If the ‘most intelligent portable wireless speaker in the world’ wasn’t powerful enough, you now have the extra option of strapping it to a dedicated sub-woofer dock.
Product on Review: Creative iRoar and iRoar Rock
Manufacturer: Creative
Street Price: UK: £299/ £129 US: $369/ $149
Also available as a bundle
Building on the legacy of the Roar portable wireless speaker, it was inevitable the Creative will push the boundaries and technology to deliver a premium device. That device features a built in SB-Axx1 audio processor, an expanded NFC ring, a 50% larger battery, an optical output, touch controls oh and is ‘twice as loud’ as the original Roar!
Aside from being a fantastic portable wireless speaker, Creative have gone to the next-level regarding user interface. The only hard controls featured on the iRoar is the power/pair button, as well as a shuffle/loop switch, all other commands are touch controls that light up when needed. To compliment that, There is an LED display for battery life, volume level and mode indicator. Creative have released a SDK available for people to create custom Apps and add-ons.
For that little extra thumping power, the iRoar can be docked in an iRoar Rock. The iRoar Rock is a 3.75″ sub-woofer that expands the audio presence into a powerhouse of a sound system while fast-charging the iRoar. More interestingly Creative have more planned for the future in regards to companion devices for the iRoar and are working on a DDK (Docking Development Kit), potentially making the ‘most intelligent speaker on the planet’ also one of the most expandable and customisable.
Overview by Creative
Creative iRoar is designed to empower you with the best audio performance beyond its size. Smart and powerful, the legacy continues with a new take on its predecessor, the Sound Blaster Roar. Clean and accurate, your audio experience will be so refined like no other.
Designed to unleash the full potential of the iRoar (sold separately), the Creative iRoar Rock is a powerful docking subwoofer that is part of the iRoar Ecosystem. Get more out of your audio when you dock the iRoar via the Docking Expansion Port. This feature further extends and enhances the mid-range, bass and surround performance of the iRoar. Quick and simple, the iRoar Rock also acts as a wireless charging solution for the iRoar without any fuss.
Designed to unleash the full potential of the iRoar (sold separately), the Creative iRoar Rock is a powerful docking subwoofer that is part of the iRoar Ecosystem. Get more out of your audio when you dock the iRoar via the Docking Expansion Port. This feature further extends and enhances the mid-range, bass and surround performance of the iRoar. Quick and simple, the iRoar Rock also acts as a wireless charging solution for the iRoar without any fuss.
Technical Specifications
iRoar
Dimensions (H x W x D):225.0 x 120.0 x 57.0 mm (8.8 x 4.7 x 2.2 inches)
Weight: 1.10kg (2.5lbs)
USB Cable: 43g (1.5oz)
Colour: Black
Included Accessories
1x Carry Pouch
1 x Quick Start Guide
1 x USB Cable
1 x Wall Power Adapter and Plugs
Recommended Usage
Wireless Streaming: Yes
Movies / Music: Yes
PC Gaming: Yes
Outdoor: Yes
Controls / Connectivity
Bluetooth® VersionBluetooth 3.0
Bluetooth ProfileA2DP (Wireless Stereo Bluetooth)
AVRCP (Bluetooth Remote Control)
HFP (Hands-free Profile)
Supported CodecsAAC
aptX
SBC
aptX-LL
Near Field Communication (NFC): Yes
Multipoint: Yes
Connector Type
Bluetooth
Line-In
Optical
USB
Volume Level Control: Yes
Drivers
1 x 2.75″ Woofer
2 x 2″ Tweeter
2 x Passive Radiators
Design: Bi-amplified Design
Microphone: Twin Binaural Microphone
Supported Platforms for Wireless Audio (Minimum Requirements)
Mobile/Smart DevicesMobile / Smart devices with A2DP -enabled Bluetooth technology
Computers
Compatible with PC (Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10)
Apple Macintosh equipped with Bluetooth wireless stereo
USB Audio
Asynchronous USB Audio Class 1, 24-bit / 48 kHz
Battery Specifications
Battery Type: Built-in Li-ion 9000mAh
Battery Life: 20 hours
Charging by:Proprietary Adaptor
Charge Mobile Devices
USB
1.5A Max output
Mobile Applications
iRoar Dashboard app
Supported Platforms
Android, iOS
microSD Slot: Yes
*Supports microSD or microSDHC cards up to 32GB formatted in FAT/FAT32.
