I got both Leviathan and Katana V2. Tbh, Leviathan isn't that far behind. It's good especially now the price is much lower. The V2 comes with more bell and whistles
Sold a lot of these whilst working in retail. Imo best PC speakers you can get right along with Edifier. I'll still keep my KEF's on my desk tho but you cannot go wrong with the katana!
@@gaborfeher3325 most of them are good depending on your budget. I personally have the S3000Pro with are true hifi worthy speakers with a ton of power. But I like almost all of them, be sure to dial back the treble a touch though. What is your budget?
@@techtt6213 The one I looked at was the R1280T stereo monitor (goes for about 100-110 EUR here), or maybe the DB version for the extra connectivity. This is not my budget limit though, I'll gladly spend more if it's a good value proposition, I'd probably draw the line at around the 300 EUR mark, though prices in my country are all over the place. I don't need a ton of power, since I'd only use the speakers with my PC, but I am a stickler for build matching, so I want white speakers specifically.
Still rocking my old Logitech Z-680 5.1 system, It still has the potential to crack windows and sounds good for nearly 20 years old. Hoping Logitech someday makes a replacement for the old Z series 5.1 systems.
Still have my z5500 Logitech that I bought from Dell on a Black Friday special sometime around 2005 for 199$. Been through 3 moves dropped kicked kids etc lol. Still works as it did new. Nothing is made like this anymore.
Absolutely love the original soundbar, bought after Eber's recommendation, rather than replace or upgrade we'd happily get a second. Flawlessly practical and high quality unit 👍
I sincerely hope that Creative can step up their game to the point that they can go head to head against B&O, SVS and Klipsch in audio finesse. They've always been strong in PC audio game as that's their home turf.
Still love my OG Katana! Best PC speakers I've used. The one thing I wish it had is that front facing headphone jack. I'm always plugging in my headphones to the bar, and it's a PITA to plug it in every time.
@@sveinunghamre324 The problem with that is that when something is plugged into the output, the speaker will automatically switch the output to that connection instead of the USB connection, so in other words, I lose any audio output via USB.
Another creative product, another seperated program to run with.. Creative is fucking lame in that sense that even the upgraded models run different programs.. And there is the updates of said programs.. Last update for original katana was back in launch date
I got the original based on Eber's recommendation in his video and now months later, I still can't get used to the realism of the sound it puts out. Sometimes I turn to look around while watching a movie cos I thought I heard something off to the side, and I don't realise it's from the soundbar until I pause the movie......lol.
If you find yourself watching this video trying to decide between this setup and the Razer leviathan. DO NOT GET THE LIVIATHAN. It is a piece of crap and totally bricked on me right after the warranty period. I have seen so many other people with the same issues and its just done. My Katana has been great so far.
I always enjoy HC videos, but I've been wondering, if you guys could possibly add some text on the videos showing CDN pricing while mentioning the US prices for the products you review? As a fellow Canuck, it would surely be appreciated.
I bought the Katana V1 because of your review (and others) and I 100% satisfied with the purchase. It's a beast! I'm not going to upgrade to the V2 having the V1 already. It's good enough for now. If you don't have one yet, I can totally recommend getting the V2.
All, I just bought this and after a week, the drivers stooped working and all i get is center channel and bass. Please wait until creative has fixed their driver issues. I recommend getting their more established products like the prior version katana and not use this one just yet until they work the kinks out. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I will be returning this for refund. Maybe there is a better sound bar out there, but, not this one.
I owned the Sound BlasterX Katana for several years and it served me very well all those years. When the V2 came out, I immediately sprang and got it. To my own ears, its a HUGE step up in terms of audio quality from the V2 to the first version. The first version is really great, but the V2 is really just that much better. The one small feature as you pointed out in the video that I really liked about the V2 is that they have an audio jack in the front. Previously, it was a huge pain to flip the soundbar over to plug my earphones into the speakers when I was using it at night. Now, its just so convenient to plug it from the front in the V2. The sound quality of the V2 is also really amazing. When listening to songs or watching movies, everything is so much more pronounced. The bass and treble tones are more articulate and it is truly a more immersive experience. Another very cool improvement I noticed was during gaming with earphones. The spatial sound on this thing in gaming mode is phenomenal. Its almost wall-hacking at some point. To be able to hear your enemies from a distance and to know spatially which direction they are at was really cool. This is a phenomenal soundbar and it was worth every dollar I spent on it.
