Creative A300

Creative's A300 is a 2.1 speaker system designed primarily for use with computers and MP3 players. Coming at a very affordable price, and delivering relatively good quality, they're great value, and perfectly suited to use with the home PC or for the kids. They're by no means high-end audio products, and do suffer from a slightly limited frequency response and very minor amounts of distortion; however, they also deliver excellent bass performance and impressive volume levels, and should be more than adequate for most uses around the home.

Bass is definitely the most impressive aspect of the A300's sound, with the included sub being capable of outputting some very impressive amounts of rumble. Although very fast, punchy bass does tend to become slightly muddy at times, overall the speakers handle most bass lines and drumbeats very well. Treble isn't quite as well represented, however, and flattens off at the very highest frequencies. Nevertheless, on the whole, audio is relatively clear, with minor distortion becoming apparent only at higher volumes.

The speakers have quite a powerful volume output, and we were certainly able to reach a comfortable listening volume for our own tastes without hitting the maximum. As mentioned before, the sub is capable of some really impressive amounts of power, and we had the walls and desks shaking in our office in no time with some bass-heavy tracks.

The system as a whole has an attractive design, with a black finish. The right-hand speaker has the volume knob on the side, while a bass knob is located on the back of the subwoofer. This can be slightly irritating when the sub is placed under a desk, but ultimately it's not a huge deal. With a relatively versatile functionality, being able to be used for MP3 players, speakers, and even home entertainment in a pinch, the simplistic design also ensures that the A300s should fit in anywhere.

Overall, while they're certainly nothing revolutionary, Creative has managed to create a relatively good 2.1 speaker system in the A300, with excellent bass performance and a low RRP. A great choice for those looking for a good mix of quality and affordability, the versatility of the speakers generally makes them great value for most users.