Optical S/PDIF inputup to 24-bit / 96 kHz PCM
Supported Audio Formats
MP3 (Up to 320kbps)
WAV (Up to 16 bit 48kHz PCM)
AAC (Up to 320kbps and VBR)
iRoar Rock
Operating temperature: 0°C to 45°C
Fast Charge for Creative iRoar: 2-3 hours
Interface: Docking Expansion Port
Driver Size: 3.75″
Input: 100 – 240V ~ 50/60Hz 600mA
Dimensions (H x W x D): 160 x 245 x 150mm
Weight: 2.4kg
Length of power cord: Approx. 1.8m
Weight of power cord: Approx. 150g each
System Requirements
Creative iRoar
PACKAGE CONTENTS
Creative iRoar Rock
Power Cords (CE, UK, US, CN, JP and ANZ Power Cords)
Quick Start Guide
WARRANTY
2-year Limited Hardware Warranty
Dimensions (H x W x D):225.0 x 120.0 x 57.0 mm (8.8 x 4.7 x 2.2 inches)
Weight: 1.10kg (2.5lbs)
USB Cable: 43g (1.5oz)
Colour: Black
Included Accessories
1x Carry Pouch
1 x Quick Start Guide
1 x USB Cable
1 x Wall Power Adapter and Plugs
Recommended Usage
Wireless Streaming: Yes
Movies / Music: Yes
PC Gaming: Yes
Outdoor: Yes
Controls / Connectivity
Bluetooth® VersionBluetooth 3.0
Bluetooth ProfileA2DP (Wireless Stereo Bluetooth)
AVRCP (Bluetooth Remote Control)
HFP (Hands-free Profile)
Supported CodecsAAC
aptX
SBC
aptX-LL
Near Field Communication (NFC): Yes
Multipoint: Yes
Connector Type
Bluetooth
Line-In
Optical
USB
Volume Level Control: Yes
Drivers
1 x 2.75″ Woofer
2 x 2″ Tweeter
2 x Passive Radiators
Design: Bi-amplified Design
Microphone: Twin Binaural Microphone
Supported Platforms for Wireless Audio (Minimum Requirements)
Mobile/Smart DevicesMobile / Smart devices with A2DP -enabled Bluetooth technology
Computers
Compatible with PC (Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10)
Apple Macintosh equipped with Bluetooth wireless stereo
USB Audio
Asynchronous USB Audio Class 1, 24-bit / 48 kHz
Battery Specifications
Battery Type: Built-in Li-ion 9000mAh
Battery Life: 20 hours
Charging by:Proprietary Adaptor
Charge Mobile Devices
USB
1.5A Max output
Mobile Applications
iRoar Dashboard app
Supported Platforms
Android, iOS
microSD Slot: Yes
*Supports microSD or microSDHC cards up to 32GB formatted in FAT/FAT32.
Optical S/PDIF inputup to 24-bit / 96 kHz PCM
Supported Audio Formats
MP3 (Up to 320kbps)
WAV (Up to 16 bit 48kHz PCM)
AAC (Up to 320kbps and VBR)
iRoar Rock
Operating temperature: 0°C to 45°C
Fast Charge for Creative iRoar: 2-3 hours
Interface: Docking Expansion Port
Driver Size: 3.75″
Input: 100 – 240V ~ 50/60Hz 600mA
Dimensions (H x W x D): 160 x 245 x 150mm
Weight: 2.4kg
Length of power cord: Approx. 1.8m
Weight of power cord: Approx. 150g each
System Requirements
Creative iRoar
PACKAGE CONTENTS
Creative iRoar Rock
Power Cords (CE, UK, US, CN, JP and ANZ Power Cords)
Quick Start Guide
WARRANTY
2-year Limited Hardware Warranty
Packaging & First Look: iRoar
The iRoar box is in a similar sleek package as with the Roar Pro. We get a shadowy image of the iRoar, surrounded with some information including that it contains the Creative audio processor and its claim to being the most intelligent speaker on the planet.
