Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2 Review

👤by Tony Le Bourne Comments 📅11-10-15
Performance Testing

Setup, Design & Observations
Most of the functionality of the original ROAR remains.

You can pair 2 devices via Bluetooth simultaneously, either by holding down the pairing button or via NFC, it uses aptX and AAC high definition wireless codecs so you can trust you will get the best playback quality. You can connect an MP3 device via 3.5mm jack, or you can simply save your favourite MP3/WMA/WAV audio tracks to a 32GB microSD card and use the speaker itself as an MP3 player. You can connect it to your PC/laptop/Mac or PS4 via the microUSB port for audio playback and there is even software available for PC and Mac OS. Within the Roar 2 is a microphone for speakerphone, to which you can answer your phone by pressing the answer button on the Roar 2, or you can cancel the call by holding the answer button for 3 seconds. The microphone also allows for voice recording directly to the SD card.

The differences between the Roar 2 and the ROAR, on first appearance, is that inside the literature bagging (IE where the guidebook is), Creative has included extra sticky rubberised feet for the front face, so you can mount it on its front face. This orientation has several benefits, including changing the direction the drivers fire, as well as having easier access to the control panel at the rear. These feet may make it difficult to fit inside the carry bag however. Alternatively you wouldn't need to use the feet at all if you opt for the silicone skin.



The buttons are different, in a good soft and squishy sense, each requiring a firm but pleasing amount of force. The Roar 2 has no security lock, opting for a direct pairing method as to remove any need for such alternating security functions, though some may prefer the choice provided by the ROAR.

The sleep mode makes an appearance again where the Roar 2 will automatically fade out over 15 or 30 minutes while playing back audio from the SD card. This can be useful for end of day listening, or even for children, as a suggested use, you can voice record yourself reading a bed time story for playback, then set it to automatically shut down.

The integrated volume controls on the Roar 2 acts as an independent master volume, allowing you to limit the maximum volume of the Roar 2 speaker from your connected phone which can be rather handy. It is also worth noting that the maximum volume level is higher when it is plugged into the mains.

One thing that did catch our attention, was that the exposed side radiators, as beautifully finished as they are, seem rather exposed and may be easily damaged from a small awkward drop or fall where it may end up landing on the sides and so requires a little attention to how you handle it.



Multimedia
Connecting up my mobile phone, and playing through various known music playlists, the Roar 2 proves that, by some magic, has still got all the grunt of the original. The high quality audio playback from the bi-amplified design really shines as the drivers are tuned almost to perfection, delivering well balanced mid/highs while the subwoofer delivers that impressive bass/low mids. The Roar 2 is not to be taken lightly and is something one could happily use anywhere in and out of the home.

The bouncing side radiators do well to spread the sound, increasing the presence of the Roar 2 which makes it seem much larger than the small book sized object that it is. Playing games and watching movies is certainly feasible with the right positioning proving its versatility once again as the ROAR did before it.

Microphone
The microphone is just as good as the previous ROAR, and the voice recording mode gives a natural, warm tone when played back. In phone calls, again I wouldn't hesitate to suggest that it could be used in a meeting as a conference device should someone not be present.


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