so does 5300(discontinue model)

6700 use the same speaker as 4400 which is a old model and with less power output(the center is the same as 6600's speaker)
they create 6700 because they recycle the 5700 and 5300's speaker to make the 6700(100% sure)...