Welp, guess I’m upgrading. I actually got a 48in CX that I use as my main monitor for my PC, PS5 and Switch. My biggest issue was that I couldn’t use the Katana for all 3 due to no HDMI ARC. This solves that issue along with the benefit of even better sound. Can’t wait.
Why not got an actual TV soundbar, and just use your old Katana for your PC? Take note of Black Friday deals. I always notice decent TV soundbars on sale.
Because then I would have two sound bars on my desk lol. I only want one sound bar for my PC, PS5 and Switch. I considered getting something like the Sonos Beam but I like the size and aesthetic (RGB!) of the Katana. But I’ll definitely keep a look out on sales. Thanks.
@@madness1931 I use my switch with the katana x, same time i use my pc via usb. Get the Bluetooth adapter for it and you can pair the docking station with! I also have my 3.5mm headphones plugged into the back of the katana top!
Very nice review! I have one question, is the soundbar stand you have custom or did you bought it (at 2:27) I have been looking for something like that.
I can see why they would still want to continue selling the original version of the katana, this newer version looks less appealing with the screen in the front oppose to the original's all mesh.
I got the creative stage under monitor soundbar, that one's pretty good for around 110€ too. The sound quality isn't mind blowing compared to my old Z313 speakers from Logitech, but it sure looks a lot neater. Plus, no tower style speakers to get in the way of my monitors :p Also the bass is insane if you're into that, the subwoofer looks very similar to the one in this video actually
sadly it's not available anywhere on the internet. creative has a waiting list which never seems to notify, it's not on ebay or amazon (where are the scalpers?) seems like it's impossible to get it.
@@sweetgregt If you want to waste your money on a product that will produce objectively shittier sound for the sake of simplicity that's your prerogative.
@@sonickiller360 tons of people do this with more than just sound systems my dude...simplicity and space saving products usually carry a premium and are in more demand. Also it is funny to me you act as though somthing can be "objectively better" when sound is probably the most subjective thing there is
One warning about purchasing Creative products. Prepare to dump your products and purchase a new item after it passes its 1 year warranty. They do not have service centres. Quote: "Please be advised that our products have a 1-year limited hardware warranty. And we regret to inform you that we do not have an out-of-warranty repair/replacement service." Buyer beware
Warranty periods are a marketing ploy to encourage sales. Reading the endless jargon that is their policy will eventually reveal a loop hole that they can jump through to avoid warranty claims. Could easily be summed up to product abuse or misuse in most cases and will often result in an out of warranty repair or replacement. An example would be that a sound system could last 10 years if the volume never exceeded level 15, but some nutters out there will crank it to 60 out of the box all day everyday... and it won't last the year. You can't put a guarantee on that kind of variable. Just take care of your stuff.
That's a shame.. BUT Creative stuff is really solid. I'm buying their stuff for ~20 years and I'm using it extensively. I used my T3 for multiple parties at max volume. It still has super good sound even after 10 years. There were only two small broken parts. The remote buttons of the Katana V1 didn't work properly. Bought a new remote from eBay for approx 15€. It just misses the logo but works perfectly. The rotatable volume control of my T3 speakers (which I used very extensively for about 10 years) had issues. I bought the replacement electronics from eBay, too. For just 10€ or so. Was super easy to repair and the hardware is exactly the same.
I remain skeptical that such a system would be better than active studio monitors in similar price category. Would love to see a comparison video. A good candidate would be iLoud micro monitors for example. IMO gaming branded audio gear is not necessarily the best way to go.
Sound blast sounds cards were goat back whe sound cards were pretty much needed for decent audio, I expect no less from creative... order my v2 today, replacing the god awful razer levithab v2
As a last case emergency if you had nothing with you at the time. Also could answer phone calls too. Or maybe future updates will include some sort of voice assistant?
The original katana had a very annoying power saving mode that could not be turned off. Basically the first 2 seconds of any video or sound would go missing after the comp sat idle for a while, so I'd never hear calendar notifications and so on. Has this been fixed in the V2 version?
I'm thinking of getting this in the future to downgrade from my Presnous Eris 3.5" speakers bought them last year open box, but taking up space on my desk. and also thinking of shtrinking my subwoofer too. and Use the sub that comes with the katana
I used the original one for 2 years, one day it just stopped working, circuit board has problem with electric, contacted creative knowing warranty wont cover it, they did not offer any help what so ever. I mean offer the option for customer to pay for service. I'm really skeptical with that brand oye I will repair the speaker myself I was just lazy. However I really liked the product itself many nice features.
