SoundBlaster - wow, there's a throwback to struggling to get the drivers working for Theme Hospital circa 1997.

Sold me on the karaoke function

Cheers deekles, my others just weren't loud enough...



:laughing:

Heat added :smile:

Looks like this is in stock with the free charging dock for
Anyone know how it might compare (sound quality wise) to a flip 3 or a flip 4?

Easy connecting, smooth operating and quiet.

Thanks for trying that for me. I'm really glad you're happy with it as well.

I'll have a think, I'm happy with the Roar as well though :laughing:

Decisions, decisions :laughing:

PS - I see you posted it. Thanks - much appreciated! :smiley:

Did you get one of these? Mine's packed up, ready to return, but I'm sure that there was nothing at all. I think the Dot speaker was disabled because it was connected to the AXX, so didn't hear anything at all. Can you just let it power down then just ask the time and see if it comes through the Dot speaker?

Is it really so much of a problem? Surely any alarm will simply be heard through the Echo Dot's own speaker if the Sound Blaster's cut out?

I'm pretty impressed with mine.

Dear deeky,

Thank you for contacting Creative Labs.

Kindly note that, The Sound BlasterAxx AXX 200 standby mode cannot be switch off and when there is no activity after 10 minutes, it will goes into the standby mode.

It is because in keeping with ErP regulations, your Creative speaker will go into Standby mode if it doesn’t detect any audio input after a specific amount of time. This speaker uses a fixed threshold input level to enable auto power management feature. This means if you greatly lower the volume on your MP3 player or smart device, your speaker might interpret this as silence and go into Standby mode. This is by no means a product defect but a design intent in keeping with ErP regulations.

To avoid this from happening, turn up the volume on your connected MP3 player or smart device as high as it can go without distortion setting in, and use the volume controls on your Creative speaker to determine how loud (or soft) you want your audio.

Can you also tell us how is the speaker connected to the echo dot? (Aux-in or bluetooth)

If you require further assistance, please reply to this email and we will get back to you.

I've asked:

Hi June.

Thanks for your reply.

I tried it connected to my Echo Dot both by aux in and Bluetooth. It powers down whichever is connected.

So can you just confirm that it is incompatible with the Echo Dot, where an alarm is required several hours after setting it? Ie, the AXX 200 can only be switched back on physically, with the power button, and it that it cannot automatically 'wake up' upon resumption of an input signal after powering down?

Thanks.

deeky

Will keep you updated.

Still good reviews though. Just seems that the volume is not quite as loud as people would like. I suppose that would only really be an issue for garden/bbqs etc, which is partly what I wanted it for.

It's also only 6 watts. So I can imagine it not being very loud. To help with that kind of power you'd need something around 90/91dB or more to throw out some serious sound. AXX 200 wattage & SPL level. Two sites I googled.

Where does it say that? I said it wasn't as loud as I would have hoped but the quality ain't bad.

I just found out. It's 88dB which equates to a not very loud bluetooth speaker if the wattage is low.

How would I know that? There's a link to the manual just above, it may tell you in there.

So the SPL level of this speaker is?

I've already road tested 4 :laughing: I'm starting to feel a bit guilty :laughing:

Looking at what this offers why not go for something like a JBL charge 3 which has excellent sound quality, good battery life and is water proof so can be used outside and in the bathroom etc too.

LOL you might be right :smiley:

If you wanted it for your Dot it might be a blessing you being skint :laughing:

If I wasn't poor for the next few months, I'd be buying this in a heartbeat :disappointed:

Yes, I received it yesterday, had a little play around with it and was quite happy. Not quite as loud as I would have hoped but decent enough for a small, bluetooth speaker. There could be a bit of an issue though. I noticed this morning that nothing came out of it when I asked Alexa a question. I noticed that it had powered down. I tried alexa again to see if it would power up. It didn't. I looked in the manual and it says this -

Note:
The AXX 200 will go into Standby mode if there is no activity within 10 minutes and will automatically
power off if it is not in use for 1 hour.


I looked and there doesn't seem to be any way of disabling it, which would mean that it's no good for alarms or reminders etc.

As I said earlier, I also got the Roar 2, which I looked at and it, too, appears to have a power saving mode when connected to the power adaptor, but only after 28 hours, but it can also be disabled, which I did (it also powers down when on battery only if there is no activity for 15 minutes, but that isn't such an issue).

I have emailed Creative to ask if the power saving mode can be disabled on the AXX 200, and am awaiting a reply.

In the meantime, here are the manuals for both so you can have a look at what's what if you like.

AXX 200 manual

Roar 2 manual


I have to be honest and say that apart from the Power Down issue with the AXX 200, the Roar is also slightly louder than the 200, it also feels much more substantial and better quality. Although I like all the extra features of the 200 (not sure how many/how often I would use them) if there is no way to disable power down I will be keeping the Roar 2. If there is a way, then I have to do some more thinking before I decide.

If you aren't interested in the extra 200 features, the longer battery, siren, karoake and megaphone functions then I would probably go for the Roar 2.

Have you received the roar 2? Do you recommend it?

You still have to subscribe to use the code :disappointed:

Have you received yours, and if so what's your opinion using it with the Dot?

Both back in stock :smiley:

I think that's how it is now. I'll ask for it to be expired.

So if you order now, you won't get a dock?

The standalone dock is showing as "back in stock soon" and not available to order. It may be part of the offer again once its available.

I just did a dummy run and didn't see it mentioned. There's a live chat on there I think. Give them a try.

I ordered one this morning and the dock automatically added at checkout. Is it not listed on your order confirmation email?
Actually the dock looks to be out of stock now on their website, maybe that's why.

Hey All,

I've just ordered this but there is no mention of a charging dock has that deal now expired?

