Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Creative’s Katana V2X PC soundbar promises the same sound in a smaller footprint

Caleb Clark
By

Creative Lab’s has announced a new PC soundbar in its lineup: the Sound Blaster Katana V2X. This is the follow-up to Creative’s very popular Katana V2, which remains one of the best soundbars for PC you can buy right now.

The Sound Blaster Katana V2X is still a multi-channel 5.1 setup, but this time, the subwoofer has been pared down from the Katana V2. It’s now an impressive 40% slimmer, weighing 7.3 pounds and measuring 4.6 x 9.8 x 16.7 inches. That should free up quite a bit of space for anyone with a cramped desk setup.

A render of the Katana V2X against a dark background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Importantly, Creative Technology claims the smaller footprint does not impact the sound though, with a peak power output of 180 watts and a supported frequency range of 50–20,000Hz. It should be noted: The new sub does have a slightly smaller 5.25-inch driver compared to the 6.5-inch driver in the Katana V2.

Recommended Videos

From the looks of the photos, the Katana V2X has also ditched the glossy brushed aluminum look of the top of the soundbar and replaced it with a simpler finish. It also has an upgraded LED display on the front with three levels of brightness. The soundbar itself, otherwise looks very similar to the Katana V2.

Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming
Check your inbox!
Privacy Policy

The Katana V2X has a lot of proprietary technology designed to recreate a more robust sound stage, and it has several modes designed with gamers in mind. The BATTLE Mode enhances in-game audio cues and factors in directionality and distance, for example. The speaker also has an integrated Dolby Audio decoder to enjoy high-quality audio in the latest films and TV shows.

The Katana V2X and its corresponding subwoofer.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

You can use the Creative app to adjust the audio settings and fine-tune the RGB, and these settings can be programmed on the included remote control. As for ports, you can connect to the speaker through HDMI Arc, optical ports, a front-facing 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C, and Bluetooth 5.0.

The Sound Blaster Katana V2X is compatible with almost every console or computer you can imagine, including PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

All of this comes at the price of $279. That’s a tad more than the Razer Leviathan V2, but the more robust connection options could make it a compelling alternative, especially since this is a more competitive price compared to the $330 Katana V2.

Topics
Caleb Clark
Caleb Clark
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Caleb Clark is a full-time writer that primarily covers consumer tech and gaming. He also writes frequently on Medium about…
These 6 tweaks take MacBooks from great to nearly perfect
The MacBook Air on a white table.

I love getting a new MacBook. The slow-opening box, the fresh install of macOS, even the enchanting new Mac smell (which people have been rhapsodizing about for decades) -- it’s all part of the experience.

But you know what? MacBooks don't arrive perfect out of the box. There are a few things that I always have to adjust, regardless of how powerful the laptop is. From changing the default apps to unlocking a few hidden extras, here are the first six things to do with your new MacBook before putting it to work.
Unlock some trackpad tricks

Read more
The XPS 16 is fighting an uphill battle against the MacBook Pro
Dell XPS 16 sitting on desktop with flowers.

It took a few years, but Dell finally updated the design of its two largest XPS laptops. The XPS 15 gave way to the XPS 14, while the XPS 17 was replaced by the XPS 16. The latter gained the ultramodern look of the XPS 13 Plus, complete with a glass palm rest, a hidden haptic touchpad, and a row of LED function keys.

It's a significant update but places the XPS 16 in direct competition with the Apple MacBook Pro 16. That's an excellent matchup with proven performance and battery life and an elegant design that's solid, if a lot more conservative.
Specs and configurations

Read more
These 4K monitors are discounted at Best Buy — from $200
The Sony InZone M9 sitting next to a PlayStation 5.

A 4K monitor is a great way of enjoying an enhanced image as you work with more pixels, higher resolutions, and often better colors too. Over at Best Buy, there are some great monitor deals squarely focused on all things 4K. There are dozens of 4K monitors in the sale so the smart move is to hit the button below to see what’s there for yourself. If you want some help though, we’re here. We’ve picked out a few highlights in the sale so take a look for yourself.

What to shop for in the Best Buy 4K monitor sale
Samsung makes some of the best monitors around so why not start with the ? It’s currently reduced by $150 so it costs just $200. Its IPS panel looks great with AMD FreeSync support effectively eliminating screen tears and stutters. There’s also HDR support which brings with it some great looking colors while wide viewing angles mean it looks great from any perspective.

Read more