I bought the Katana V2 and the sound is absolutely amazing, BUT, the sound randomly keeps disappearing and I have to turn it off and on to get it back, I know there are more people with this problem, does anyone know how to fix this?! It’s connected with usb
How do you connect it to the app in Windows?? It just says Connect your Creative devices to experience the Creative app. Thanks, BUT HOW?!? :S - EDIT: I found out the app from the Microsoft Store is crap, it does not work. I removed it and installed the program from their website. It worked instantly, loading the Katana V2 settings page. The Creative app from the Microsoft Store did nothing! ☝🏻
Bit let down, I ordered mine after watching this review but after Creative took the remaining month of November to ship it to me it's audio quality isn't as good as my old Creative GigaWorks T40 Series II's - the T40 m2's do a really good job of giving a fully fleshed out sound stage whereas the Katana v2 is very top end and basey but losing that mid-range stage - in comparison they sound a bit pitchy. The real problem is the price, at $500 AUD that's substantially more than the better performing T40 m2's and in the Sonos beam territory which is not only a far, far better sounding product (even without a separate sub, so, less real-estate) but more flexible given I could add a pair of Sonos 1's and get surround (or pick up a sub and get bone rattling base). (I actually have a beam with two 1's hooked up to my projector downstairs so have basis for comparison to the Katana v2) Strongly considering the hassle a return and refund would be..
The original Katana does NOT have an HDMI connection correct? If I understand correctly, the V2 Katana could connect to an HDMI port on the I/O panel of my motherboard? Thank you for the review!
i wish they had fix any problem with LED die too quick with this newer version release. I'm hear so many people have the same problem with these LED with version 1 also audio shut up for some reason but mind just LED die after 1 Year
Decent choice for PC ers. Horrible choice for TV ers. It's not worth the price ofc over TCL 9i and what not. If reviewed by audio channels, wud get bashed. I wud have liked some sort of spacealization (rip spelling) like 3.1.2
Hi there. For some dumb reason the V2 is not available in The Netherlands, so I'm gonna have to order it from Creative's site. It's 280 euros there, the V1 that IS available here is 239 euros. But it sounds to me like I really need the V2. Question, have you tested it with an Xbox Series X?
Can this katana be used instead of Creative Soundblaster GC7 , for plugging gaming headset? Will it work the same, or does it not give enough as ampdac?
I’m looking to buy this soundbar to use as main output for pc for casual gaming, movies etc, basically everything outside competitive gaming for which I use steel series arctis pro wireless. What’s the best way to set this up? so that when I switch my headset on, it automatically switches audio + mic to headset, is this even possible?
You can't even find it from scalpers on eBay and CL Canadian site lists as coming soon. I'm going to assume production/supply issues. I do recall the US site having stock last week so I'd suggest to sign up for the notification when its available.
I recently acquired this bar and playing dolby through the optical cable the balance of the sound is heard more from the right. Does it happen to anyone?
Is there anyone who can help me? There is one thing I directly hate about my Katana - the shout "connected" when I turn on BT. Can I turn that scream off or at least turn it down?
I've been looking for a soundbar or speaker setup for my PC, but this seals the deal. Definitely getting this one. Has everything I'm looking for and if the sound quality really is that good it's definitely worth the money
3:30 It would be better if it was at the back and they allowed you to swich the source from speaker to headphones. That way you don't have to unplug and replug them all the time.
Yes, it does. There is a button on the remote control and software to allow you to switch without the need to plug and unplug. I just leave my headphone being connected.
I have the katana x and like mentioned by others, the headphone jack in the back is a pita. Plus with working from home and webex/skype/teams/zoom meetings becoming more and more prevalent, the included mic will be handy. Wish it sounded a bit better, but should work in a pinch for meetings I don't want to, or can't just call in to. So I think I'll be upgrading to the v2 when available and finding another use for my x.
Been using it for weeks. Overall it's great with powerful subwoofer and other bell and whistles. One thing I don't like is when connected to PC, the volume increment is too steep. The volume increment from 2 to 4 for example, is too much it gets so loud. Also, as usual, audio latency over Bluetooth is hit or miss. I connected Samsung Note 20 Ultra and ROG Phone 5 to Katana V2 over Bluetooth and audio latency was very bad, like approximately 300ms. But when I used my old Samsung Note 3, audio latency was not as bad as the Note 20 Ultra and ROG 5.