Underneath, there is a breakdown of the features as well as package contents, it is good to see that the iRoar also supports the latest AptX LL, for high quality low latency Bluetooth playback.
Inside we are greeted with a multi-lingual quickstart guide and manual.
The power adaptor comes with a multitude of plugs, catering for most the world in one, which is great for those that travel a lot, and makes it easier to ship direct from the warehouse. They also include a long USB-microUSB cable and a carry bag.
The carrybag doesn’t offer much protection from drops or bumps, but it will make it easier to carry around, prevent scratching, smears and dust build up.
Visually, the iRoar is the most outstanding of all the current Roar designs, the large NFC ring circles the up-facing subwoofer, and as it is mostly buttonless, it has a more elegant appeal.
Closer Look: iRoar
Behind the mesh sits two, 2″ high precision, far-field drivers that power the mid tones and treble.
The sides are lined with an attractive rose gold trim. The mesh protects the passive radiators that aid in spreading and dispersing the sound evenly.
The rear I/O includes power in, USB audio, microSD card slot with a shuffle/loop switch, 3.5mm audio in, optical in, and a USB power out port to charge your mobile device.
On top the NFC ring surrounds the 2.75″ subwoofer and is flanked by dual microphones.
The power/pair button is the only hard button that can be pressed, underneath it is the LED indicator showing me that it is in Bluetooth/paired mode.
The touch controls display depending on what mode you are in, and some may not be available unless you have a microSD installed. Controls include, Recording playback, previous, play/pause, next, Record (not shown), Roar, Mic beam, mic mute, answer/hang up, volume down and up.
Underneath there are large padded feet to reduce vibrations, and you will also find the expansion dock socket towards the front/top section.
Packaging & First Look: iRoar Rock
The iRoar Rock visualises an awesome live music event, and describes the role of the iRock as being a powerful and compact docking sub-woofer for the iRoar.
At the back we are given information about the iRoar Rock and the iRoar ecosystem, including that the iRoar doesn’t come included.
Inside we are greeted with some familiar paperwork.
The iRoar Rock comes with a whole selection of power cables suitable for various regions including UK, CE, US, JP, CN and ANZ.
The iRoar Rock is a wood or MDF box finished with a blackened wood effect veneer that produces an elegant aesthetic that compliments the iRoar.
Closer Look: iRoar Rock
The business side of the iRoar features a small power LED indicator that shows up white when powered on, and in the front centre, you will clearly see the 3.75″ sub-woofer.
To one side you will find the huge bass port to allow the air to move.
The rear side is fairly featureless with just the power cable connector and on/off switch.
The base features four circular rubber feet to minimise vibration.
The top side features the docking zone, where you will see a pressure switch and the contact pins to connect to the iRoar.
Software
The iRoar takes a leap over the previously reviewed Roar speakers in that it has a stronger focus on interaction with your smartphone/tablet or PC. The available software provides a huge amount of customisation due to the built in SB-Axx1 audio processor. The PC app allows for the various preset controls for audio, roar mode, microphone mode as well as firmware updates. The iRoar Dashboard app available from Google Play and the Apple App Store has further controls, including an intuitive touch control over the audio EQ, and downloadable add-ons (requires microSD card), the sleep mode on other Roar speakers is now included as an add on rather than built in. There are also controls for a virtual surround depth, ranging from normal, wide and ultra wide. Dialog+ feature allows you to add emphasis on dialogue and voices.
Also available is the iRoar Remote app, which allows general control over the iRoar including voice recording (with SD card), volume, play/pause skip, roar, and mic beam. It even displays the battery level.
There are other apps available too, including the specfic iRoar Mic apps.
From the desktop app.
The iRoar Dashboard App.
The iRoar Remote App.
Performance Testing
Setup, Design & ObservationsAs with the previous Roar speakers, the iRoar feels of fantastic build quality. It is a little larger than the original Roar, but maintains the same 1.1Kg weight.
