In this new review, we are going to tell you about the Creative Stage Air V2 soundbar. It is a model with a very compact design and it belongs to the family of Creative Stage devices. Initially, it was designed to be used as a computer speaker, but you can also use it with your TV, phone, etc. Despite its small size and affordable price, the Creative Stage Air V2 offers exceptional performance and sound quality, as we will see in this review.
It offers several connectivity options such as USB, auxiliary and Bluetooth 5.3, which provides great versatility. It also has a battery life of up to 6 hours so you can take your music with you wherever you go. So you don’t have to use it near an electrical outlet.
Let’s take a closer look at all the features of Creative’s Stage Air V2 soundbar and what we think of it after putting it through its paces.
Creative Stage Air V2 review
- Compact size
- Acceptable bass despite no subwoofer.
- Power for its dimensions
- Good detail in voices and effects
- Built-in battery
- Affordable price
- We would have liked it to have an optical connection for greater compatibility with televisions.
- Although the finish is elegant and we like it, fingerprints and dust do show through.
Creative Stage Air V2 Soundbar Features
| Creative Stage Air V2 | |
|---|---|
| Speaker configuration | 2.0 channels (2 custom racetrack full-range drivers) |
| Power | 2 x 5 W RMS (20W peak) |
| Frequency response | 80-20,000 Hz |
| Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). | ≥ 75 dB |
| Bluetooth | Yes, version 5.3 |
| Connections | Aux-in, USB-C |
| Included accessories | USB-C to USB-A cable: 1.2m |
| Autonomy | Up to 6 hours (depending on volume) |
| Charging time | 3 hours |
| Dimensions | 410 x 75 x 94 mm (Width, Height, Depth). |
| Weight | 1.23 kg |
| Price |
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Design
One of the main features of the Creative Stage Air V2 is its compact size, making it the perfect choice for small rooms or limited spaces. You’ll have no trouble finding a place for it. Measuring just 410 x 94 x 75mm, this compact speaker fits neatly under your monitor without taking up too much space.
Creative Stage Air V2 compact speaker design
It also has conveniently placed controls on the right side that let you easily adjust the volume or switch between sources. Not only do the volume controls serve this purpose, but if you hold them down for two seconds, they will advance or delay the song when it is connected to your phone via Bluetooth.
Creative Stage Air V2 Side Controls
On the front right, you have an LED light that changes color depending on the source you have selected. In addition, a voice tells you which source you are on.
Selected source indicator
We like the look and feel of the exterior, with a metal grille covering the speakers and a glossy plastic top. The downside of the top finish is that it is prone to fingerprints and scratches, but visually it is very attractive.
View price Creative Stage Air V2
Connectivity
The Creative Stage Air V2 is designed for versatility, allowing you to connect both wired and wirelessly with ease. Simply connect it to your PC, Mac or game consoles such as PS4 and PS5 using the included USB-C to USB-A cable.
It also features a 3.5mm AUX input jack that allows you to connect it to analog audio devices such as MP3 players, tablets, and Nintendo Switch. Although not its primary use, you can also connect it to a TV. To connect it to a TV, it is necessary that it has a 3.5 mm jack output. It is also necessary to connect to one of the USB ports that the TV has or use a charger.
Stage Air V2 soundbar connections
If you are a PC user, the Creative Stage Air V2 speaker will be automatically detected when you connect the USB cable. If you have multiple audio devices connected to your PC, you can manually select the Creative Stage Air V2 as the default playback speaker in the sound settings.
If you are a Mac user, you can adjust the audio settings as follows: Click the Apple menu, select System Preferences, and then click Sound. Finally, select ‘Stage Air V2’ as the output option.
You can also pair the soundbar with your portable smartphone or TV via Bluetooth. The Bluetooth version is 5.3, so the connection is stable and has a wide range. In addition, we have not noticed any latency, so when you play multimedia content, the image is synchronized with the audio.
Battery life
One of its most interesting features is that it comes with a built-in 2,200 mAh battery. This battery will give you up to 6 hours of playback time. This means that you don’t have to worry about being near an outlet while you enjoy your music or movie.