I remember you recommended this to me. Def gonna pick this one up! Thanks Eber
Aww yeah. We'll be looking forward to your review on it!
AWWWW YEAHHGGGGG😂😫😫
Do you like it? I find it sound like shit. It's just a cheap soundbar with some RGB and lower noise floor.
How's the 7.1 to 5.1 change like?
Well this quickly changed my decision on the razer leviathan. Great review. 🤙🏼
I got both Leviathan and Katana V2. Tbh, Leviathan isn't that far behind. It's good especially now the price is much lower. The V2 comes with more bell and whistles
Leviathan Is so old, I wish razer would update it
@@KH-fv3vqleviathan is a boomy soundbar with a garbage sound quality
Sold a lot of these whilst working in retail. Imo best PC speakers you can get right along with Edifier. I'll still keep my KEF's on my desk tho but you cannot go wrong with the katana!
Can you tell me which Edifier speaker you're referring to?
@@gaborfeher3325 agreed
@@gaborfeher3325 most of them are good depending on your budget. I personally have the S3000Pro with are true hifi worthy speakers with a ton of power. But I like almost all of them, be sure to dial back the treble a touch though. What is your budget?
@@junioralvarado629 I've replied!
@@techtt6213 The one I looked at was the R1280T stereo monitor (goes for about 100-110 EUR here), or maybe the DB version for the extra connectivity. This is not my budget limit though, I'll gladly spend more if it's a good value proposition, I'd probably draw the line at around the 300 EUR mark, though prices in my country are all over the place. I don't need a ton of power, since I'd only use the speakers with my PC, but I am a stickler for build matching, so I want white speakers specifically.
Still rocking my old Logitech Z-680 5.1 system, It still has the potential to crack windows and sounds good for nearly 20 years old. Hoping Logitech someday makes a replacement for the old Z series 5.1 systems.
Been rocking mine since like 2004 lol, only thing I don't like about it is the outdated control module. But sounds awesome.
Mines actually the z5300, it's old af.
Still have my z5500 Logitech that I bought from Dell on a Black Friday special sometime around 2005 for 199$. Been through 3 moves dropped kicked kids etc lol. Still works as it did new. Nothing is made like this anymore.
@@FordRanger96 absolutely there is nothing like the old Logitech speaker systems made anymore.
Absolutely love the original soundbar, bought after Eber's recommendation, rather than replace or upgrade we'd happily get a second. Flawlessly practical and high quality unit 👍
I know you upgraded, so do you feel it's worth +$100 over the original one?
@Lana Did he love the original and bought the v2 after Ebers reco, or did they buy v1 after their reco?
@@JD-USA bro said he'd rather get a second v1
Creative continue to be the ultimate underdog in audio. Love their products.
SXFI is a GameChanger...
I sincerely hope that Creative can step up their game to the point that they can go head to head against B&O, SVS and Klipsch in audio finesse. They've always been strong in PC audio game as that's their home turf.
@@panzerfan Agreed
I have always been a huge fan of their products.
Still love my OG Katana! Best PC speakers I've used. The one thing I wish it had is that front facing headphone jack. I'm always plugging in my headphones to the bar, and it's a PITA to plug it in every time.
Get a jack extender
@@sveinunghamre324 The problem with that is that when something is plugged into the output, the speaker will automatically switch the output to that connection instead of the USB connection, so in other words, I lose any audio output via USB.
@@YataLocK Ah, makes sense. If you can't change that feature the extender is no point.
Another creative product, another seperated program to run with.. Creative is fucking lame in that sense that even the upgraded models run different programs.. And there is the updates of said programs.. Last update for original katana was back in launch date
I got the original based on Eber's recommendation in his video and now months later, I still can't get used to the realism of the sound it puts out. Sometimes I turn to look around while watching a movie cos I thought I heard something off to the side, and I don't realise it's from the soundbar until I pause the movie......lol.
I can only give the highest praise for the Katana v1. I've owned mine for 3 years now and still going strong.
I had my first for about 2-3 years and then it just died on me. I have since bought a new one and still enjoy it for now
Does Katana V1 remember vol level and input mode after power off and on?
