Creative Sound Blaster ROAR Review

👤by Tony Le Bourne Comments 📅03-03-15
Performance Testing

Setup, Design & Observations
As with any rechargable device it is best to leave it to charge fully before using, and is supplied at around 50% charge. Once the battery is fully charged, three green LEDs will be lit up. If left connected to the mains, it will power itself via the mains while safely pushing the battery to the background where it will be left unused or 'trickle charged' to ensure it remains at full capacity without destroying it. You can charge your mobile device via the USB DC out even when the speaker is turned off, either when connected to mains or by sapping power from the 6000mAH battery if you are desperate. It is recommended that you turn your phone off if you are charging directly from the battery bank.

If left plugged into the mains but remains inactive for 28 hours, the ROAR will automatically turn itself off. There is also a bedtime feature which you can enable auto shutdown by holding the REC play/pause button (not the record button), one beep for 15 minutes and two for 30 minutes.

The design is highly attractive, and construction is solid. Though there is a fair amount of weight to the ROAR, coming in at 1.1kg. however, if you are lugging around a large laptop bag or backpack this will unlikely be much of a hinderance.

You can connect to the SB ROAR either by pairing it manually by holding the Bluetooth button or by NFC and how it acts in regards to other devices depends on the position of the link security switch. The Link Security switch swaps between various wireless modes which can allow a connection free for all (off), 'friendly access' mode (LS1) or a multipoint mode (LS2, default) where two devices can be connected at the same time but will only swap control when the current one stops or pauses any playback. This is a great feature for when you need control or when you are in social environment where you want to share connection.

The volume buttons on the ROAR act like a master control, with any mobile volume control is confined within the set parameters. The ROAR button when enabled will provide 'greater' volume and loudness which is accompanied by a white LED indicator to let you know that it is enabled. Also, there is a quiet playback mode which can be enabled by turning on the the 'Terabass' mode. Once activated, you get a vocal notification that you have done so, this feature raises the bass frequencies making them more audible at low volume.

Playing music via the SD card slot (32GB max) is done by using the dedicated media buttons at the back, however when using with a PC via micro USB, wireless playback will play simultaneously, so you will need to stop any media playback on your PC or unplug it. When connected via micro USB it is worth noting that the ROAR will also recharge.

Unfortunately we weren't able to test out the MegaStereo feature, despite a lengthy attempt to creative from a multitude of cables, a 4 pole to standard 3.5mm jack. Though using a standard 3.5mm jack to AUX in you can playback audio from a mobile device, it appears that the use of a 4 pole jack when plugged into the AUX enables audio out. The Creative MegaStereo Cable is fairly pricy at £12.99 though on a quick search, it isn't easy to find a 4 pole to standard jack as a single unit so if this is a feature you think you will take advantage of, it is likely best to get one through Creative for the sake of convenience. It is a shame that it wasn't included as part of the bundle.



Multimedia
Music playback was surprisingly awesome, in fact it was hard to believe such good sound was coming from something so small. Though it doesn't quite have the depth you can get from desktop speakers, the fidelity certainly leaps into the realm of 'serious' in regards to portable wireless speakers. The bass is not as deep as some may like but it is clear and precise. The mids and highs also are very clear allowing for excellent music playback. The volume level is loud enough to fill a large room and this is aided by the ROAR button which adds a little extra openness to the audio. Certainly wouldn't be a slouch at a small to mid size garden party or house party, (especially if you had two on the go!).

Microphone
The microphone is surprisingly good quality to which you can make voice recordings directly to your SD card, or can be used as a speakerphone. One could argue that it is competent enough to be used in a conference meeting (as long as it isn't Bluejacked and used to start a party, God Bless that Security Switch). Answering phone calls is easy by pushing the answer button on the ROAR and the microphone does a good job at picking up voices and sounds. On the other end of the phone, it was described as 'clear and warm'.


7 pages « < 4 5 6 7

Comments