Creative Gigaworks ProGamer G500 Review


Key Specifications

  • Review Price: £199.00

Within the computer space, speaker technology has developed in leaps and bounds over recent years with companies like Creative, Logitech and formerly Videologic producing speakers that have gained respect, albeit grudgingly, from audio professionals. After all, having a sound card with the processing power of a nuclear station counts for nothing if the sound is being squeezed through a pair of little plastic boxes that cost less than a couple of beers. So do Creative’s Gigaworks ProGamer G500s push the audio envelope still further? As of writing the set isn’t yet available to buy in the UK, with the expected arrival date. They can be picked up in the states

As its name suggest, the set is a 5.1 speaker system designed primarily for the PC gamer and offers a claimed 620W of power- that’s a lot of wallop for a set this size. It’s a no-nonsense affair that only offers analogue input connections, the only nod towards gadgetry being the CMSS ‘upmix’ option. Fighting through the mass of plastic wrapped cables and speakers reveals five identical satellites (the centre just has the grill badge in a horizontal position and rubber feet) and a very solid sub and amplifier. Speaker grills are removable and are made of metal, rather than the soft fibre variety, which could be beneficial if you’re in an environment where small people are likely to poke their fingers into speaker cones.

The speakers come with small table-top mounts or can be wall mounted. Stands aren’t included, a shame as they’re often invaluable for proper placement and I seem to remember that earlier mid-range Creative speakers used to include them.

With no decoder box and only analogue inputs, setting up is very straight forward and just a question of diving bravely into the usual cable clutter. Cable lengths for the front speakers come in at around two metres with the rears about twice this. Personally I find these lengths a little small for anything other than a bedroom space, particularly if you prefer to hide the sub in a corner. It’s a shame companies aren’t more generous with their cable lengths when speaker placement is so important to receive the optimum listening experience.

The system has a wired controller that is well designed and simple to use with a rough volume indicator on the left side, featuring five green LEDs and controls on the right to alter the individual levels of rear, centre, sub and treble speakers. The speakers use a bass management system to filter low frequencies to the sub although altering the sub level on the controller will also emphasise the mid to low frequencies through the satellites. A headphone socket is included in the controller, a convenient addition although with headsets becoming de rigueur, a microphone pass-through socket wouldn’t have gone amiss. The CMSS upmix option on the controller creates a surround-like effect from stereo audio content. The only other connection on the system is an additional stereo input for connecting mp3 players or such like. A phono to stereo minijack adapter is included for increased connectivity compatibility.
