Featuring Aurora Reactive lighting to add an ambiance to your music and games, this 2.1 speaker system from Creative provides users with high quality 24-bit/96kHz digital audio.
Product on Review: Sound BlasterX Kratos S5
Manufacturer: Creative
Street Price: UK: £129.99, US: $129.99
Following in the footsteps of the awesome Sound BlasterX Katana, the Kratos S5 comes in as a 2.1 speaker system equipped with the Aurora Reactive lighting system, which allows the user to select from several advanced preset lighting effects, or customise their own illumination options.
The speakers themselves are powered by 4″ drivers in the satellites and a 6.5″ subwoofer which is housed in a wooden enclosure ( 307 x 220 x 260 mm) for a rich and detailed yet naturally warm bass reflex , this gives a total of 60W RMS, or a peak output of 120W of power. For convenience there is a wired desktop remote that allows instant access to power on/volume controls which also has built in headphone/microphone ports for your gaming headset. The connectivity options available include RCA and 3.5mm jack analogue inputs along with a digital connection in the form of a microUSB port, allowing for 24-bit/96kHz high quality playback. To support the Kratos S5 speaker system, it is compatible with Creative’s SoundBlaster Connect software which will provide an advanced selection of audio input/output controls and customisations.
Overview by Creative
The BlasterX Kratos S5 is the best-in-class 2.1 gaming speaker system with Aurora Reactive lighting system designed to elevate your listening pleasure for gaming and music. Packing powerful 4” satellite drivers and 6.5” subwoofer driver in wooden enclosures, the Kratos S5 delivers clear highs, detailed mid-range, and deep bass. When connected to your PC or Mac via USB, you can also enjoy High-quality 24-bit/96kHz digital audio playback.
Technical Specifications
Specifications
Dimensions (H x W x D)
Subwoofer: 306 x 220 x 260 mm,
Satellite: 198.5 x 118 x 120 mm
Weight
Subwoofer: 3.4kg,
Satellite: 0.8kg x 2
System Configuration: 2.1 system
Connector Type: USB, Analog
Color: Black
Package Contents
2 x Sound BlasterX Kratos S5 satellites
1 x Sound BlasterX Kratos S5 subwoofer
1 x Micro USB Cable (1.8M)
1 x power cord
1 Warranty and Technical Support Booklet
1 Quick Start Guide
1 Safety and regulatory leaflet
Dimensions (H x W x D)
Subwoofer: 306 x 220 x 260 mm,
Satellite: 198.5 x 118 x 120 mm
Weight
Subwoofer: 3.4kg,
Satellite: 0.8kg x 2
System Configuration: 2.1 system
Connector Type: USB, Analog
Color: Black
Package Contents
2 x Sound BlasterX Kratos S5 satellites
1 x Sound BlasterX Kratos S5 subwoofer
1 x Micro USB Cable (1.8M)
1 x power cord
1 Warranty and Technical Support Booklet
1 Quick Start Guide
1 Safety and regulatory leaflet
Packaging & First Look
On the packaging there is a large image of the product inside, with clear indication that it is a 2.1 USB audio speaker system with RGB ‘Aurora Reactive’ lighting and the product name.
The reverse side gives detailed specifications about the speaker system in various languages, and some information about its 24-bit/96Hz digital audio output, and the customisable RGB lighting.
Inside, Creative have included various plugs for around the world along with a 1.8m long USB to microUSB cable to connect with your PC system.
The desktop remote has a heavy base with a metal dial on top with the BlasterX logo cut into it. The remote acts as a power-on, volume control and features ports for headphone/microphone, allowing you to take advantage of the built in DSP as well the convenience of connecting your headset to the remote designed to sit directly in front of you.
Closer Look
The satellites have a rather dominating presence with their 198.5 x 118 x 120 mm stature and the disproportionately large 4″ drivers staring at you, their size made a little more intimidating due to the surrounding frame. The satellites have a slight angle to them, aiming the audio slightly upwards, and the attached cable sits at around 1.8m long, ample enough to provide a good stereo experience on your desktop.
The monolithic MDF subwoofer is moderately large on the desktop at 306 x 220 x 260 mm and features a whopping 3″ bass reflex port, which should help provide a rich audio experience.
As this is a down-firing subwoofer, naturally we find the 6.5″ driver mounted on the underside, surrounded by the four feet in each corner to hold the subwoofer up.
At the back of the subwoofer you will find the control panel, from the top down: LED button (toggles between 5 modes and off), bass dial, RCA input, 2x satellite speaker outputs, 3.5mm AUX-in, microUSB connection, auto standby switch (automatically shuts down after 20mins of no audio detected), and the power socket.
Software
The Kratos S5 is compatible with the Sound Blaster Connect software which can be downloaded via the product homepage. To take advantage of this software, you must connect the Kratos S5 to your PC system via USB.
As we have experienced this software several times now, we know that it is attractive, well laid out, and easy to use. There has been some teething issues with the Mobile version of the Sound Blaster Connect software, however the desktop variant has not yet reared any major issues and is loaded with audio controls such as the BlasterX Acoustic Engine, customisable EQ, Scout Mode, Voice modulation, microphone noise reduction, and of course advanced customisable lighting effects with thanks to the RGB Aurora Reactive lighting.