@@asim360xvolume yes. I only use USB input so I can't confirm that one
How would you say the soundbar is for using movies?
Wired or wireless subwoofer for this creative katana?
Super cool to see this update! I finally bought the V1 with my full setup upgrade last December and have been loving it ever since. It's SO LOUD!
Got the V1 to for over 5 years!
I still love it!
If you find yourself watching this video trying to decide between this setup and the Razer leviathan. DO NOT GET THE LIVIATHAN. It is a piece of crap and totally bricked on me right after the warranty period. I have seen so many other people with the same issues and its just done. My Katana has been great so far.
I always enjoy HC videos, but I've been wondering, if you guys could possibly add some text on the videos showing CDN pricing while mentioning the US prices for the products you review?
As a fellow Canuck, it would surely be appreciated.
Pretty pointless in this case considering the V2 isn't even on the Canadian store yet.
I bought the Katana V1 because of your review (and others) and I 100% satisfied with the purchase. It's a beast! I'm not going to upgrade to the V2 having the V1 already. It's good enough for now. If you don't have one yet, I can totally recommend getting the V2.
Same
All, I just bought this and after a week, the drivers stooped working and all i get is center channel and bass. Please wait until creative has fixed their driver issues. I recommend getting their more established products like the prior version katana and not use this one just yet until they work the kinks out. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I will be returning this for refund. Maybe there is a better sound bar out there, but, not this one.
Personally. I prefer the 1st katana design. How i wish it's only added with I/O and better features. not the look and design and size...
Oh snap I didn't know creative sound blaster was still around 🤣
I owned the Sound BlasterX Katana for several years and it served me very well all those years. When the V2 came out, I immediately sprang and got it. To my own ears, its a HUGE step up in terms of audio quality from the V2 to the first version. The first version is really great, but the V2 is really just that much better. The one small feature as you pointed out in the video that I really liked about the V2 is that they have an audio jack in the front. Previously, it was a huge pain to flip the soundbar over to plug my earphones into the speakers when I was using it at night. Now, its just so convenient to plug it from the front in the V2. The sound quality of the V2 is also really amazing. When listening to songs or watching movies, everything is so much more pronounced. The bass and treble tones are more articulate and it is truly a more immersive experience. Another very cool improvement I noticed was during gaming with earphones. The spatial sound on this thing in gaming mode is phenomenal. Its almost wall-hacking at some point. To be able to hear your enemies from a distance and to know spatially which direction they are at was really cool. This is a phenomenal soundbar and it was worth every dollar I spent on it.
Is the Headphone jack on the front single pole only or does it work dipole (Mic and Headphone)?
@@bengrogan9710 It works for both single pole and dipole.
@@jeromelim3341 SOLD!
Welp, guess I’m upgrading. I actually got a 48in CX that I use as my main monitor for my PC, PS5 and Switch. My biggest issue was that I couldn’t use the Katana for all 3 due to no HDMI ARC. This solves that issue along with the benefit of even better sound. Can’t wait.
Why not got an actual TV soundbar, and just use your old Katana for your PC? Take note of Black Friday deals. I always notice decent TV soundbars on sale.
Because then I would have two sound bars on my desk lol. I only want one sound bar for my PC, PS5 and Switch. I considered getting something like the Sonos Beam but I like the size and aesthetic (RGB!) of the Katana. But I’ll definitely keep a look out on sales. Thanks.
@@madness1931 I use my switch with the katana x, same time i use my pc via usb. Get the Bluetooth adapter for it and you can pair the docking station with! I also have my 3.5mm headphones plugged into the back of the katana top!
Why not get the Sonos Beam gen 2. You get 5.1 surround + atmos
@@excaliburprime1801 is it better then v2 katana?
Very nice review! I have one question, is the soundbar stand you have custom or did you bought it (at 2:27) I have been looking for something like that.
Looking for a similar one too!
I can see why they would still want to continue selling the original version of the katana, this newer version looks less appealing with the screen in the front oppose to the original's all mesh.
Yeah for sure , i asked Santa for the original lol just looks so much better 😁
What about Katana V2X
Is this possible to disable the power-saving function in Katana?
