As soon as I opened the package, I was disappointed by one thing, that there is no optical cable, so you have to buy it. It has three types of plugs, namely American, European, and another one I don't know what it is, so it covers us with power. The subwoofer is with a plug and not wireless. At first, I couldn't connect them to the TV because I didn't have that cable (optical), but I read in the instructions that we can connect it to the PS4 (USB) by making some settings inside the PS4. Before connecting it to the PS4, I connected my phone via Bluetooth and watched a movie on Netflix for 2-3 minutes; to be honest, I wasn't satisfied with the sound until I connected it to the PlayStation, played a bit of Until Dawn, and what can I say, guys, it was like day and night. I regretted playing that game with the TV speakers. I played for 10 minutes with the soundbar and jumped 30 times from my fear.
For anyone who wants to connect it to PlayStation 4, you need to follow this path on the PS4:
settings - Devices - Audio Devices - and in output devices, select sound blaster x Katana and a little further down where it says headphone output, select "all sounds" and you need to turn up the volume all the way where it says headphone volume.
The sound, however, that says 5.1 and such, has nothing to do with it. The sound only comes from the front, but it's worth it.
As soon as I connected it, I spent 8 hours with the soundbar. It's good and worth it. I also watched a movie with special effects (Troll) on Netflix. It was a cinema experience. The whole room was shaking, and I enjoyed the movie.
I also tried music via YouTube; a 20m² room turned into a club, and I couldn't even hear my phone ringing. My only doubt is whether I did the right thing by not getting a soundbar with Dolby Atmos. Overall, it's worth it, but for a 5-year-old model, costing €250 is a lot. One last thing is the remote control. Very cheap, flimsy plastic, but at least it's good and responds from a distance.
update
After years of use, I take away one star for the unacceptable remote control, which not only doesn't catch easily, but now when you press to lower the volume, it increases.

I will not write a full review, there are countless ones already. I just want to talk about my own experience with the product.

Firstly, I will say that as hardware, it is amazing. For a soundbar, the sound quality it produces is very good, as well as the volume. It doesn't lack any features. Remote, Inputs/Outputs, Bluetooth, RGB. The surround effect is very good.

Unfortunately, the software doesn't match up. If you search, you will find hundreds of posts from users who have problems with popping/crackling sound that haven't been fixed since its release in 2017, and everyone is asking for a solution in vain while Creative's staff writes "we're investigating". (I saw a review from a friend here with some settings that fixed the problem for him... I wish it was that simple for me too). I am good at troubleshooting, so I started working directly to find/solve the problem. After many hours and tests, I decided to reach out to Creative support. I bought it from a well-known store that has bad support and I didn't want to contact them.

Creative support was the worst I have encountered for many reasons. Poor technical knowledge in their staff, they asked for logs and didn't know how to read them, so they asked for information they already had, long delays, they gave steps for changes they didn't understand and could harm your computer.

After 3 months of madness and after dozens of hours of troubleshooting where I tried everything I could think of, everything they told me from support, and every suggestion I could find on the internet, they told me they would replace it. They didn't give me a return label, so I paid 60 euros for shipping to send it back. The next one I received after a long time had exactly the same problem.

Besides troubleshooting on my computer, I tried it on 2 other ones and it had the exact same problems, which only occur with the USB connection, all the other inputs work fine. The conclusion I reached is that Creative's drivers for the onboard sound card are poorly made, because it works fine with the generic Windows 10 drivers but they only work for stereo.

I don't know why it works for some and not for others, it never worked correctly with USB for me and they were 3 completely different systems. Maybe some users don't even realize it.

I reached the head of the department who told me he "understands" and can offer me a 15% discount from the Creative store....

In the end, I connected it with an optical cable to the computer, which means it only supports lossy 5.1 formats instead of lossless 7.1 which is with USB.

Recently, it started losing the lighting profiles I saved on the soundbar when I turn it off and on again...

For the money they ask, everything should work perfectly and they should be able to support their products if there is any damage. Based on my own experience, neither of these is true. In the end, I wasted time and effort to do the job that Creative's engineers should have done, ending up with a malfunctioning product. It goes without saying that I will not choose a Creative product again.

