Sound Blaster GS3 Review
This time we'll bring you a review of a product that falls into a category rarely seen on this page; it's the sound bar. Sound Blaster GS3 de Creative, a peripheral that comes to us thanks to Creative's official store on MercadoLibre. Please note that while they provided us with the product for this review, this in no way influences our opinion of this sound bar.
Additionally, this review was conducted with the help of a sound engineer who gave us tips and firsthand opinions that we hope will be helpful in helping you understand the good, the bad, and the "meh" aspects of this bar.
Table of Contents
Creative, sound bar?
To start, a brief introduction to the brand, as it may not be as familiar to many as it was years ago: Creative (formerly Creative Labs) was one of the leading companies in computer audio during the last century; an era in which, unlike today, having sound on a PC wasn't as taken for granted as it is today, when all PCs come with a built-in sound chip of quite acceptable quality.
In those archaic eras, to be able to enjoy quality sound, it was mandatory to have a sound card and that is where Creative dominated for a long time thanks to its memorable Sound BlasterOver time, this need for sound cards has diminished, and they have become a niche product for high-quality sound enthusiasts.
The product we bring next is the Sound Blaster GS3, a sound system in sound bar format, an alternative to the classic left + right speaker configuration that is typically found in most setups. Sound bars have their advantages and disadvantages compared to a regular speaker setup, but we'll go into more detail about all of that later.
Photos and unboxing
Below are some photos of the product. It's worth mentioning that the packaging is rather modest, as inside the box we only find:
- The sound bar itself, protected by 2 recycled cardboard corner protectors.
- A USB-C to USB-C cable.
- An instruction booklet.
Note that It does not come with a power adapter, in case you want to use it on a device that does not have a USB-C input to power the bar (or for convenience you do not want to use it), you will have to borrow a cell phone adapter.
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions: 410 x 92,7 x 73,7 mm
- Weight1.37 kg
- Frequency response: 65-20,000Hz
- Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): 85 dB
- Output power: 2 x 6 W RMS, Total: Up to 12 W RMS, Peak power: 24 W
- Connectivity: USB-C, 3.5 mm jack auxiliary input and output, Bluetooth 5.4
- Compatibility: Windows, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Android, iPhone
- Bluetooth codec: SBC (A2DP profile)
- RGB: Multicolor, 6 lighting modes, 16.8M colors
- Meals:USB-C
Installation, use and first impressions
As soon as we install the sound bar we can find a product that, although it is not premium, has acceptable finishes, being its weakest point the side rubber buttons which, while not uncomfortable or of poor quality, could have been much better.
The installation was performed on a test PC using the included USB-C cable, which is a decent length. It doesn't require any further configuration than what Windows offers: just select the device as the audio output and that's it. However, if for some reason you decide to connect it via Bluetooth, the sound quality will not be the same.
La GS3 features RGB lighting, because you know, if you're going to sell something with a gamer label HAVE It has to have RGB (sarcasm /off). Don't expect this RGB to sync with your setup because this bar isn't compatible with any Creative control software, as this feature is quite limited. We'll just mention that it has six lighting modes and the ability to control the brightness intensity, all explained in the included manual.
Its small size makes it an ideal option for those who have limited desk space or already have it quite cluttered with peripherals.
Speakers, quality and power
The most important thing in a peripheral of this type are the speakers. In the case of the GS3, it has 2 complete drivers of 6W each with technology SuperWide, which can be activated using the button on the right side.
Technology Creative SuperWide It aims to provide a more immersive experience (as they describe it), but this comes at a price: audio quality.
While the SuperWide can be an interesting option for gaming, since the mids and lows are increased, the bass is more noticeable, you can also see a noticeable decrease in quality, as the bass feels very mixed with the mids.
For the tests themselves, we used it with SuperWide disabled. We use pink noise digitally generated at 96kHz at 24 bits, the software used was Spectroid, a free audio measurement software that generates spectrograms. The screenshots you can see show the difference between having SuperWide on and off, and the maximum decibels reached with the volume at 100%.
In normal mode, we find a good range of bass, quite solid for the size of the GS3, and clear and extended highs. The bass is not the most outstanding, but it serves its purpose, since the bar has a air outlet at the rear.
Our recommendation is pretty obvious: if you want to listen to music or watch movies, disable SuperWide, and for gaming, activate it.
Connectivity
A rather short but important section: the loss of quality when using Bluetooth.
While Bluetooth technology has advanced greatly in recent years, it doesn't even come close to have enough bandwidth to display the quality achieved by a wired connection, let alone expect that with that quality the latencies will be decent.
The GS3 has 3 connectivity modes:
- USB-C (recommended)
- Jack 3.5mm (AUX input and output)
- Bluetooth 5.4, only with codec SBC, which offers 342 kbps and up to 44.1 kHz with a latency of 100 to 250 ms
The ideal thing for a gamer bar would have been to include a codec aptX, but the choice of SBC is understandable to maintain universal compatibility and low cost.
According to Creative, it is compatible with PS4 and PS5 (updated systems), but this has not been tested. To use them on these consoles, a USB-C to USB-A cable is required, which It's not included.
Angle and shape: a small, big difference
A rarely discussed benefit. Unlike larger, more powerful bars, the GS3 has a slight upward tilt, thanks to its design and the rubber feet that increase this angle.
Why is it important? Because sound travels in a straight line, and this angle helps direct the audio directly to the user's ears, improving the clarity and presence of the sound. This makes up for its modest 24W.
Who is the Sound Blaster GS3 bar for?
Straight to the point: the GS3 is focused on its marketing for the sector gamerHowever, the close arrangement of its two drivers doesn't provide ideal stereo separation, and in first-person games, it can create an awkward feel.
Provides sound clear, although not very strong. Its biggest limitation is the scarce 24W of power. It performs well in small spaces, but falls short in larger or noisier environments.
Using it with a TV? Possible, but limited. Bluetooth suffers from loss of quality and latency; an AUX connection would be the best option, if the TV has it.
Other than that, it's a solid choice within its price range, far superior to the built-in speakers of some monitors or classic low-end multimedia combos.
Final Analysis - The Good, the Bad, and the Meh
The good:
- Sound quality is more than acceptable for its price range.
The bad:
- Only 24W of power.
- Does not include digital connector or aptX codec.
The best:
- Buttons around the volume wheel could be improved.
- RGB limited to included modes, no sync or customization software.