Performance Testing
Setup, Design & ObservationsAs this is a 2.1 speaker system, you will need to spend a little time making space and positioning the speakers in the most desirable position for a stereo setup. This will mean that you will have to connect each of the left and right satellite speakers to the subwoofer, position them correct on the left and right side of your screen while the subwoofer will need to find a home (either left or right) also. For optimal connectivity to your PC system it is worth connecting via USB, enabling access to the customisation options and software controls. The desktop remote acts as a power on/off switch and volume dial in one, and also features headphone/microphone ports for your gaming headset, these are only active when connected via USB.
There are other connections available include a stereo RCA input, as well as an AUX-in. The AUX-in is a straight up stereo input via 3.5mm jack, to which, if you want to be creative, can also take audio from your PS4 or Xbox ONE game pad. The main use for this would however be connecting your mobile device to the speaker systems for a convenient, powerful music playback, though it is a shame that the Kratos S5 does not feature Bluetooth connectivity.
The LED lighting can help give an awesome ambiance to your desktop, and the advanced customisation can help set a mood without being distracting, or can compliment the most vivid rainbow RGB setup. If for some reason you aren’t using the USB connection, you can select a preset LED effect using the rear LED button, or turn them off should you wish to.
Multimedia
Considering the total power output of the Kratos S5 is just 60W (120W peak), the volume that can blast out of these speakers is rather impressive, however it is unlikely you will want to do so for extended periods of time. The satellites deliver sharp, nuanced highs and mids, while the Subwoofer handles the lower mids and bass. We are a little disappointed that the subwoofer bottoms out at just 55Hz, while the competing Z625 system is capable of 20Hz frequency response. At maximum volume there was no distortion from the satellites, however there was some distortion noticed from the subwoofer. During our music playback tests, we found that if the bass volume was set too high with the rear dial (50%+), we discovered that the subwoofer would reverberate and create a sloppy bouncy/boing sound. This was particularly noticed in Sabrepulse’s ‘We were young’. As this is a track we are rather familiar with, we are accustomed to the bass drop coming in very warm and tight, while the Kratos S5 subwoofer literally articulated the bass as ‘BOING BOIING BOOIIIINNNGGGG’. This was curbed by turning the bass level down significantly to which it then sounded well balanced and enjoyable, providing warmth and richness to the overall audio.
Gamers will get an awesome experience from the Kratos S5 as the crisp sounds from the satellites help provide directionality and awareness as to what is happening around them due to the faintest details coming through rather competently, while the subwoofer packs a meaty kick to the deeper sounds.
Conclusion
Before we had experienced the Sound BlasterX Katana, we were sceptical of having customisable RGB lighting on speaker systems, however, afterwards, we can see the growing RGB trend being more and more accepted as it becomes more advanced. From RGB systems, peripherals, desktop/background lighting, there is certainly a shift to using RGB lighting to create a background ambiance that helps to draw people more into their games and movies, or simply to help relax, or create a lively atmosphere. The Kratos S5, admittedly doesn’t quite have the same scale of lighting as the Katana soundbar, but it does have enough to create an interesting desktop display. As a 2.1 speaker system, the large 4″ drivers on the satellites do a fantastic job delivering crisp, clearly defined sounds that provide an excellent stereo experience, while the subwoofer adds a competent warmth and richness to give that powerful kick just when you need it.
Other advantages include the built in DSP, meaning it has onboard high-quality 24-bit/96kHz audio processing via USB connectivity, which also enables various customisations to both the audio and RGB lighting. For versatility Creative has included RCA and AUX-in connection options, however fall short of providing optical and Bluetooth connectivity, something that many may have hoped for.
At £129, it sits at a fairly reasonable price for a 2.1 speaker system of this level, however, some might want to consider their audio needs directly before deciding if this is the system for them. If you feel you would benefit from the USB connectivity or you would like the Aurora Reactive RGB lighting, then these features are almost exclusive to this 2.1 system. However, considering the competition, and the lack of certain features, it may not have everything some users may be looking for.
The only real downside regarding the performance is that we noticed that the bass can reverberate and get rather sloppy when the bass level (dial at the rear) is set too high. This means that the bass level does have to be turned down a bit to remain tight and enjoyable, though we doubt many people actually enjoy the sound from a subwoofer set to maximum bass, the fact that it cannot handle such a possible setting, may disappoint some.
Despite the above, the Kratos S5 is a fun, feature packed 2.1 system that delivers awesome sound and is worth considering if you are looking for a new 2.1 speaker system for your desktop system.
The Aurora Reactive lighting is the cherry on top for any fan of RGB lighting, allowing your speakers to add colour to your desktop. If that isn’t your thing, then you will be equally happy with the rich, crisp sounds and deep bass.
Pros.
+ Solid construction
+ Clear mids and highs with deep bass
+ RCA, 3.5mm analogue, and USB connectivity
+ Headset passthrough
+ Desktop remote
+ Customisable RGB lighting
Neutral.
+- Subwoofer only rated for 55Hz+ Frequency response
Cons.
– No Bluetooth/optical connectivity
– Bass Distortion (when bass level is set too high)
+ Solid construction
+ Clear mids and highs with deep bass
+ RCA, 3.5mm analogue, and USB connectivity
+ Headset passthrough
+ Desktop remote
+ Customisable RGB lighting
Neutral.
+- Subwoofer only rated for 55Hz+ Frequency response
Cons.
– No Bluetooth/optical connectivity
– Bass Distortion (when bass level is set too high)
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