Customer Reviews

Creative Labs I-Trigue L3800 2.1 PC Speaker System ( 51MF0305AA002 )

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

My friend and I went to CompUSA and heard these in person - compared to 5 other systems, including Logitech 2.1 and Klipsch 2.1 Promedia. The compUSA comparison just switches the same feed from product to product so you can really hear the difference in speakers back-to-back.

The L3800 had the best separation and the most crisp treble. Logitech speakers I've had tend to hide the vocals and lots of the midrange - without clever software settings you are screwed. Another reviewer mentioned these couldn't handle Metallica. We tested with Tool's 10,000 Days - an album that tests the limits of any sound system - very satisfied.

The bass was not as deep as other systems, particularly the Klipsch, but that didn't detract from the overall experience. For those living in close quarters, the reduced bass is actually an advantage.

Pros: excellent midranges and highs, small form factor, great look and weight/feel with the brushed metal design of the speakers, well-designed remote control, wired volume/bass control with lighted volume meter, subwoofer has thinner footprint than other tested systems, RCA-to-audio converter a nice touch in order to connect your speakeers to your DVD player

Cons: bass wasn't as deep as other systems we tested, male-to-male audio cable used to connect MP3 players isn't shielded well - go get your own

I just bought these speakers today. They ROCK! Great sound. Also, as a ham radio operator, the RF shielding is an important factor for me. Cheap PC speakers will buzz very loudly when you key up a radio near them. These don't pick up any RF interference at all. The more I listen to these the more impressed I get.

I purchased these speakers about a month ago after listening to everything else I could find in the $100-$150 range, including the THX-rated systems from Logitech (Z2300) and Klipsch (ProMedia 2.1.). (These are the main competitors, along with Harman Kardon's Soundsticks, which I could not find to sample anywhere.) For a variety of music types (rock, jazz, classical, etc.), this system from Creative was unrivaled in this price range. Instruments stand out clearly from one another and often sound as if they're being played right here in the room, and yet the sound is never overly bright or fatiguing to the ear. The flaws of compressed audio files are astonishingly hidden, making this system perfect for digitized music collections. The subwoofer is, as some reviewers have noted, less powerful than in some rival systems, but it produces plenty of bass with very clear and natural sound. The system as a whole produces plenty of power to fill or even overwhelm a small- to medium-sized room, and it distributes sound very nicely so that you aren't terribly aware of the sound coming from a specific direction. It also reproduces dialogue in films with terrific clarity. After a month of steady use with many kinds of music and video, I'm simply thrilled with this purchase.

By comparison, the Logitech Z2300 system -- which most reviewers rave about -- sounded thick and muddied to me. You might find it more to your liking if your primary interests are gaming, action movies, or music with driving, thumping bass (e.g. hip-hop or house music). The bass will be less clear and the mids are, to my ears, quite poor, but if you really want explosions and pounding bass to blow you away, the Logitech has more power to do it. The Klipsch system sounds less muddied, but with a rather flat sound and little midrange. Both are good systems, but for music reproduction, I think the Creative L3800 is in another league.

One listening suggestion: if you want to compare the range on different 2.1 systems at a store, try listening to them all with the subwoofers disconnected -- all will sound poor and incomplete, but you'll notice right away how much richer the Creative L3800 sounds. When you hear the Logitech or Klipsch system this way, you'll discover how much sound you are missing (and their subs can't make up for that).

Finally, if you're on the fence about 2.1 systems in general, I'd suggest you take the plunge. I compared several 2-channel computer speaker packages (from Logitech, Bose, Klipsch and Creative -- all of which were between $90 and $100), and none of them could produce comparably rich sound or decent bass, despite reviews I'd read to the contrary. For a full-scale stereo system, a pair of quality tower speakers can sometimes handle the full sound range, but with computer speakers, you might be surprised at how much of the music you aren't hearing without a dedicated bass channel.

All in all, this is simply a terrific system -- for the first time, I'm experiencing music on my computer as a pleasure in itself, and not as a "second-best" when I'm away from my stereo. Highly recommended.

Looked at several other speakers, including Logitech Z-2300 (muddy sound, limited highs) and Creative T3030 (tinny, little midrange).

The Creative L3800 just seemed to have the best all around sound, with especially good separation and dimensionality. Highs are clear, crisp, while the midrange is very accurate and pleasing. Bass is great also, as with most of these 2.1 systems. Top of the line build quality is evident, with both wired and wireless remote as a plus. Can also be an excellent value, especially with rebate.

Don't be fooled by THX certification, check these out in person if you can before you buy, I think you'll be as surprised and pleased as I was.

