CONCLUSION

   I've only used 3 mid-end soundbars in my life (from Samsung/Sony/Pioneer) prior to receiving the Sound BlasterX Katana by Creative and so i honestly didn't expect that much in terms of audio performance. Fortunately, that wasn't the case and even though yes i wouldn't replace any of my two 5.1 surround sound speaker systems with the Katana it's a safe bet that I’d choose it in case of severe space restrictions. Volume levels can go very high (actually I hardly ever went over 30 – max is 50), both mids and highs are very accurate and crisp (even more so when connected to the AE-9) and as for positioning audio, well is actually surprisingly effective, especially in games, that is if you sit right at the front and center of the soundbar (more to the left or to the right and you will not be getting the optimal experience). Bass levels are also sufficient but not nearly as rich and powerful as what both the 12 and 8 inch subwoofers of my surround sound systems output (which is quite normal since this is a 5.25 inch driver after all). The Aurora RGB system also looks great and even though i didn't like the pairing Creative did in regards to the various modes (for example gaming just has a blue line going back and forth) this is very easy to change from the Sound Blaster Command 2 software.

   Roughly 4 years after its introduction into the market the Sound BlasterX Katana Customizable 24-Bit Hi-Res Gaming Under-Monitor Sound System has seen its price reduced a bit and so currently you can find it for USD271.86 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 234.93Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de). Of course, even today the Katana is far from an affordable soundbar but the thing is that you’re not just getting a bluetooth soundbar, you’re also getting a 24-bit/96KHz Hi-Res USB audio card, USB audio player and a portable RGB lighting system. So even though the Sound BlasterX Katana already counts almost 4 years in the market it’s still a great choice for PC and console gamers alike and that’s also why it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Audio Clarity & Crispness
- Wired & Wireless Connectivity
- 24bit/96KHz USB Audio Card
- Aurora RGB Lighting System
- 75WRMS Output
- USB Audio Player
- Available Modes

CONS

- Price (For Some)
- 2016 Model