Sound BlasterX Katana

The Katana is a compelling system for anyone looking to improve their home audio. TV speakers have only gotten worse over the years, and the Katana is an improvement in spades over that, especially at the price. Whether it’s a PC gamer, a console fan, or anyone looking for more in the living room, bedroom or basement, Creative’s Katana cuts through them all in an impressive swipe.

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-02-14

The soundstage of the soundbar is quite amazing. Although all the drivers are placed in front of me, sometimes, I still have to mute and look around to hear if the sound really comes from the soundbar.

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-10-04

The Katana just straight up sounds really good. It’s still a pretty hefty investment for anyone looking to use it strictly for gaming, but if you also use it as your main setup for movies and maybe music, it definitely seems to be worth it for me... I can see the Katana working wonders in a dorm room or apartment situation because of its small size and big sound. If you’re looking to step up your audio game, this might be the move.

8.6 / 10

Sound BlasterX Katana

2018-10-18

The Katana goes head to head against pricier products from more popular brands like Pioneer, Sony and Yamaha—and despite costing at least $100 less than their cheapest offerings, it comes out on top. Even better: it’s got subtle under-lights and looks beautiful as part of any home theater ensemble, especially in the dark.

5 stars, Editor's Choice

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-07-20

Put simply, for $300 you’re not going to find a better soundbar for under your monitor. Before testing the Katana, I had a pair of speakers and subwoofer from Logitech that I adored. If you had asked me then, I would have told you they were one of the best values in desktop audio. Today, there is simply no way I’m going back from the Katana. This is an audio system that is worth every cent of its asking price and you shouldn’t hesitate to give it a try.

Sound BlasterX Katana

2018-12-21

The Sound BlasterX Katana is an excellent package for gamers, whether you're on the desktop or a couch in front of a TV. The Katana produces some killer sounds and looks the part without going over the top...You won't regret the purchase.

Windows Central Choice Award; 4.5 / 5

Sound BlasterX Katana

2018-10-19

Creative Labs’ newest Sound BlasterX Katana is in a league of its own. The Katana offers the best audio performance I’ve ever experienced from a soundbar, and it does it without taking up much room in your entertainment setup. It’s a phenomenal audio device that may very well be one of my favorite pieces of tech this year.

TGS Instant Classic

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-02-13

This speaker is an excellent device specifically for gamers, but it’s also an outstanding speaker for regular users as well. It doesn’t matter whether you’re on the couch facing the TV or on the desktop, the speaker produces quality, clean, and crisp killer sounds that will surely give you enhanced audio enjoyment.

5 / 5; Kicks Ass Award, Perfect for Gaming Award

Sound BlasterX Katana

2019-01-28

Creative’s Sound BlasterX Katana is an all-around attractive package. It looks good, sounds good, and manages to do so without taking up your entire desk. Oh, and it bears repeating: It gets loud.

4 out of 5

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-02-16

Creative's audio team has raised the bar for gaming soundbars. Razer may have been the first, but they've just been demoted to second place. The SoundBlasterX Katana is now the one to beat. With sound bars now a popular audio option, the Katana is one that deserves to be on your short list if you're on the hunt for one.

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-03-08

The Creative Sound BlasterX Katana is as much of a deadly weapon as its namesake. It may be compact and slim, but it gives a stellar performance that’s sure to put a smile on anyone who cares about high-end audio performance in their favourite movies, music, games and more!

Editor's Choice Award

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-02-20

As I kicked back in my chair, the Katana frequently blew me away with its performance. Combine that with its compact form-factor, and it’s an ideal audio solution for just about any dedicated gaming space. You can’t beat it for the price, and you’d need to jump up to a dedicated audio receiver and surround sound speakers to do better — and that’s a lot more expensive.

Sound BlasterX Katana

2016-12-16

I really enjoyed gaming with the Katana, as it brought games to life. Heck, I even found myself watching more Netflix in my home office than I have ever before, as I enjoyed the sound that much...do yourself a favour, just pick this Sound Blaster product as your gaming experience will be that much better.

9 out of 10

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-09-07

The Sound BlasterX Katana impressed me to say the least. It is a fantastic all-round Sounbar, plenty of input options let you hook up most of your devices and equipment with ease...if you do have a lot of devices that you want to easily connect and leave connected, or are looking for something that doesn't take up much room, then you should consider taking a look at the Katana.

8.3 / 10

Sound BlasterX Katana

2018-11-09

In a nutshell, the Katana’s sound quality is great, the build quality is marvellous and the plethora of inputs and outputs Creative provides means it’s suitable for a wide variety of application and listeners.

Expert Reviews Recommended

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-02-13

It is hard to point out any single reason you might need a dedicated gaming sound bar but the Creative Sound BlasterX Katana will help you find one. The Katana is a fantastic sound bar providing clear nuanced sound from a small package which can easily handle my most demanding music and gaming needs.