Cheers

If you upload your music to google play music then sonos

Creative website is being hammered right now, I barely managed to place an order (via Paypal, it wouldn't work via CC).
Fantastic deal btw!

Ooooo :smile:

Tomorrow

So... did it arrive yet? :smiley:

Whats the ouput of these in Watts?

Creative. Tweeters will be fine. Drivers will suck. It was ever thus.

The Roar you linked to is £99.99 on the Creative site. As is the Roar 2 (both £89.99 with the newsletter discount) which is also well reviewed. I've ordered the Axx and the Roar 2 to do a group test and decide which is best.

Not as far as I know. The order total must £79 or above to get free shipping

£10 off but adds a £4 shipping charge - unless there's a way to get rid of that?

This does looks great but... Does anyone know of a great speaker that can play music from your phone wirelessly and can play radio with good sound quality?

I'm looking for a speaker that will stay in the kitchen. I don't care about portability, microphone, battery life etc.

Thanks! I was looking at the sony SRS -xb 3 as well. Marshal Acton is a good suggestion but for the same price there is creative as well. What are your thoughts? I am looking for strong thump along with bass. As in not just the lows, but mid lows as well.

Ordered as it's available again.
For £10 off orders over £69 sign up for the newsletter here: http://uk.creative.com/newsletter
As referenced under http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/59-99-creative-aurvana-gold-active-noise-canceling-bluetooth-headset-with-nfc-4-2677520

probably not that in line with the original requirement, but you need to check out the minirig speaker. It's £130 but, you get a seriously loud unit that has around 80 hours playtime! I love it...

Or you could buy a Japanese thingamijig from Sony -
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/audio-and-headphones/audio/hifi-systems-and-speakers/sony-cmtx3cdb-wireless-flat-panel-hi-fi-system-usb-connector-10093879-pdt.html?istCompanyId=bec25c7e-cbcd-460d-81d5-a25372d2e3d7&istItemId=imtlpiiri&istBid=tztx&srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~0003+%28PLA%29+HOME+AUDIO~All+Products~Exact&mctag=gg_goog_7904&kwid=GOOGLE&device=c&ds_kids=92700017695139001&PLA=1&gclid=CjwKEAjw85DIBRCy2aT0hPmS1jkSJAC1m9UvvPLUyP16Pt8Bjqkhg7aB_BgQswajAfXQNrNI_V7grBoCWJ7w_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CJC65-fDytMCFYU6GwodbNcO9A

Blast from the last personal computer decade. Very expensive bluetooth speaker

:disappointed:

Out of stock :disappointed:

OOS

I'm not sure about the microphone bit but the Dot would have to be in range of the speaker, wouldn't it?

thanks deekey. lot of speaker and functionality for the money. hot.

I so want to buy these but I can't justify them. I know, I am getting old. Thanks OP, heat added.

I agree ...the google is behind at the moment in my opinion........it feels like a vhs and betamax all over again...god i sound old lol

So would the mic work on the bluetooth as well? I currently have the dot connected by aux to my hifi, & would like to be able to take something like this out to the garden or in the bathroom & be able to ask alexa to play music when I'm out of range from the dot.

How would this connect to the echo dot?

That looks nice and gets good reviews.

What wattage is this? I have tried a dozen links, but could not see it anywhere.

If you're looking for a great portable speaker with 'streamcasting', bluetooth and line in then I highly recommend the Sony X-77. It's million times better than the Sonos Play 1 imo.

Nice deal deeky, heat added :innocent:

I tried Samsung R1 from amazon and I am returning it next week. It was good with nice bass but there was no thump to the sound. The lows were good, but the mid-lows (between lows and medium ?) were weak.
I would be interested to see its comparison with flip 4 and play 1. I am still looking for a good bluetooth speaker and haven't found anything yet.

I'm torn.

I really want bluetooth speaker for cira £150 but I can't work out what. It's just for the kitchen / wandering about the house with and will probably be plugged in 90% of the time.

The Goodmans HP1WOD is part DAB and can stream, which I like, but how would it compare sound wise to this? There is also the Creative Sound Blaster Roar, which seems like the bigger brother of the one here, but is (nearly) double the price. Then there is the Pure Evoke H6 - which is nearer £200 quid,

I am not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination, but tinny bass annoys me, and I can't tell from the reviews which I would be best going for. I just like a full sound that can drown out my awful singing..

Anyone got any opinions on these (or others?)

I think it's already selected. just check it's there before you checkout.

Just checked. Yes, it's already selected.

Thanks for posting - the perfect accompaniment to our Echo Dot. And a great price, with the docking station - ordered. :smile:

Yeah, Chanchi32's deal makes an excellent stackable companion to this offer.

WHHAAATTT!!! :neutral_face:

£79.99 is a steal for this. TCB extra £2.50 off and 5% cashback with the offer posted today.

Probably about £74 after all the discounts and free dock and postage. Brilliant.

Sorry ts, I accidentally press the cold button.. Heat added in the comment :smiley:

you need to bang that echo dot on eBay and buy a proper device, like Google Home.

Yes, back in the day I hated Creative Labs and HP as their drivers used to break nearly everything on my PC's :smiley:

Would be interested to know how it compares in terms of sound quality to a Sonos Play 1. Presumably quite a bit worse, but price does reflect that.

Pretty good solution as you can leave it in the dock BUT does it power down/wake up automatically? Doubtful, sadly.

SoundBlaster - wow, there's a throwback to struggling to get the drivers working for Theme Hospital circa 1997.

I decided against based on Amazon US reviews, but I like bass. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/cr/B00F3GT5BG/ref=mw_dp_cr

Are these the ones that you shout through the letterbox and they open the front door?

Heat added :smile:

Sold me on the karaoke function

Cheers deekles, my others just weren't loud enough...



:laughing: