Creative Labs (51MF7025AA000) Creative Inspire P7800
With superior positional audio from its seven satellite speakers, the Creative Inspire P7800 eight-piece powered speaker system delivers dramatic surround sound for 3D video games, movies, and music. Each of the satellite speakers features a tweeter that serves as an extension to the mid-range driver, ensuring smooth and accurate highs balanced with mid-range frequencies to create a perfect tonal balance. The powerful wooden subwoofer, meanwhile, offers a 6.5-inch long-throw driver and dual flared port tube for rock solid bass. The system is also equipped with Creative Multi-Speaker System (CMSS) technology, an innovative EAX multi-channel design that creates an enveloping surround environment for everything from stereo files to 5.1 and 6.1 audio soundtracks to full discrete 7.1 programs. Creative designed the system specifically to complement the SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS audio card. Together, the audio card and speakers provide unmatched clarity that's comparable to most high-end home stereo solutions.
The speakers are easy to operate thanks to the included control pod, which integrates the M-Port connector--which streams music directly from compatible Creative audio players (with no messy cables required)--with several other features, such as a stereo line-in, a headphone jack, a power on/off control, and volume/bass controls. Each of the speakers also comes with a removable speaker stand.
What's in the Box
Center speaker, two front satellite speakers, two side satellite speakers, two rear satellite speakers, subwoofer, audio control pod, seven removable speaker stands with screws, seven removable speaker grilles, three 6.5-foot cables for front and center speakers, two 16.5-foot cables for side speakers, two 23-foot cables for rear speakers, 7.1 audio cable, power adapter, quick-start leaflet, user's manual.
1 Appearance doesn't mean Performance, Quantity doesn't mean..
*Pros:
1. Excellent High Frequencies in the front speakers with tweeters.
2. Balanced, accurate and deep Bass reproduction.
3. CMSS up-mix feature for 5.1 & 6.1 sound card.
4. The best performance of this system is in GAMING.
*Cons:
1. Weak mid-range at high volume, especially in Voices.
2. The strength of side and rear speakers is not the same of three front speakers.
3. To achieve the best performance of this system, at least 5.1 sound card is required.
4. Its Quality doesn't match its price
2 The best 7.1 system under $100
This is probably the best 7.1 system for less than $100. That being said, it's not everyone's perfect match.
If music is your main application, you might be happier with two top-notch speakers than seven decent ones. Your music only comes in two channels, demoting those five extra speakers to mere clones of the first two.
For music aficianados, I recommend Logitech's excellent Z-2300 THX certified 2.1 system (B0002SQ2P2). For about the same $$, you get much better mid-range reproduction, and surrender five unnecessary channels.
If your application is gaming, look no further. In this price range, this is the system for you. Turn down the lights, turn up the speakers, and you are _immersed_. The steady drip-drip-drip of cave water in Neverwinter Nights is far more convincing when it seems to emerge from all around me.
If your application is watching DVDs, you could honestly go either way. Ask yourself which is more important: faithful sound reproduction or immersive experience? For sound quality, take the Logitechs (B0002SQ2P2). For surround sound, take the Creatives. Either way, you'll be happy.
Creative Inspire T7800 7.1 speakers:
Pros:
Lightweight satellites.
5.1 --> 7.1 upmix (for compatability with 5.1 sound cards).
Handy remote control with power, volume, bass adjust, headphone connector, and alternate input.
Slots for hanging the satellites on the walls.
Cons:
Mid-range sound reproduction is watery (though still better than average for a system of this price).
The power switch/volume knob on the remote feels cheap.
Only the 3 front satellites contain both mid-range drivers and high-range tweeters (the side and rear satellites contain only mid-range drivers).
The cable ends are not terminated (bare wires).
The cables are too short to trace around the floorboards to the opposite corner of even a small room.
Despite all of the cons, overall I am very pleased with the Creatives, and I would purchase them again.
3 t7700 vs. p7800
Creative Labs has 2 excellent models. I like this one better(the T7700) because of the attached stands. But the P7800 has a better center channel (20 watts vs. 18watts). So pick your poison...