Recommended

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-02-21

So is the Sound BlasterX Katana worth it? In my opinion absolutely! After using this as my sole hearing platform during my computer usage I am highly impressed. During gaming, I was able to submerge myself fully into gaming just as I would if I had headphones on. While geared toward the gaming crowd, the Sound BlasterX Katana does not disappoint on music, movies, and podcasts and would be just as at-home in a small home theater or living room gaming setup with your favorite console.

ProClockers Highly Recommended Award; ProClockers Must Have Award

Sound BlasterX Katana

2018-04-12

This has found a home directly below my TV, and it will accompany me into the far future of gaming on the couch, and that, as an audiophile, makes me happy.

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-02-13

... it is difficult to hold any reservations in our praise for the Creative Katana, its versatility caters for everything a modern gamer could demand from their sound system and it totally deserves to be in that number 1 spot on your shortlist if you are currently looking to upgrade your sound system.

Gold Award

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-01-26

During my game tests with several shooter titles, the positioning of the 7.1 virtual surround audio was immensely accurate. Gamers can easily detect distinct adversaries coming in from the right, left, rear and front. ... A word of warning though, these speakers can get loud, and I do mean really loud. Which is a good thing if it’s placed in your living room, but no small apartment room is equipped to handle this baby. There is a satisfying soundscape emitting from the one speaker that carries no compromise on audio quality, or carries any hint of distortion. I even played my favourite tunes on the concert setting, cranked up the volume, closed my eyes, and had trouble telling where the acoustics were coming from!

9 out of 10

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-01-03

If you’ve been looking for a compact gaming sound solution for your desktop computer, the Sound BlasterX Katana delivers fantastic sound for games, movies, and music in a solidly designed package.

9.5/10, Techaeris Top Pick of 2017

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-06-20

Creative's Sound BlasterX Katana is the most power packed miniature sound bar we've ever experience to-date and their audio engineering decisions have certainly paid off. We were truly awed by the Katana’s larger than life audio performance – something that can only be rivaled by much more complete and pricier audio systems.

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-01-16

Why are there not more soundbars for desktops? If you have a pair of speakers, a regular-sized desk and perhaps a 24-inch monitor, it's likely that you're fighting for space. Cue the SoundBlasterX Katana, a soundbar for pairing with a PC monitor that creates 2.1 audio – using a separate, wired subwoofer – and offers a whopping 75W of power.

Best Soundbars of 2017, 4 out of 5 stars

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-03-02

The Katana’s audio is where this speaker truly shines. The soundbar’s two up-firing mid drivers and two high-excursion tweeters provide a solid sound space, especially when using the virtual 7.1 audio mode. The sound is comprised of clear bass and treble, which can be independently balanced to suit your listening needs [and] the volume goes incredibly high without any distortion....everything about this speaker suggests you use it for louder content like movies and video games.

Top 12 Best Desktop Speakers (2018)

Sound BlasterX Katana

2018-11-20

When it comes to having a good time listening to your music, then you might want to consider getting this model. It does come with a powerful audio that should make it worth using it starting today...The impressive sound quality and more performance features make it one of the best to use at the moment.

4.5 star out of 5

Sound BlasterX Katana

2018-11-20

The soundstage seemed to be even wider than the speakers themselves. The 5.1 and 7.1 audio reproduction were remarkable too given the Katana's form factor. The rear channels were clearly distinct form the front. The Katana gets loud too, very loud. The volume indicator goes all the way up to 50 but I never went above 20, even when I plugged it into my home theater. The sound is room filling and enjoyable to listen to. I found the Concert setting to be best for everyday listening.

4.5 out of 5

Sound BlasterX Katana

2016-12-14

This one [The Katana] is unique, taking up less space than bulky desktop speakers and able to put out plenty of volume with solid spatial dynamics to help you in-game and good separation to make music and movie richer.

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-03-07

For the price and its compact size, the Sound BlasterX Katana seems like a comparative bargain. Add in the Aurora Reactive light show and it’s a pretty compelling system for gamers, or any situation where you want to upgrade the audio from a TV without blowing the budget or needing another cabinet to house the equipment.

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-04-05

Where the Katana stands out though is in its overall audio performance. When compared to any normal PC speaker setup, the Katana is well above and beyond in both features and performance. Most PC speakers are just that, speakers. [However], the Katana has a built in DAC, amp, and audio controller to give you the Dolby effects

Recommended

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-05-30

We love the Sound BlasterX Katana over here at GamesReviews.com because of its great sound and small footprint. With more and more people realizing that owning a home is very expensive, apartments are becoming increasingly popular. Often, lack of space reduces one's ability to have a quality audio system for their movies and games. The Katana definitely fixes that problem. Whether you are using this system on your TV or your computer, the price is justified by the quality of the product. We’ve said this often about Creative, and we will say it again: they know how to make great audio products.

9 out of 10

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-03-14

It’s not often I fall so hard for a piece of technology but the Creative Sound BlasterX Katana is one incredible piece of hardware... For the price, this is soundbar reigns supreme over the competition. It’s incredibly easy to get working and the sound quality is superb.