Former owner of Z-5500 and Z-906. I went for the soundbar solution to get rid of cables and multiple speakers. I don't consider myself a hardcore audiophile but I have a demand for quality, immersive sound. I bought this particular soundbar after doing some research due to its specs and very good reviews. I unpacked it and without reading anything, I connected it to my Creative Audigy 2 ZS sound card via optical cable. I play a flac music file and I am extremely disappointed. The sound is shallow, muddy, and weak. I think about repackaging it as it is and getting rid of it. But then I reconsider. So many good reviews. Is it possible? I read a review from a kid, published a little further down, saying not to connect the soundbar to another sound card but directly to the PC. The soundbar has its own built-in sound card which is very good. I remove the optical cable, connect it with the USB cable, download the SoundBlaster Connect app, do the latest firmware update, make some adjustments in the app to tailor the sound to my liking, and that's it. The sound is transformed. The soundbar produces powerful, clear sound with very good bass, 100% quality and satisfying for my ears. If someone wants high-quality sound with plenty of connectivity options, without the need for large volume and cables, this particular soundbar should be high on their list of choices.

EDIT: One drawback I discovered with its use is that the headphone input is located at the back of the soundbar, and it's actually between the identical AUX and MIC inputs. It's in a difficult spot and you have to look to properly insert the headphone jack. I don't use headphones much, which is why it took me a while to discover this. If headphones are frequently used, you should take this into consideration.

I have in my possession this specific soundbar for 1 week, which I bought along with the Creative Sound BlasterX G6 sound card for a more complete solution.
After connecting the sound card via USB to the PS4 Pro and the soundbar via optical cable to the sound card, the result was impressive.
The sound of the soundbar is captivating, with endless sound settings available through the Sound Blaster Connect application, as well as RGB settings.
After downloading the application, the first thing you should do is install the 2 different updates.
Once you customize the settings to your liking (there are also preset settings from Creative for music, movies, games, and about 20 game titles), you'll be amazed at how such a small soundbar can produce such impressive sound.
It is 7.1 virtual, which I tested with a YouTube test and didn't notice any significant difference from 5.1, but the difference from stereo is naturally noticeable.
I believe Creative has created a soundbar that exceeds expectations for its price, which will not only please you in movies and games, but also in Bluetooth connection with your mobile device.
As for negatives, I only have two things to mention:
1. The lack of HDMI, which would definitely enhance the sound quality but would also increase the price.
2. I decided to remove the sound card from above the soundbar and connect the soundbar directly to the PS4 Pro via USB to see if the sound card actually makes a difference, and that's where I was disappointed, and I'll explain why.
For the soundbar to work at its maximum, it needs to be connected via USB. Once you connect it via optical cable, the sound decreases by about 20% according to my ears.
In other words, if you are willing to buy both a sound card and a soundbar for a more complete solution like I did, DON'T do it.
After this incident, I looked it up on foreign forums and read from a leading member of Creative that connecting the soundbar to the sound card is unnecessary because the soundbar already has a very good built-in sound card.
Of course, this doesn't make me feel like I wasted over 100 euros on the Creative Sound BlasterX G6 sound card (I have written a review, read it), because now I only use it with my headphones when I want to watch a movie or play PS4 without bothering anyone through a USB connection.
In short, go ahead and buy both, not to enhance your audio experience because it won't offer that, but to be covered both through speakers and headphones.

