Creative’s Pebble X Plus is a line of reasonably powerful and aesthetically beautiful speakers. Though primarily designed to be used with your PC, it can also be used with the majority of Bluetooth-capable devices, recent consoles, and more through a straightforward USB-C connection and, to a lesser extent, AUX. A compact yet powerful subwoofer that can produce unexpectedly deep and pulsating bass is included in the kit. Other features include easily programmable RGB lighting options and a discreet yet striking design that is accentuated by a contemporary black matte finish. Yes, the Pebble X Plus appears fantastic on the shelf, but is it really worth the money?
Let’s examine the Pebble X Plus’s specifications first. The Pebble X Plus has wired and wireless playing modes. Wired playback uses Bluetooth 5.3, while wireless playback uses either a USB-C connection or an analog connection via the universal 3.5mm AUX input connector. The Pebble X Plus additionally supports the use of a microphone and headset because it has two communication connections on the speaker. The Pebble X Plus has good audio technology, despite not being as high-end as its price may suggest. This is because audio technology is what counts most in a speaker. With its BassFlex, Acoustic Engine, EQ, Dialog+, 2.75″ full-range drivers, 3.5″ subwoofer, and dual passive radiators, the Pebble X Plus produces a rich, lively sound that is excellent at filling up a compact space.
The Pebble X Plus stands out from other speakers when placed next to other slim speakers that have been artistically positioned at a 45-degree angle. In addition, the Pebble X Plus has a slick black matte finish with programmable RGB inlay clusters. Most users and guests will notice the programmable RGB first, and with good reason—it has 16.8 million color possibilities, six presets built in, and a slider that lets you rapidly adjust the brightness to suit your mood. The elegant and understated usage of RGB on the Pebble X Plus is a wonderful feature that truly enhances the device’s professional feel, even though I’m not the type of person who requires RGB lights added on every product like everyone else seems to demand on these days.
I think Creative made a grave error in requiring the Pebble X Plus to run on USB-C power without including an adaptor. This will undoubtedly irritate the majority of customers, thus I call it a mistake. Although I always seem to have an endless supply of USB adapters on hand, USB-C adapters are less common and less something I keep on hand. It’s a small annoyance, to be sure, but considering the price range, I should have expected an adapter, especially because Creative strongly advises using an adapter rated at 30W or above to get the most out of the speakers (30W RMS and 60W peak). Furthermore, the built-in AUX truly only functions when connecting in certain situations; it did not function when I tried to use it with my record player or even my projector, even though the majority of the inexpensive speakers I had could be used with AUX in both of those situations.
The Pebble X Plus speakers are ultimately intended to be used with Bluetooth, it became evident after a few hours of trying the speakers with various items. That being said, the USB-C connection does function if you connect directly to a video game console and did fine generating sound.
Thankfully, the Pebble X Plus excels in this situation. All you have to do to begin pairing with any gadget that uses Bluetooth is press the volume control on the speakers for a brief period of time. Whether I was connecting to a projector, phone, laptop, or any other device, pairing never took longer than a few seconds, and I never encountered any broken connections or alerts stating I couldn’t connect. I can’t claim the same for almost any other Bluetooth device I currently own.
The sound was flawless when connected via Bluetooth, offering crystal clear music and sound effects whether I was streaming music, playing a game, or watching a movie. Since I’m not an expert in sound, I can’t speak to how the Pebble X Plus stacks up against more expensive sound systems, but for my own purposes, I discovered that it was more than capable of producing dynamic, rich sound, with a deep bass that was audible up close. I had several speaker sets lying around my house, but the Pebble X Plus performed better than any of them, so it’s now my go-to daily use sound system.
Although I wish the Pebble X Plus had supported more connection options, I understand that most things these days connect via Bluetooth, so that is probably how these speakers will be utilized. I also regret that there isn’t a 30W adaptor included when using USB-C as a power supply, as it would undoubtedly lead to annoyance. Having said that, I discovered the Pebble X Plus to be more than capable of effortlessly connecting to a wide range of items. It also has fantastic sound and entertaining lighting effects, all housed in a stylish design.
Summary: Creative’s Pebble X Plus is a line of reasonably powerful and aesthetically beautiful speakers. Though primarily designed to be used with your PC, it can also be used with the majority of Bluetooth-capable devices, recent consoles, and more through a straightforward USB-C connection and, to a lesser extent, AUX. A compact yet powerful subwoofer that can produce unexpectedly deep and pulsating bass is included in the kit. Other features include easily programmable RGB lighting options and a discreet yet striking design that is accentuated by a contemporary black matte finish. Despite the unfortunate absence of a USB-C adaptor, the Pebble X Plus is an excellent device all around.