5 out of 5

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-07-03

“For keen gamers who want something flexible for movies and music as well, it’s a great buy.” - PC Pro (source: issue 271, May 2017)

5 out of 5 stars, PC Pro Recommended Award

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-03-27

[The Katana is] much more versatile than just your average "gaming soundbar". In fact, it can double as a small home theatre for music [and] movie but I still consider gaming to be its greatest strength, mainly due to the extremely powerful and crisp sound coupled with big bass from the included sub.I walked in hesitant and came out super impressed with the Katana.

9 out of 10

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-03-09

We’ve hooked our computers up to a ton of speakers, but this one delivers the purest sound of any we’ve tested so far. In fact, this slim, low-profile soundbar makes us actually want to play the tunes we’ve stored on our computer.

Sound BlasterX Katana

2018-06-22

Do I recommend Creative Sound BlasterX Katana gaming soundbar? The answer to that is yes. A very big YES. First and foremost, the sound quality is excellent -- you will be blown away. I absolutely love that it includes is an integrated high-quality USB DAC too. By purchasing this product, you aren't just upgrading your speakers, but your sound card too. The $299 drive is totally justified.

Highly recommended.

Sound BlasterX Katana

2018-02-12

Creative has a long history of delivering great audio products. This tradition continues to go strong today, which the Creative Sound BlasterX Katana is proof of. The sound bar will fill even a large room with great sound... Based on its design, features, quality and performance, the Creative Sound BlasterX Katana has earned our Editor's Choice Award.

Editor's Choice Award

Sound BlasterX Katana

2017-11-22

Similar to its namesake, the Creative Sound BlasterX Katana features professional craftmanship which delivers a sharply premium experience that makes for a recommended peripheral.

Sound BlasterX Katana

2020-07-14

Not a fan of soundbar but the Katana changed my view. You get good imaging, and the sound quality is better than most PC speakers. The best part about it is space saving and there are less messy wires. Highly recommended!

Superb piece of kit, whatever I connect to it. Highly recommend it.

Finally, great sound for my Study TV. And for my All-in-One PC too. Very versatile.

This is a fantastic sound bar. I have two now and am considering a third. The first is on my computer for gaming. The second i stream XM to. The third, if/when i get it, will be used for streaming XM to in the kitchen. The sound quality is very good. I don't care about the lighting under the bar. I haven't tried it with a TV yet, I'm sure it would work well.

Well balanced and clear sound reproduction with a compact design. Yet another great cost performance product that Creative has made available to all!

Wow! What a beautiful crafted sound bar! Beautiful sound. Really very impressed so took it off my PC and now use it as TV surround. Love it! Plus compared to normal (non pc related) sound bar this is 2.1 system and plays 5.2 and 7.1 virtual. My son wants one for his gaming setup and I need to get another for my PC!

One of the Best Computer Soundbar!! and Looks awesome on my desk.

It's a good product. Excellent for gaming as well as songs

I have absolutely no regrets purchasing this excellent sound system for a minimalist. Hooked it on my smart TV and listening to Spotify has never been better. Watching movies and playing games make you feel part of it. When comes to sound, there's nothing like Creative products. I am one of the biggest fans of Creative products. The sound quality you could trust.

This soundbar is great. It has incredible sound quality and awesome bass response for being as small as it is. Love the added light effects. Overall this thing is great. Love my purchase.

2nd time buying these speakers. They sound great and I love the bass.

When I read the reason they called the sound bar the Katana I thought it was just my marketing fluff. Then you plug in and hook it up and realise every bullet sounds like a Katana slicing through you. Clearly creative have used all of their sound experience to deliver a stunning sound through very small but highly effective speakers. When I got subwhoofer out I was dubious about whether his would deliver the bass I love,how wrong I was. I run my console and my PC3 and it works beautifully

Using this as a tv soundbar much better than I expected had a slightly more expensive product before this is 10 better excellent product and brilliant value for money probably underpriced considering the prices better known brands charge for inferior products. Very happy

Rich audio experience with unrivalled strong bass, highly recommend

Love this sound bar! After 2 years it's still sounding great and holding strong!

Awesome product, excellent sound quality, nice design. Only con that it doesn't have microphone in the output options, that means when I attach mics, I can't change back to speakers only when detach the mics.

this is 2nd purchased and no doubt abt its sounds quality. i got 1 for TV / movie watching & 1 for my PS 4 gaming. totally worth the money spent.

I am very happy with this purchase. Especially since I got it at a discount. Delivery was super fast and the setup was a breeze. I can totally recommend this for a home PC or for a console playing games and watching movies at home!

I never thinking there exist a soundbars for gamers after i buy Katana. This sound it's just a magic. In times when more off brands like JBL only get a money for a brand and speakers it's never perfect, creative it's still the king of the customer sound. It's be so much better when creative add Music Reactive from headset H6 for stuff like Katana, this soundbar it's created for that ! :) Only just repair Sound Blaster Connect app (sometimes it's working very slowly and stopped working without reason.

Fantastic

ITS AWESOME,, I changed my Logitech Z906 for this beauty... and i love it.. Can just simply recommend it. I love the LED shining below the bar.