I wanted to buy this soundbar for a long time, but due to the price, the truth is that I was considering it two years ago if I remember correctly. I bought the Razer Nommo speakers and exchanged them for this soundbar. The difference is huge. Let's start with the appearance, it is very beautiful and sturdy. In terms of installation and operation, it is very easy, even for beginners. I would recommend downloading the drivers by simply googling the name of the soundbar. Now, let's talk about the sound. Initially, I didn't expect it to be so powerful. I honestly can't understand why they made it so loud, but for someone who is interested in having a powerful soundbar, this is it. As for the bass and the clarity of the sound, let me tell you, it's amazing. It is designed for you to sit in front of the screen, do your work, play games, and listen to music. It's truly exceptional. It also has a virtual 7.1 surround sound, which I don't mind at all, to be honest. The bass is full, and as someone who listens to rock and metal, I particularly enjoy it. Let's move on to the lighting. I didn't expect the soundbar to have such a fast response when I control it through its program and change colors within seconds. Even my RGB NZXT on my PC doesn't change that fast. I plan to get a good sound card to enhance it even more. If you want something truly beautiful, powerful, and worth every penny, get it without hesitation. It's one of the best purchases. PS: I got it for 200 euros on sale, and it's worth every extra penny

I bought it to transfer the legendary Logitech Z-5500 to the living room as I felt they were being wasted on the PC.
The soundbar is good, but it doesn't come close to the Logitech.
It's convenient in terms of size, not having cables everywhere, but that's about it.
There's no comparison... if someone wants the best sound for their PC in this price range, there are more complete 5.1 solutions available.

Update after spending a considerable amount of time with it.
If you want nice surround sound for your PC, there is no other option with so many features in a soundbar. You connect it via USB and it essentially becomes a sound card. It's powerful, beautiful, has good quality, and nice lighting. I think for a PC, if you don't want a lot of cables around you (and don't want to go for a 5.1 system), this is the way to go.
Just because I disconnected the 5.1 and immediately connected this, I noticed the difference in sound right away, and that's why I wrote the initial comments. Now that I have forgotten about the 5.1 on the PC, I often feel like I have 5.1 sound (good surround feeling). I don't regret buying it, it's close to 5.1 without the hassle of the many cables of a surround system. I recommend it for PC, not for TV, as with the USB you can access all its features only.

Recently, the v2 version came out, which has several things that this version doesn't have, such as HDMI ARC for connection to a larger TV, a bigger woofer, etc.

After a lot of searching and reading many reviews about this system, I ended up buying it. Initially, along with this particular product, I was considering two others (Logitech G560 & Harman Kardon Soundsticks III) which had a similar price range and similar specs. However, due to space constraints, I ultimately chose the soundbar. The soundbar was placed under a computer monitor, in a 3x3 room, in order to maximize the Soundstage and Virtual Surround 7.1 offered through software, but I didn't notice any significant difference in Surround between 5.1 & 7.1 (no matter what you say, it won't have the same performance-quality as a dedicated 5.1/7.1 surround system). Connectivity: USB with PC/consoles, Bluetooth connection, port to connect an external Mic, port for a headset (powered by the soundbar's sound card), port for a USB stick (load MP3 and play locally from your flash drive), and optical cable. The device has a 150W peak (didn't see it go above 70W) and offers 24-bit / 96 KHz sound quality through the built-in sound card/DAC in the soundbar, so there's no need to buy a separate sound card. In simple terms, this means crystal-clear high-resolution sound, even in MP3 files, but especially in lossless audio files like FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, although these require a "trained ear" to appreciate. The average consumer will be amazed at how loud the sound is compared to the size of the device. Seriously, the result is very good, even for a room, not to mention a living room. Regarding this, I have never gone above 25 on the volume so far because something will definitely collapse (max goes up to 50). If someone tells you that the machine doesn't have enough volume: 1) It needs RMA or 2) It needs to mature. The woofer produces clean and powerful bass without overpowering the mids and highs. The software does a good job through the EQ and other options it has, such as Soundstage immersion levels, crystalizer, and other settings. And of course, there is no device nowadays without RGB, so the Katana doesn't lack here either, thanks to the LED strip underneath the soundbar (if you like lights). Music, gaming, movies = covered with the Katana. Creative FTW