As usual, this number is achieved at moderate volume levels. Continuous use at maximum volume reduces this figure to around 3 hours.
This is not as convenient as carrying a portable speaker, but since it does not weigh too much, you can take it outside and enjoy your music wherever you want.
Creative Stage Air V2 with up to 6 hours of battery life.
Sound
The Creative Stage Air V2 is the perfect solution for upgrading your computer’s built-in speakers that are delivering weak, low-quality sound. With two custom-tuned full-range drivers and a generously sized radiator, this speaker will instantly improve your audio experience for gaming, music or multimedia.
Creative Stage Air V2 with 2.0 and 10W RMS system
As you might expect, with such a compact size and no built-in subwoofer, it’s not going to reproduce powerful bass. The frequency response ranges from 80 to 20,000 Hz, and the lower frequencies are outside the spectrum it can reproduce. However, thanks to the included passive radiator, it does offer a good amount of mid-bass, which makes us forget a bit about the lack of bass and not so much about missing a stronger bass. In our opinion, the bass is more than acceptable for a device like this.
Testing it with shooter-type games, it creates a good experience, with good definition in the sounds of footsteps, gunshots and explosions. The audio is clear and immerses you in the game, although the sound is obviously quite directional for its size.
With multimedia content such as movies and series, we found that it also offers a more than satisfactory performance. The voices have a good presence and make it easy to follow the dialog. We have used it to watch movies not only with the laptop in one room, but also connected to a TV in the living room. Both via auxiliary and Bluetooth, it manages to improve the poor integrated sound that TVs have, especially small inch TVs. It is perfect for small rooms and you will get clear dialog and a richer sound. Even for slightly larger rooms, it is still surprising for its power and quality. Although the limitation of its 2.0 channel system and its size make it impossible to get an immersive feeling.
Creative Stage Air V2 connected to TV
You may want to consider other options, such as the Stage 360 version, which includes a more complete sound system and virtual Dolby Atmos playback.
Since it has a rechargeable battery, you can also use it outdoors. However, here if its performance falls short if it is a very noisy environment. But it is no less than with any portable speaker you can buy for the same price.
Comparison of Creative Stage soundbars
| Stage Air V2 | Stage Air | Stage 360 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker configuration | 2.0 (Custom full-range drivers) | 2.0 (Custom Full Range Drivers) | 2.1 (Custom track drivers) |
| Subwoofer | No | No | Yes |
| Power | 20W (peak) | 20W (peak) | 240W (peak) |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Connections | USB audio, AUX input | USB MP3, AUX input | HDMI ARC port, two HDMI 2.0 ports, optical input |
| Autonomy | 6 hours | 6 hours | – |
| Dimensions | 410 x 94 x 75 mm | 410 x 70 x 78 mm | 566 x 75 x 88 mm |
Conclusion Creative Stage Air V2 soundbar
Creative Stage Air V2 soundbar review
The Creative Stage Air V2 soundbar is an ideal choice if you’re looking to enhance your audio experience without compromising on space in your home. Despite its compact design and affordable price, this soundbar offers impressive features.
With a maximum output of 10W RMS, the Creative Stage Air V2 delivers crisp and detailed audio that will enhance your experience not only when watching movies or series, but also when listening to music. Although on paper this power may seem scarce, the truth is that its volume is more than enough for the situations for which it is intended as a room or living room speaker.
It has two drivers inside, specially tuned to deliver a sound with more nuance and improved bass response. Where we enjoyed it the most is with games and with movies and series, although it also satisfies with music.
Thanks to its multiple connectivity options, including Bluetooth 5.3, auxiliary input and USB input, you can easily connect it to your favorite devices, such as mobile phones, tablets or laptops. However, we would have liked to see an optical port for greater compatibility with TVs.
Overall, the Creative Stage Air V2 soundbar combines compact size with impressive performance. With its power, both wired and wireless connectivity, and up to 6 hours of battery life, this soundbar is perfect for enhancing your audio-visual experience in tight spaces. If you are looking for an easy and affordable way to improve the sound of your PC, TV or music, the Creative Stage Air V2 is definitely an option to consider.