The battery was rather low on arrival though for good measure, as with many devices that contain a built in lithium battery, I left it on charge for several hours to fill it right back up again. One that happened, I paired up my phone, downloaded the relevant apps to get going. The iRoar remote app is fairly useful as it gives easy access to the Roar button, mic modes and volume level, though you could argue that the rest of the controls are pointless as the on-phone controls tend to be relevant and easier, especially considering the remote app crashes/shuts down each time you switch tab.
The iRoar can have two devices paired at once, I borrowed my friends iPhone to test out the NFC and found that it was quick and easy to pair with no problem. To swap which device is being used as the source, once any music playback or activity has stopped, it will then start with whichever device puts out the signal next. I found that if your phone doesn’t like being used when paired with a Bluetooth device (like my Moto G) and it drops audio when you try using other apps or are receiving messages, I discovered that the responsiveness of the touch controls can also lag a little. Otherwise, during normal operation they worked fine.
The iRoar Rock will need to be connected via mains and you will want to find somewhere prominent to keep it, alternatively, considering its relatively portable size still, you can move it to where ever it is required. The iRoar Rock feels sturdy and well constructed, and the forward facing driver has a bouncy rubberised diaphragm. The docking process is fairly simple, seat the iRoar carefully on top in the correct orientation, and voila!
Multimedia
iRoar:
The first thing that was noticed using the iRoar was its volume level. This blows the Roar out of the water in regards to loudness and sheer presence yet it sounded clear, unmuffled and relatively bass heavy. Listening through to various genres, whether it electronic, or rock, the iRoar reproduced the mids and highs with great separation while adding a good dose of hefty bass richness to the mix. Plugging the iRoar into our desktop via USB, we had a gaming session and then watched some movies and the iRoar gave a fantastic presence and clarity. For once, I feel like I can say that a portable wireless speaker can genuinely replace the cheaper traditional speaker systems.
iRoar + iRoar Rock
I try to shy away from using certain phrases in regards to describing the audio prowess, mostly because it tends to be fairly subjective in a way as readers often have little real way to measure how good something sounds from the words of a 3rd party. So allow me to try and put this in some perspective:
The Creative Roar sounds fantastic, great balance, richness and clarity, though generally as portable speakers go, the audio source can tend to sound rather isolated. This is just a physical limitation of having a load of speakers crammed into a small area. The Roar however does a great job of sounding far larger than it is. The iRoar takes that to the next level as it has double the loudness and a fantastic audio processor built in, giving it that extra precision and accuracy. The iRoar Rock is like a turbo that you can gaffer tape to the side of your iRoar and then be tamed by your smartphone. What I mean by this is, the iRoar Rock creates a genuinely powerful sound system by giving the iRoar that bassy depth and presence a relatively small, portable speaker alone cannot replicate, producing something that can legitimately be a central part of a home entertainment system.
By default, I found the default BlasterX setting to be too rich in bass, so I went through the iRoar Dashboard app to create a more balanced audio signature by drawing my own EQ curve, to which the drivers responded fantastically. The bass remained powerful, rich and pleasant while the mids and highs clearly cut through that loud bass, balancing things out for a genuine hi-fi experience. At maximum volume, the iRoar and iRoar Rock is reasonable enough for a house or garden party. In fact, I say that realising I am sat in the middle of a rather epic 7.1 sound system that has jilted my perspective. Much to my knowledge and experiences, many people make do with a portable speaker system that is inferior to the original Roar, let alone the iRoar and iRoar rock combo. At this point, I am starting to wonder if you can combine two iRoar + iRoar Rock systems together via the megastereo cable…
Microphone
The microphone was an interesting mixed bag and it will largely depend on how you use it as to how good it sounds. Via USB through our desktop and Skype, the microphone was a little inconsistent, but I realised I had my desktop fan on. After turning that off, the audio cleared up, but was prone to dropping out a little when you swap between 360 and mic beam modes. Once in a stable situation the microphone sounded clear, though it is worth noting that as it is used for a speakerphone, in 360 mode it will pick up any immediate noises. Voice calling via mobile phone was much better, sounding clear while cancelling any noises from the person on the other end. The mic beam mode works very well, giving a more private conversation as it cuts out noises outside of a focused arc. It is worth noting your position to the iRoar when enabling the mic beam/ private mode.
