Pros
- Compact design
- Very good sound quality for their size and price
- RGB lighting element
- Good connectivity options, including Bluetooth
Cons
- Have to buy Pebble X Plus bundle to get subwoofer
- No app for Macs
Creative Labs’ Pebble speakers have long been a top budget pick for PC speakers. The entry-level model is on its third generation, aka V3, and costs $35, while earlier versions can be had for even less. They aren’t the greatest-sounding PC speakers, but people like them because their sound is bigger than their price.Â
Creative went more upscale introducing the new-for-2024 Pebble X USB-C speakers ($90), which also come in a version called the Pebble X Plus with a mini subwoofer for $130. Larger than previous Pebble speakers yet still compact enough to fit in a backpack, the audio quality is unexpectedly good and may just be the best PC speakers that cost less than $100. Initially available only at Creative Labs online store, they are now available on Amazon.
Read more: Best PC Speakers for 2024
Upgraded design and drivers
Creative seems to have moved to a good-better-best paradigm for its Pebble speakers. The Pebble V3 and Pebble Pro have 2.25-inch drivers, while the new flagship Pebble X have 2.75-inch drivers, with each model also featuring different peak power numbers. (The Pebble X is rated for 60 watts of peak power if plugged into a 30-watt or higher USB-C power adapter, which isn’t included, but more on connectivity options in a minute.)
The entry-level Pebble speakers have fared as well as they have because they manage to sound OK for their low price — and by OK, I mean they sound substantially better than the speakers built into your laptop. The key difference with the Pebble X is that they’re legitimately enjoyable, offering good clarity and a reasonable amount of bass.
You can do better with the bass by…
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