Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X: gaming soundbar review... and more!

Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X: quality knows no bounds!

Creative never stands still and always has a project in store for those who love gaming and want to fully exploit its audio, without limiting themselves solely to the world of video games. Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X is a soundbar with a subwoofer dedicated to those who don't want to make particular compromises to have quality sound reproduction even in setups with limited space. Already on the market for some time, the Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X is currently available on Creative's official website at a discounted price of 299.99 euros, which is why we can take the opportunity to review it and try to understand who might be interested. Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X was created as an alternative to the Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2, trying to meet the needs of users looking for a less bulky subwoofer, so much so that it goes from measurements of 150 x 367 x 367 mm to 116 x 250 x 423 mm, with a relative price reduction compared to its "older sister". 

What can we say, however, in terms of performance? First, we open the elegant suitcase-style packaging and, along with the subwoofer we've already discussed, we extract the soundbar measuring 600 x 95 x 62 mm, the remote control, the power adapter block adaptable to different types of sockets, the cabling (with USB and AUX, HDMI ARC, and optical cables), and two brackets, for those who want to position the soundbar in elevated areas. Already at the first touch, the materials feel premium, with the subwoofer body made of MDF, a medium-density fiberboard, in order to reproduce audio in the best way by reducing unwanted resonances and vibrations. The soundbar mixes plastic and metal, with a result that conveys solidity to the touch, and at the base, it features an RGB LED bar for the joy of those who don't want to give up a touch of color. Only the remote control (powered by two AAA batteries not included) feels "lightweight", to the point of seeming the least premium element of the offering, with not-so-premium plastic.

Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X: specifications and performance

Let's move on to the main technical specifications of our Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X, starting with the cold numbers: the subwoofer has an output power of 40W RMS, the soundbar of 50W RMS, with a total system power of up to 90W RMS and a peak of 180W. The reduced dimensions of the subwoofer compared to the V2 version are certainly noticeable, with a loss of 32W, but I assure you that for home use, these values are more than sufficient, unless you want to go to war with the rest of your condominium. We are talking about a 2.1 system and as you have already understood from the cabling, the connectivity is nothing short of complete: optical, USB, HDMI ARC, Aux, and of course Bluetooth. In addition to the construction materials, the internal components contribute to quality: 2 x 63 mm mid-range drivers, 2 x 19 mm tweeters (dedicated to highs), and 1 x 133 mm subwoofer driver, all with a frequency range from 50 to 20,000 Hz. Numbers that, alone, might not mean much except to experts, but they translate into a performance that has very few weaknesses in a home environment, especially in this price range.

As soon as the Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X is turned on (ON/OFF not very responsive, to be honest), you notice its main and practically only flaw, which is that neither from the remote control nor from the controls on the soundbar body do you have access to the equalizer, but only to the input selection, volume level, mode (movie, gaming, music), or the use of SXFi technology. Yes, to play with the various equalizer levels, you will have to use the application on your PC or your trusty smartphone. While the application in both its versions is extremely precise and functional, it's a bit inconvenient that there's no way to make quick corrections in other ways, and it slightly undermines ease of use. Among other things, you will definitely need to dedicate yourself to the equalizer, because even with the presets, some values are not perfectly calibrated. The mode dedicated to movies needs a revision of the highs, with voices that are too muffled, and a check of the bass in all other occasions is recommended. Of course, your taste and your ear will always dictate, but the positive thing is precisely that thanks to the application you will have a tool capable of satisfying any ear, always within the power limits of the Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X.

Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X, options and modes

As we have repeated several times, although its use is satisfying on various fronts, the strong point of the Sound Blaster Katana V2X is in gaming, and this is demonstrated by the multiple features included by Creative, now a true certainty in this field. On the one hand, we have the now famous exploitation of the proprietary SXFi technology which, if you have a compatible headset, will give you access to Super X-Fi mode, the system that, by using the appropriate mode with its application, "scans" the shape of our head to model the sound around it. The system works, but in a rather fluctuating way and only if, as already mentioned, you use headphones that fully interact with the aforementioned technology. Under the same conditions, there is also the SXFi Battle Mode which emphasizes the direction of noises around us. As the name suggests, everything has been designed to help gamers during FPS sessions so that they can better hear enemy shots, thus understanding the direction of what is moving in the game. Although there are several sound artifacts that help achieve the result, a certain help in understanding where the danger is coming from is noticeable. Without bothering with SXFi technology, there is also Scout Mode, where enemy footsteps will be highlighted, an option that can be useful in stealth situations or in a survival horror.

Other gems are not lacking, starting with the possibility of turning on the RGB LED bar and selecting one of the various display modes, but here we are in the realm of pure aesthetics. Much more important is the 5.1 decoding, usable with optical and HDMI ARC connections, which will not be like having several satellites scattered around the room, but manages to reproduce a sound that comes from different directions in an extremely convincing way, confirming how the Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X is a very valid alternative to more bulky and expensive situations. Remaining in the gaming environment, the integrated microphone helps when playing online, but don't expect excellent quality. Connecting your headset via a 3.5 jack remains the most adequate choice, but having a second option is still welcome.

Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X: in conclusion

Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X may have been produced to satisfy gamers, but it ends up being very valid in every situation where you want to enhance the sound: music, movies, and playback of any multimedia content. The use of the Creative app allows for a balance suitable for anyone's ears, given that the basic setting is a bit muffled on some occasions (see voices in "movie" mode), but with a little attention, you can achieve practically every possible combination of highs, mids, and lows, all reproduced properly. The peak power is certainly not at the level of its older sister Katana V2, but for home use, it is more than enough, and the performance leaves very few doubts. The extras like the LEDs, the modes dedicated to gamers, SXFi, and the integrated microphone (although not perfect) are additions that make the Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X even more interesting, with Creative once again proving capable of meeting the needs of a wide segment of the public.