Conclusion
When we first had a look at the Creative Roar, we were excited by the direction wireless audio devices were moving towards. The iRoar and iRoar Rock prove that the vision and direction was far greater than we anticipated. Alone, the iRoar is in the upper echelon of portable wireless speakers considering its clarity and loudness. The claim of being ‘the most intelligent portable wireless speaker on the planet’ is certainly warranted and solidified by having a built-in, in-house developed and designed SB-Axx1 DSP and then backed up by the fantastic software support.
If we look at the iRoar objectively, it could be deemed as rather expensive as its MSRP is £299 (currently on sale for £204!). This is definitely targeting the higher end market. For that price you get double the loudness of the original Roar, crisp, high quality playback and a multitude of controls. It has a huge 9000mAh battery that lasts up to 20hours and we even find an optical-in port. The iRoar much like the Roar Pro, features AptX LL, the latest low-latency, high definition, wireless, stereo codec. It is also compatible with the iRoar Mic (with expanded features compared to the Roar Pro), should you wish to use the iRoar as a portable PA system or even a karaoke system. You can record music or voice (singing or conversations) to a microSD card… a bit like what cassette tapes could do…
For the finale, you can pair the iRoar with the iRoar Rock docking sub-woofer. Though it is an additional £129, that price falls in significance towards the overall cost of the iRoar, and the gains that it provides, and so seems like a worth-while investment should you choose to grab the iRoar. The outright audio quality and presence is staggering and can easily become a primary audio output source for any multi-media setup, or even, for what could a be a ridiculously good home-entertainment system, pair up two of them via the megastereo cable. (It is a shame that the iRoar can’t communicate to itself wirelessly, but cables are significantly more reliable in regards to latency still)
The certainty here is that the iRoar and iRoar Rock create an awesome audio experience that is laced with contemporary high-tech innovations. We love it and can’t wait to see what’s next. (Waterproofing pls?)
Creative demonstrate a clear vision with the iRoar and its use of smart technology to enable a deeper and more intricate level of control. The addition of the iRoar Rock transforms the highly capable portable speaker into a legitimate home audio system. If you consider the extended possibility of adding yet another iRoar (and iRock??) into the mix via the megastereo cable, I would imagine the results to be nothing short of mind blowing!
Pros.
+ Sleek design
+ Built in Creative SB-Axx1 processor
+ Sounds like a louder, better Roar (In other words, AWESOME)
+ The most powerful Roar to date
+ Playback via Bluetooth, 3.5mm line-in, microSD, optical, USB- PC/Mac
+ Huge 9000mAh battery, 20hr lifespan
+ Compatible with iRoar Mic
+ Improved NFC zone
+ Includes a carry bag
+ Customisable add-ons
+ Various supporting apps for Windows, Android, and iOS
+ Available SDK for custom apps and companion hardware* (*coming soon)
iRoar Rock
+ Transforms the iRoar into a legit sound system
+ Smooth, yet thunderously powerful bass
+ Fast charges the iRoar
+ Relatively cheap considering the gains
Cons.
– Doesn’t include the megastereo cable
+ Sleek design
+ Built in Creative SB-Axx1 processor
+ Sounds like a louder, better Roar (In other words, AWESOME)
+ The most powerful Roar to date
+ Playback via Bluetooth, 3.5mm line-in, microSD, optical, USB- PC/Mac
+ Huge 9000mAh battery, 20hr lifespan
+ Compatible with iRoar Mic
+ Improved NFC zone
+ Includes a carry bag
+ Customisable add-ons
+ Various supporting apps for Windows, Android, and iOS
+ Available SDK for custom apps and companion hardware* (*coming soon)
iRoar Rock
+ Transforms the iRoar into a legit sound system
+ Smooth, yet thunderously powerful bass
+ Fast charges the iRoar
+ Relatively cheap considering the gains
Cons.
– Doesn’t include the megastereo cable
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.