I was thinking of buying a home cinema system but the size was a concern due to limited space in my office...
So, the only solution was this soundbar.
I don't know where to begin. I was shocked with the first sound. It's incredible, guys!
Build quality, convenient size, volume, bass, excellent sound quality, as many connections as you want and more (no HDMI), LEDs and you can't get enough of it...
Impeccable frequency separation, huge stereo image with all the instruments of the orchestra in the right position. A huge bravo to Creative!!!!!!!
Yes.... It doesn't have HDMI, it doesn't properly deliver 7.1 in large spaces in movies. Small letters, in other words.
However, it hits your ears mercilessly without distortion, with sound quality that makes you want to listen to music all day. As for games, it's the same.
It immerses you in the action to the point where your hair stands on end...
As for the price... there's nothing better out there for this money. It's worth as much as it costs...
BUY IT YESTERDAY WITHOUT SECOND THOUGHTS

Initially, I was hesitant but using it in various situations and at different intensities, I can say that I am completely satisfied - 110%. I use it for listening to music at high volume, watching movies at medium volume, and working at low volume with lounge/chill out music. There is no distortion at low volumes and no distortion at high volumes. Whatever I have "asked" of it, it plays cleanly, with proper bass and as loud as I want (according to my own requirements). For around 200 euros that I spent, I don't think you can find anything better.

In terms of build quality and considering its cost (around 200 euros), it's great! I have read complaints from others about its quality, but personally, I consider them to be a bit exaggerated. Okay, it's not full aluminum and okay, it has plastic parts (at the bottom) - however, it is definitely not cheap plastic. Okay, the subwoofer has MDF wood, but in this price range for a soundbar that gives you everything, including optical fiber connection, I didn't expect it to have solid walnut wood with ebony!!

Let's move on to the negatives, which is why I gave it 4 out of 5 stars and why I eventually sold it:
1. Bluetooth connection. Although it connects normally to the iPhone (iOS), it never managed to play (via Bluetooth) with my 2018 MacBook Pro! It connects, but for no reason, it doesn't produce sound (I tried it with Spotify, Apple Music, video playback, YouTube, etc.). Personally, I used it with the headphone jack, but it's unacceptable not to be able to use Bluetooth!! I should also add that the packaging did not include a connection cable for headphone jack, something that has zero cost and can be found in packaging of entry-level models from smaller companies.
2. Creative has not developed (at least not yet) an application for macOS (like it has for Windows) and therefore - if you don't have a PC/laptop with Windows (which I don't have) - you can't customize the various settings on the soundbar, nor can you upgrade its firmware. It's a shame because Creative is an old and huge company, with specialized experience in various audio systems (speakers, sound cards, etc.) and it's not acceptable in 2020 to not provide at least the same support for Mac users!!

Howdy, as they say in the westerns!

After reading reviews and watching some videos on YouTube:

This soundbar has something that the others don't have...
We listened to it with the Creative Sound Blaster X Katana.

Hmm, I realized that I had set the region to Greece on YouTube and then I understood what was wrong...
On the other hand, I found out that there are at least 10 videos that refer to it as Katana...

With all that in mind, I decided to do some research since I wanted the opinion of an audiophile and not just any ninja!

And that's how I bought it...

Creative presents it as a gaming all-in-one under-monitor speaker system, but that doesn't mean it's not equally good for an audiophile (yes, I know you have to turn off the LED lights).

Build quality:

Well, it lost a star because even though you spend quite a bit of money, I had to replace it 4 times because the soundbar had scratches on the aluminum (clearly from the cutting machine), and I had to send emails for about 2 months to finally receive the flawless product I paid for from the beginning.

The soundbar is made of plastic, except for the top part which is made of aluminum. The buttons (It's better not to use them because they might come off in your hand - it's better to use the remote that comes with it) and finally, the subwoofer is made of MDF.

Last but not least, the soundbar comes with 49 programmable LED lights (RGB everywhere) in 16.8 million colors to fill your room (well, your desk) while you play. After you enjoy it and take about a hundred photos and upload them to any social media platform, you will either leave it on static or turn it off because it really distracts your attention, especially when you're just about to take the shot... If you take your eyes off the screen for a few seconds... BAM!

I'm just saying, how cool would it be if it became responsive according to what you're watching on the screen... (Like the Logitech G560 cough cough).