I have used these speakers for 3 months and absolutely love them. The design is stylish and sound quality is very good. Controls are handy and remote is convenient.
However, there are three minor drawbacks I can think of. First, there is no microphone jack on the main control box. Second, the battery on the remote is very small. I am afraid it will be difficult to replace it when it finally discharges. Third, the satellite speakers are not protected with any cover. They are not on the surface and you probably newer damage it but if you have kids you may considerer this possibility.

This is without a doubt the best set of 2.1 computer speakers I have heard. They produce an amazing amount of volume although the bass is slightly weak. They look great sitting next to my LCD monitor and I love the dongle. I would never buy speakers again with out a dongle to control volume and give me a place to plug in head phones / aux input. As an extra bonus it comes with a remote control that will control you Creative Zen Vision M. (We have two!) I am not sure what other players it will control. They would also be great for turning your ZVM into a full fledged stereo.
Conclusion if you are looking for premium 2.1 speakers these are the place to start.

Pros: sounds great, looks great, speakers take up little room, well made wired dock, wireless remote, easy setup (just ignore the poorly written directions)
Cons: wish it were a little stronger in the bass
The most important thing I look at when I buy a sound system is the audio quality, and these speakers deliver. I am no audiophile but they sound great in all the genres I have tried (hiphop, trance, to classical and trance). I previously owned harmon kardon sticks 2, which had amazing sound clarity but was weak in the bass department. My second system was the Klipsch promedia 2.1 system, which also had great sound and ridiculous bass, but after a few short months of use they started to hiss and distort during use. I finally decided to buy the itrigue l3800 with all the great reviews and I couldn't have been more pleased. Their bass output is a little weak for their price (compared with other systems), but the overall sound quality in mids and highs were beautiful, and I live in a college dorm so not much bass is actually needed. They also don't take up much room and are polished with aluminum so they look amazing anywhere you put them. The construction of speakers seem very solid and have a good weight to them, and I have heard no sort static or distortion as of yet. Plus the wired control dock works quite well, and the wireless remote just sweetens the deal.

I've been looking for a decent set of PC speakers and found the Creative I-Trigue L3800 the perfect fit. I chose a 2.1 speaker system over the fancier 5.1 system because I don't have space and don't want to run wires for the sattelite speakers. I would have picked the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX Certified Computer 3-Piece Speaker System, but it seems to have reliability problems.
The Creative I-Trigue L3800 produces crisp and clear sound for listening to music and watching movies on my computer. The bass is sufficient, pretty good for a subwoofer this size. The volume is more than loud enough to fill a small room.
The system looks great. The tall and slender satellite speakers take up practically no space at all. The subwoofer is quite a bit bigger than the satellite speakers, but reasonable for a subwoofer.
The wired volume controller is quite useful, and the wireless remote control is great, with volume control and mute button.
Connecting the system together was straight forward, I didn't even have to read the manual. The cable from the satellite speaker was shorter than I would have preferred, forcing me to put the subwoofer in the middle so the cable could reach, instead of on one side.
Overall, I recommend it highly. With a $50 rebate, it was quite a deal.

Great sound for computer speakers. I am disappointed that the smaller Creative I-Trigue 2200 has a little higher fidelity. Maybe the lack of a sub-woofer made the high and mid range sound crisper on the I2200. That aside, these speakers/series are in top tier below Bose in sound quality. The bass is balance and don't come in too strong nor too weak in the case of L2200. Neo-titanium for excellent high. Turn the speakers inward a little to get the mid-range coming from the side. What make the L3800, $50 more than the L3400 is a remote and better looking speakers and receiver, which to most is probably not worth it? So, this price is a little high for a 2.1 setup. I am disappointed with Logitech big sound and lack of crispness with Styrofoam like cone. Bose Companion 3 and 5 are the best computer speakers I have heard. Klipsch are the most powerful volume wise, but I don't care for the price. I previously owned 2 Altec models. The sound were balance, but weren't special nor dynamic.

I hooked the device up without looking at the direction sheet, since the connectors and holes are well label as any other set out there. 99% of the people out there will have no problem with the setup. No extra software or user manual, which is fine since I don't need them. The metal rims around the circle driver are very reflective. Aluminum not plastic speaker cases. For vocal, ambient, trance sound turn down the bass, for better high and mid sound effect. Rock, Hip turns the bass high. For Jazz turn the bass somewhere in the middle.

The L3800 is one of the best looking 2.1 setup out there. The receiver is very easy to use and I never really use the wireless remote. A true 4.5 stars.

These speakers are the best speakers I have ever owned. They are small but you would not be able to tell by the sound they produce. They can get very loud with a lot of bass, trust me. They look great and can fit into tight places such as a college dorm where mine is currently located. Many of my friends have large, cumbersome speakers that do not produce such rich and loud sounds as the Creative speaker's do. The bass is ridiculously loud and booming. Mine have lasted for several years and they still sound great. I highly recommend getting these speakers for anyone who wants to hear great sounding music. I can't speak highly enough about them!