CONCLUSION

   I’ve been using the Stage V2 with both my primary test rig and my TV set for over two weeks now with overwhelmingly positive results. Yes, this is not the soundbar to blow you away with its surround sound and volume levels (doesn’t begin to compete with the Atmos soundbar I used a while back) but for people on a budget it’s a great addition to any TV set. Audio quality is very good (not the best highs but can’t expect miracles from just two drivers), bass is more than acceptable, volume levels are quite strong (not to throw a party but more than enough to fill a medium-sized room) and in terms of surround sound it actually works very well if you’re sitting right in front of the soundbar (the clear dialog option does emphasize vocals but not by much). The only tiny issue I came across was with the input changing from optical to aux every time I stopped playback on my HD Dune media player (yes, I tried every single connection) thus I had to switch back to optical by using the remote (doesn’t take time but I did find it somewhat annoying after a while).

   With a current price tag set at USD109.99 inside the USA (Creative Store) and at 109.99Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) the Stage V2 2.1 Soundbar by Creative is very affordable and thus could easily become a best seller in 2021. Honestly after 2 full weeks of testing i can’t find anything wrong with it, not when Creative has priced it so aggressively. Yes, it can’t compete with some soundbars that cost at least 3-4 times as much but the same can be said for most things in the industry. That being said however the Stage V2 just might be the perfect companion for your TV set or PC and since I really think it delivers everywhere that matters it gets the Golden Award.

PROS

- Good Audio Quality/Accuracy
- Volume Levels
- Available Connectivity (Bluetooth v5.0/HDMI ARC/SPDIF/3.5mm)
- Surround Sound & Clear Dialog Sound Blaster Features
- Wall Mountable
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- High Frequencies (Clarity/Accuracy)