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Creative might not be the first company you think of when you want to buy a soundbar, but the company has been making audio goods for a long time. This is mostly true for computer, but it has grown to include headphones, soundbars, and other devices. The Stage 360 has a few things that make it appealing. First of all, it is shorter than many soundbars. At 565mm (20in), it can go where some of its competitors can’t.
And if your TV stand isn’t a wide bench like most, that could be a big plus. It also works with Dolby Atmos. It’s not the only thing like that, but it is one of the more affordable choices if you want Atmos. Because it’s cheap, the separate subwoofer is linked with a wire instead of wirelessly. This isn’t a big deal as long as you can put it on the floor near the soundbar.
Creative Stage 360 Specifications
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Dimensions | 9.9 x 9.8 x 9.9 inches |
Weight | 3.3 pounds |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, USB, AUX-in, Optical-in |
Battery life | Up to 6 hours |
Creative Stage 360: Design

The Stage 360 is only 565mm wide, so it works well for people who sit close to their computer or screen. The unit is paired with a tall, thin subwoofer that has a front-facing port and can be placed on either side of the main unit without taking up much room. The front-firing port on the subwoofer should also give you some options for where to put it, but you should also remember that it is wired to the main unit and not portable. You can buy this soundbar from its official website
Creative Stage 360: Setup
The main unit has two custom-tuned 2.25 x 3.85-inch racing drivers, and the subwoofer has a high-excursion 5.25-inch driver. Creative says that the Stage 360 can hit a peak output of 240W, which is a lot given the number of speakers it has. The racetrack drivers get 60W and the subwoofer gets 60W, for a total of 120W.
Sound quality

But when bass hits hard, it doesn’t do the Stage 360 much good in some ways. Bassy male voices sound like they’ve been overdone. Hugh Jackman’s Nick in Reminiscence has a hard-boiled vibe that’s hard to describe, and Sapper and K’s conversation in Blade Runner 2049 has the same effect, with their voices sounding stiff and lacking in nuance.
At least the Atmos music for 2049 keeps the soundbar in good shape and gives it some money in the bank. There isn’t any noticeable distortion or crackling, and the bass notes that play over the intro text are solid and heavy.
Creative Stage 360: Performance
Near and Far refer to how well the speaker works from close and far away. Near refers to the soundbar’s near-field placement, which lets you get the most out of it if you sit within 1 metre. Far does the same thing, so if you’re sitting 3 metres away from the Stage 360, you can use Far to make the soundbar work best in bigger rooms. You can switch between these modes using the remote, which also lets you change the bass and high levels (-6/+6).
Price and availability
You can buy a Creative Stage 360 from Creative for £199 or $229. At the time this article was written, it wasn’t cheaper anywhere else, and searches on Amazon in the US and UK only turned up Creative soundbars. But since it’s new, you can expect to find it at other stores soon.
Final Words
Although the 5.1.2 Atmos aspirations of the Creative Stage 360 are exaggerated, it is a respectable compact soundbar that is capable of producing powerful bass. On the other hand, it can be a bit rough around the edges, with bass that occasionally crosses over into harshness with some of the content.
Creative Stage 360 review: The good and The bad
The Good
- Affordable Atmos speaker
- Strong bass
The Bad
- No analogue input
FAQS
Checking the information panel on the front of your AV receiver or soundbar (if it has one) or an on-screen display is the only safe way to know if Dolby Atmos is working. It should show what kind of audio input it’s working with at the moment.
If you can, you should put in four speakers that can handle Dolby Atmos. When you use four speakers, sounds coming from above will be more accurate, and when something like a helicopter goes by, you’ll hear more accurate, realistic sounds.