The Stage Pro is a compact 2.1 system, with a bar about 55 cm wide and a narrow sub that stands about 42 cm tall. The bar can sit under a smaller screen. The sub still needs a real place, and a wire must reach it from the bar. Those two measurements determine whether this is a good desk or bedroom upgrade.
In depth
Creative Stage Pro review
Published · Updated
Best forSomeone trying to add bass and a convenient TV connection where a full home-theater system would be too large.
At a glance
- Channel configuration
- 2.1
- Included system
- Stereo bar and wired passive subwoofer
- Immersive audio
- Dolby Audio; no Dolby Atmos decoding
- TV connection
- HDMI ARC
Pros
- A short bar fits spaces where many TV soundbars would overhang the furniture.
- The included remote and HDMI ARC suit TV use.
Cons
- The subwoofer needs a wired path back to the bar.
- Raising the bass can obscure other sounds in a film mix. 1
Sound Quality
- 2.1 channels
- Wired subwoofer
- HDMI ARC
Tom’s Guide listened with the supplied sub and found film effects more substantial than on the inexpensive alternatives it compared. Increasing bass to add weight to a score could also overwhelm quieter sounds. The reviewer heard only modest changes between music and movie presets. Try ordinary speech at your usual listening level before turning up the low end. 1
Connectivity & Placement
- 550 mm bar width
- 420 mm subwoofer height
- HDMI ARC
At a desk, make room below or beside it for the tall sub and route the cable away from feet and chair wheels. With a TV, use the ARC port and check the television’s output setting. This is ARC rather than eARC. For a setup that relies on high-bandwidth lossless immersive formats or discrete rear placement, compare a different system.
Speaker Layout & Listening Distance
- Stereo bar & passive subwoofer
- SuperWide near/far modes
- Dolby Audio
The bar contains left and right full-range drivers, while the separate passive subwoofer handles bass. Dialogue is shared by the front pair, with no separate center speaker. Creative’s SuperWide processing offers near- and far-field settings. Try the near setting at a computer and the far setting from the sofa. The wider presentation still comes from the front speakers, and the system does not decode Dolby Atmos.
PC & Music Connections
- USB-C digital audio
- Optical & 3.5 mm inputs
- Bluetooth 5.3
USB-C carries digital audio from a compatible computer. A 3.5 mm input also works with an analog source, and optical can take sound from an older television. These are useful choices for sharing one bar between a desk and TV because they leave HDMI ARC available for television sound. Bluetooth 5.3 is the cable-free option for a phone.
Alternatives
The same Tom’s Guide reviewer favored the Creative for films over the Ultimea Nova S50 and Majority Elias it tried. More expensive systems gave incidental effects clearer separation. That is a reason to spend more for a film-focused room, but less pressing for modest-volume viewing at a desk. 1
Verdict
The Stage Pro is a useful two-box upgrade where the floor space and cable path work. Its compact bar makes the most sense close to the listener or under a small TV. Leave room in the budget for a different layout if the sub cannot sit conveniently nearby.
About this review
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested this sound system.
Sources & Research
1 reference
Independent sources cited in this article.
- Tom’s GuideCreative Stage Pro review (opens in a new tab)https://www.tomsguide.com/audio/soundbars/creative-stage-pro-review
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