Creative GigaWorks T40 Series II 2.0 Multimedia Speaker System with BasXPort Technology, Black

This is an update to my prior review below from about 6 weeks ago... I thought my speakers were dead after 11 years. BUT, turns out it was totally operator error and I'm quite embarrassed. I seriously thought I had checked, double checked and then rechecked all connections to the speakers, computer, etc. and made sure everything was plugged in. I was ready to hit the the button to complete an order for a new set of these. But in my mind I couldn't believe and accept the fact they would have really completely stopped working. I decided to check one last time before putting them in the trash and sure enough, one of the connectors was not fully connected. First, I don't know how I didn't catch it the previous times I checked and second, the connectors are really secure so I don't know how this happened. Regardless, the speakers are working just as well as the day I bought them and they suit my needs perfectly!!! If you're on the fence I would bite the bullet and make the purchase. These are beyond amazing and a great price for the quality you are getting.I purchased these speakers in June if 2013 and overall was very happy with them. They were a bit larger than I would have liked but to me the sound was good and they are a nice looking speaker. I also liked the wired set up versus USB or wireless. I know many have complained about the auto shut off or standby feature but that wasn't really an issue for me. That is until a week ago when they simply never came back on. I think 11 years is a good run and honestly they still look brand new. While I'm giving these speakers 5 stars for everything I've just mentioned I'm not sure why but this go around I'm a bit reluctant to purchase these again. I'm looking at other options, maybe something smaller but most have a USB hookup. Also, I don't want to compromise on sound but don't want to spend a lot of money and I'm not sure I can find something better for this price. I'm anxious to get new speakers but don't want to make a rash decision.

This is the second set of these speakers I've purchased. The first were connected to our TV to improve the sound quality. I've found that "theatre" speakers systems with more than 2 channels bury the dialogue, the entire reason we wanted better sound. Although these speakers are intended for a PC, they work perfect on any TV with an audio output. They are a bit large for a desktop, but the sound is quite good. The quality of construction is impressive. The appearance of the speakers is pleasant, without goofy shapes, lights or gimmicks. Bluetooth speakers usually have inconsistent connection quality. I only use them wired, and don't even know, or care, if these will connect via wireless.

I don't normally write product reviews, but the Creative GigaWorks T40 Series II 2.0 speakers really surprised me for their quality finish and dynamic range. I recently purchased a used pair on Amazon. The speakers project music amazingly well. They are a larger speaker, so the fit may not be for everyone if you are limited on space. If you prefer a full range speaker with good projection you'll enjoy the T40's. The speakers were easy to connect to my PC and iPad for playback via a 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) audio connector. They do not have blue tooth or wireless connectivity, so this is a limitation. Hope this helps you make a choice for your next purchase.

The Gigaworks T40’s are fairly tall speakers with only auxiliary inputs. No Bluetooth. No subwoofer out. Why does Creative still sell them? Well, because they sound great. Despite negative feedback from “audiophiles”, the T40’s produce crisp, full sound across all ranges that will satisfy most listeners They’re loud with plenty of bass. The T40’s narrow profile and relatively light weigh make them easy to move around. Monitor speakers typically weigh 10lbs or more apiece and are much wider. The T40’s only weigh approximately 3lbs apiece.The front knobs control bass, treble, and volume. The bass and treble knobs impact sound noticeably, but they’re just a set it and forget feature for me. The auxiliary jacks may be dated, but auxiliary is universal. These speakers will plug into nearly every windows computer, gaming monitor, and countless other devices. Auxiliary plays nice with RCA cables too, and the T40’s include a stereo RCA to auxiliary adapter. These speakers focus on quality sound over features, and they deliver just that. For people who want features, check out Creative’s T60 speakers.PC enthusiasts shouldn’t forget that many motherboards include decent onboard DAC’s and sound software which can be utilized only when connecting speakers via auxiliary and in some cases toslink cables (USB bypasses onboard DAC’s). The T40’s take advantage of those onboard DAC’s and listeners can tweak equalizer profiles to their hearts content without the need for third party hardware and software. Although you can do that with any budget pc speakers, the T40’s will sound fuller and more detailed. My speakers were initially plugged into a Gigabyte Aorus Master motherboard. Now they’re connected to a soundbar with its own Sabre Pro DAC. Sound is phenomenal for $100 plastic speakers. They don't include additional processing like “treble enhance” or “bass boost” to taint the experience. The better the source, the better the speakers will sound.Not everything is positive. The T40’s lack Toslink input and Bluetooth. Bummer. There’s a front headphone jack but sound quality isn’t as good as it should be. It’s there more as a convenience than a feature. Headphone volume can be adjusted from computers or keyboards with volume controls. The right speaker is powered and connects to the left speaker with an RCA cable. All cables can be detached from the right speaker, but the left speaker is permanently attached to the right one. The inability to replace or upgrade the connecting speaker cable is generally a drawback with budget speaker. That isn’t the only cable problem. The RCA cable and the included auxiliary cable are ridiculously short at 5ft. If you’re running a side-by-side monitor setup, there likely won’t be enough cable to place the speakers on either side of your monitors. If you intend to space these speakers out, then buy a 10ft+ aux cable, an RCA coupler, and a 6ft+ coaxial AV cable. The drawbacks are minor if you have extra cables lying around or a single monitor setup. But the T40’s could cost $15-30 more if you want to space them out. That's what I did.The T40’s are meant for listeners who want crisp, loud, and full sound for $100 or less. I appreciate the fact these speakers offer nothing extra. And because my source devices are relatively good, the speakers sound great. But even if your sources aren’t stellar, the T40's will fill an office or medium-sized living space with loud sound without all the bulk of bookshelf/monitor speakers. I would give the T40's a higher rating, but I deducted a star because of the cable problems mentioned.