I got the creative stage under monitor soundbar, that one's pretty good for around 110€ too. The sound quality isn't mind blowing compared to my old Z313 speakers from Logitech, but it sure looks a lot neater. Plus, no tower style speakers to get in the way of my monitors :p
Also the bass is insane if you're into that, the subwoofer looks very similar to the one in this video actually
That's a big reason why I want a soundbar. Regular speakers just have no real room left when you rock dual monitors.
@@RemizZ just get a vertical dual mount
the new Stage 360 is pretty awesome and supports atmos!
sadly it's not available anywhere on the internet. creative has a waiting list which never seems to notify, it's not on ebay or amazon (where are the scalpers?) seems like it's impossible to get it.
can't find it either. this vid is 2021, so maybe it was a limited run. bummer.
For not much more money you can get a quality dac and a pair of Adam T5vs that’ll blow this out the water. Gaming speakers are a scam.
This is a sound bar
@@samgoff5289 yeah soundbars are also a scam. This being a gaming soundbar makes it a scam doubly so.
It’s called simplicity and less of a footprint. Not everyone wants to mess with a dac and have it sit on their desk in addition to speakers.
@@sweetgregt If you want to waste your money on a product that will produce objectively shittier sound for the sake of simplicity that's your prerogative.
@@sonickiller360 tons of people do this with more than just sound systems my dude...simplicity and space saving products usually carry a premium and are in more demand. Also it is funny to me you act as though somthing can be "objectively better" when sound is probably the most subjective thing there is
this video sounds more like an ad than a review... How much did you get paid by Creative Labs for this?
About as much as you made typing this ridiculous comment.
Awesome I'm thinking of upgrading to this bad boy down the road. :)
Lol wtf where is sound testing? You really?
How does this compare to the OG Klipsch Promedia 2.1?
Great video! Does anyone know how Katava V2 compares to Razer Leviathan V2?
It shits on the Leviathan V2
One warning about purchasing Creative products. Prepare to dump your products and purchase a new item after it passes its 1 year warranty. They do not have service centres. Quote: "Please be advised that our products have a 1-year limited hardware warranty. And we regret to inform you that we do not have an out-of-warranty repair/replacement service." Buyer beware
Warranty periods are a marketing ploy to encourage sales. Reading the endless jargon that is their policy will eventually reveal a loop hole that they can jump through to avoid warranty claims. Could easily be summed up to product abuse or misuse in most cases and will often result in an out of warranty repair or replacement. An example would be that a sound system could last 10 years if the volume never exceeded level 15, but some nutters out there will crank it to 60 out of the box all day everyday... and it won't last the year. You can't put a guarantee on that kind of variable. Just take care of your stuff.
That's a shame.. BUT Creative stuff is really solid. I'm buying their stuff for ~20 years and I'm using it extensively. I used my T3 for multiple parties at max volume. It still has super good sound even after 10 years.
There were only two small broken parts.
The remote buttons of the Katana V1 didn't work properly. Bought a new remote from eBay for approx 15€. It just misses the logo but works perfectly.
The rotatable volume control of my T3 speakers (which I used very extensively for about 10 years) had issues. I bought the replacement electronics from eBay, too. For just 10€ or so. Was super easy to repair and the hardware is exactly the same.
I can get the original for 200 right now instead of the 329 of the version two. Is it worth it at that price point ???
Hdhdjdis...If they made a white version of this..I would immediately buy it 😫
DITTO
I remain skeptical that such a system would be better than active studio monitors in similar price category. Would love to see a comparison video. A good candidate would be iLoud micro monitors for example. IMO gaming branded audio gear is not necessarily the best way to go.
Come for the Value, make CAMP for the SOUNDFIELD...
Power Output Up to 126W RMS (252W Peak) on this one
Sound blast sounds cards were goat back whe sound cards were pretty much needed for decent audio, I expect no less from creative... order my v2 today, replacing the god awful razer levithab v2
Personally I just prefer more options even if I don't need them because they'll stay when I need them. I want them bit more organised tho.
Still using the Katana original. Just found about about the V2, randomly and here I am.
i got the original katana for pc and tv and i am very happy , theres just nothing better , well now its is the v2
Damn that microphone sounds dreadful. Why would you ever use that
As a last case emergency if you had nothing with you at the time.
Also could answer phone calls too. Or maybe future updates will include some sort of voice assistant?
The original katana had a very annoying power saving mode that could not be turned off. Basically the first 2 seconds of any video or sound would go missing after the comp sat idle for a while, so I'd never hear calendar notifications and so on. Has this been fixed in the V2 version?
I'm thinking of getting this in the future to downgrade from my Presnous Eris 3.5" speakers bought them last year open box, but taking up space on my desk. and also thinking of shtrinking my subwoofer too. and Use the sub that comes with the katana
Which SOUND BAR do you recommend: Logitech or Creative Katana V2? Is there better than them? Thank you
I used the original one for 2 years, one day it just stopped working, circuit board has problem with electric, contacted creative knowing warranty wont cover it, they did not offer any help what so ever. I mean offer the option for customer to pay for service. I'm really skeptical with that brand oye I will repair the speaker myself I was just lazy. However I really liked the product itself many nice features.
What is the little stand called your sand bar sits on
I've had the V2 for two years now and I have to say it's underwhelming. I went back to my 2.1 speakers that cost me $30 as they have better sound.
I used the Katana now for like 8 years I think.
It's by far the best Sound System for my PC that I ever used.
I bought the Katana V2 and the sound is absolutely amazing, BUT, the sound randomly keeps disappearing and I have to turn it off and on to get it back, I know there are more people with this problem, does anyone know how to fix this?! It’s connected with usb
How do you connect it to the app in Windows?? It just says Connect your Creative devices to experience the Creative app. Thanks, BUT HOW?!? :S - EDIT: I found out the app from the Microsoft Store is crap, it does not work. I removed it and installed the program from their website. It worked instantly, loading the Katana V2 settings page. The Creative app from the Microsoft Store did nothing! ☝🏻
Bit let down, I ordered mine after watching this review but after Creative took the remaining month of November to ship it to me it's audio quality isn't as good as my old Creative GigaWorks T40 Series II's - the T40 m2's do a really good job of giving a fully fleshed out sound stage whereas the Katana v2 is very top end and basey but losing that mid-range stage - in comparison they sound a bit pitchy.
The real problem is the price, at $500 AUD that's substantially more than the better performing T40 m2's and in the Sonos beam territory which is not only a far, far better sounding product (even without a separate sub, so, less real-estate) but more flexible given I could add a pair of Sonos 1's and get surround (or pick up a sub and get bone rattling base). (I actually have a beam with two 1's hooked up to my projector downstairs so have basis for comparison to the Katana v2)
Strongly considering the hassle a return and refund would be..
Have u review creative sound blaster v2x or other of it's model soundbar lineups ?
Is the integrated headphone AMP powerful enough to properly drive my Sennheiser HD600's? (They're nominally rated for 300 ohm.)
The original Katana does NOT have an HDMI connection correct? If I understand correctly, the V2 Katana could connect to an HDMI port on the I/O panel of my motherboard? Thank you for the review!
i wish they had fix any problem with LED die too quick with this newer version release. I'm hear so many people have the same problem with these LED with version 1 also audio shut up for some reason but mind just LED die after 1 Year
Decent choice for PC ers. Horrible choice for TV ers.
It's not worth the price ofc over TCL 9i and what not.
If reviewed by audio channels, wud get bashed.
I wud have liked some sort of spacealization (rip spelling) like 3.1.2
Hi there. For some dumb reason the V2 is not available in The Netherlands, so I'm gonna have to order it from Creative's site. It's 280 euros there, the V1 that IS available here is 239 euros. But it sounds to me like I really need the V2. Question, have you tested it with an Xbox Series X?
Can this katana be used instead of Creative Soundblaster GC7 , for plugging gaming headset? Will it work the same, or does it not give enough as ampdac?
I’m looking to buy this soundbar to use as main output for pc for casual gaming, movies etc, basically everything outside competitive gaming for which I use steel series arctis pro wireless. What’s the best way to set this up? so that when I switch my headset on, it automatically switches audio + mic to headset, is this even possible?
still salty with that brand, V1.. broke after 4 months... They didnt wanna honor warranty because I'm in Canada. lol dafuq?
How is the SXFI compared to Dolby Atmos? Thinking of either this or the Stage 360.
Any inputs from anyone?
Where can you buy this, not available anywhere (in canada) or us
You can't even find it from scalpers on eBay and CL Canadian site lists as coming soon. I'm going to assume production/supply issues. I do recall the US site having stock last week so I'd suggest to sign up for the notification when its available.
@@agentTAC0 Oddly enough its in stock and readily available for purchase if you choose Ireland/UK etc, so in Europe
Can you use headset mic with the soundbar DAC though ? Where do you plug the microphone 3.5m jack into ?
I've been using the Razer Leviathan for years now, but boy that Katana V2 makes me drool
Anyone know where to get the V2? The only place selling it online seems to be direct from Creative but they don't ship to where I live.
I recently acquired this bar and playing dolby through the optical cable the balance of the sound is heard more from the right. Does it happen to anyone?
My budget did not allowe me to get a Katana so went with a Stage V2 instead and Im very happy with it :D
i really wanted to get this v2 one but sadly they do not offer it to new zealand only the previous version which came out 5 yrs ago...
Is there anyone who can help me? There is one thing I directly hate about my Katana - the shout "connected" when I turn on BT. Can I turn that scream off or at least turn it down?
why don't you let us hear what come from its Sub.. Review without Cinema or Music Test! disappointed
I've been looking for a soundbar or speaker setup for my PC, but this seals the deal. Definitely getting this one. Has everything I'm looking for and if the sound quality really is that good it's definitely worth the money
I should have gotten this, but I went for a decent budget gaming speakers (Nommo Chroma).
Don't think I'll upgrade. I hooked up a 200w klipsh powered sub to it and it's amazing paired with the sound bar
Good. Now can I get an equal 2.1 system for PC use? Soundbar doesn't fit in front of monitors.
Literally one of the best computer speakers :)
Hi. Your videos are concise , stylish and on point!
May I ask? Where did you get the stand / riser your Katana is on? Thank you!
Small sidenote: The Katana V1 als has a wall mount ;) At least that one i bought 7 years ago
Welp I know whats replacing my Logitech X-540's when and if they ever die lol
Ebert, thanks to your review I am interested. I would like to find one and listen too it. (:
Is it working with TV's as well?
3:30 It would be better if it was at the back and they allowed you to swich the source from speaker to headphones. That way you don't have to unplug and replug them all the time.
Thats why they are still selling the katana v1
Yes, it does. There is a button on the remote control and software to allow you to switch without the need to plug and unplug. I just leave my headphone being connected.
@@Jackie-kn9zq That's great to know!
I like it, but that stupid looking Headphone port in an otherwise clean front make me want to pause on the V2.
U dissing Bose speaker for not quality sound?? something is wrong with your ears..
SB Katana V2 The Best SoundBar for 300€/$ and SXFI CARRIER THE BEST SoundBar in the World for 1000€/$
SXFI is a GameChanger...
if the dac is that good i can say good bye to my sound blaster e5 i guess when i get this puppy in singapore...
creative paid u well i see
Derp
@hardwarecanucks what is the soundbar platform/riser you use in the video
For 300 bucks your can buy a Logitech z906 surround set up with dolby and dts decoder.
Is the software supplied with the Katana 2 compatible with Mac OS?
It's out of stock even on Creative's own web store. I'll have to practice my patience I guess.
I have the katana x and like mentioned by others, the headphone jack in the back is a pita. Plus with working from home and webex/skype/teams/zoom meetings becoming more and more prevalent, the included mic will be handy. Wish it sounded a bit better, but should work in a pinch for meetings I don't want to, or can't just call in to. So I think I'll be upgrading to the v2 when available and finding another use for my x.
Been using it for weeks. Overall it's great with powerful subwoofer and other bell and whistles. One thing I don't like is when connected to PC, the volume increment is too steep. The volume increment from 2 to 4 for example, is too much it gets so loud. Also, as usual, audio latency over Bluetooth is hit or miss. I connected Samsung Note 20 Ultra and ROG Phone 5 to Katana V2 over Bluetooth and audio latency was very bad, like approximately 300ms. But when I used my old Samsung Note 3, audio latency was not as bad as the Note 20 Ultra and ROG 5.
Audio is my actual favorite thing. I'm Glad this channel review this product. I think this is the first time they do like this
I dislike it because it's so small.
And no HDMI eArc? Major fail.
I have the sour blaster g6 dac. Man , that baby sounds so good for. A small unit
I wanna know what the stand is you have the katana on it looks clean but nothing in the description about it 😭
Does the Katana V2 have a port for mic input? I recall the V1 having one of those.
Great Video as always guys, well edited and super easy to follow. I will be in the market for a Mini Sound Bar within the next year. Thanks again!!
Does it sync with Razer Chroma Synaspe?? Please let me know.