Connections:

From left to right: Power input, subwoofer connector, mic in, 3.5mm headphone jack (it has an AMP, so it's definitely better than your motherboard's - the HyperX Cloud Alpha works perfectly fine, by the way, I tried it), aux in, optical input, USB input. Also, Bluetooth 4.2.

This soundbar has Dolby Digital 5.1 decoder and a 24-bit high-res DAC, something that the others don't have... or at least, I believe so! :P

Of course, you need to connect it to your PC with the USB to fully enjoy it.

Sound Quality:

True story, it gets loud and when I say loud, "We listened to it with the Creative Sound Blaster X Katana" (what? WTF! Watch the video on YouTube where they throw it back... okay, now close it, there's nothing else to see there) it will definitely hurt the ears of anyone around you. It's important to note that even at Max Vol 50, I can say that I didn't hear any distortion in the sound, although some reviews claimed otherwise. Personally, I usually have it between 5 and 20 in volume because after that, the intensity decreases due to the distance.

Out of the box, it has some profiles from experts in each genre for you to choose according to how you're using it, although I would say that the best starting point profile is Concert, and from there, it gives you the ability to adjust everything in the EQ to suit your preferences.

The audio quality is truly incredible, as Creative calls it the 5-driver Design with 2 up-firing midbass drivers and two high-excursion tweeters in the soundbar, and a long-throw driver in the subwoofer. You can listen to songs, watch movies, or play games exactly as you should. For the specific price, I don't think you will find anything better, because the next step would be to go for studio or audiophile speakers that cost around 500 euros or more, or if you want a soundbar, you can compare it to the LG SK9Y.

Also, it gives you the feeling of virtual 7.1 when connected via USB, but as I said, it's just the feeling because it has nothing to do with a 7.1 sound system that costs 1500 euros.

In my opinion, Creative has done an incredible job with the soundstage, and you can distinguish the low, mid, and high frequencies from anything you listen to.

Verdict:

Buy it yesterday. No, seriously, YESTERDAY. If someone is looking for a permanent speaker solution for the years to come, this should be their number one choice.

Whether you are a gamer or an audiophile, the only sure thing is that they will leave you speechless with their sound quality.

Although it may be a bit pricey at 250 euros, you will definitely love the sound from the first moment and be satisfied with your purchase - even better, I would recommend going to a store to listen to them in person!

Until we meet again!

Let it be noted that my previous speakers were Creative since 2006 and they are still alive and well, but since I built a new computer, they also wanted an update to make the result uniform.

Because I was very satisfied with Creative as a company, I decided to buy speakers from them again. They are truly one of the best in the sound category.

1) The only negative thing that bothered me a little, to tell the truth, was the volume buttons. Firstly, they are rubber and not so easy to press. It would be much more user-friendly to have a wheel to quickly lower the sound.

* Luckily, I have a keyboard with a wheel for sound and it saved me in this aspect, so it didn't bother me personally, I just wanted to mention it.

Other than that, I have nothing negative to say. The sound, the bass, the depth of sound for movies, gaming, everything is perfect.

I would highly recommend it, but anything over 200 euros would be too much, and I'm not saying that because I found it that way, I believe it should stay there (my opinion, of course)

I have it for 1 month, I use it for gaming - music... SO. In a few words: Beautiful, small, ergonomic, beautiful RGB lighting, not a trace of plastic, all metal.
Crystal clear sound with intensity without losing its clarity, UNBELIEVABLE BASS, the woofer that comes with the soundbar does an incredible job on low frequencies, it shakes the whole house, REALLY. Now, for gaming, it has a mysterious virtual surround system, that's why it has 2 small speakers on the top of the soundbar and somehow sends sound upwards and you hear it behind you, really in games like PUBG, CS, and generally games that use surround, I just couldn't believe that I have a proper home cinema in my room. The last feature that won me over is the small remote control to use it from a distance. In conclusion, the best and cleanest and most powerful sound I have heard with truly chest-thumping bass, perfect for gaming, construction quality is top-notch, congratulations to Creative once again!! It is worth more than the 250-300 euros.