Creative introduces compact soundbar Sound Blaster Katana V2X

Compact soundbars with RGB lighting are obviously very trendy. After the Razer Leviathan V2 X a good week ago, Creative now also presents a corresponding solution. The Sound Blaster Katana V2X is supposed to combine a rich sound with compact dimensions.

The Sound Blaster Katana V2X in detail

Measuring 600 mm x 95 mm, the Sound Blaster Katana V2X is larger than its Razer counterpart, but still fits comfortably on most desks or under the TV. It marks, as the name suggests, the compact variant of the Katana V2, which was very well received by fans and the trade press and also convinced in our test.

When comparing the dimensions, it is noticeable: The new V2X is actually not smaller than the V2 at all, only the subwoofer turns out to be more compact at 116 x 250 x 423 mm (compared to 150 x 367 x 367 mm for the Sound Blaster V2). Overall, the subwoofer is said to have shrunk by 40 percent.

Sound-wise, the same drivers are used as in the larger model. Two 63-inch midrange drivers, two 19-inch tweeters and a 165 mm subwoofer together provide an output of 180 watts at peak. Covered is a frequency band from 50 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

The Katana V2X retains the familiar high-end sound signature Sound Blaster is known for, delivering hi-fidelity multichannel audio via triple-amplified Xamp technology, where Creative’s proprietary multi-core DSP controller drives the tweeters, midrange and subwoofer individually.

Various Sound Modes

Super X-Fi headphone holography, which recreates the sound of a multi-speaker system in headphones, is also in the mix. The Sound Blaster Katana V2X’s SXFI BATTLE mode is aimed primarily at shooter fans and is meant to better emphasize audio cues like footsteps and the like.

Thanks to the integrated Dolby Audio Decorder, the soundbar should also be able to convince when streaming movies and series. The Creative app can also be used to adjust the sound, while various RGB lighting modes are available.

These settings can be saved as custom profiles either in the app or via the programmable buttons on the remote.

In terms of connections, the soundbar is well positioned. On offer are HDMI Arc, optical connections, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C with audio support, as well as a 3.5 mm AUX input and SXFI output each for certified Super X-Fi products. This makes the V2X ready for use with a wide range of devices, including PC, Mac, PlayStation 5 and 5, Xbox Series X/S and One, or Nintendo Switch.

Price and Availability

The Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X soundbar is available at a suggested retail price of $309.99 on Creative.com. For more information, visit the official product page.