We’ve long liked the Creative T20 and we still hold them in high regard. They could perhaps do with a design and feature update, and their popularity means they’re not outstandingly cheap, but we still think they’re the go-to option for mid-range 2.0 desktop speakers.
Pros
Clean, simple design
Great overall sound for the price
Lots of mid-range warmth
Cons
Basic feature set - no Bluetooth
Lacks big sub bass
Top-end detail reflects $70 price
The Creative T20 have been a stalwart of the computer speakers market for over a decade now. Arriving in their original guise at a time when the industry was still far more obsessed with big subwoofers and surround sound – those days – they were a breath of fresh air with their focus on good quality from a 2.0 speaker arrangement. So many years later and the Series II are still a great option for those that just want a simple, decent-quality set of speakers for general desktop listening.
These qualities are enough to earn the best computer speaker guide as a go-to option for a mid-range speaker option. Setups with an extra subwoofer will get you a lot more sub-bass and more expensive sets get you more clarity but these are a great step up from the cheapest of speakers.
1 x 75mm woofer and 1 x 20mm tweeter per speaker with bottom bass port
Nominal power output
20W
Frequency range
55Hz – 22,000kHz
Connections
3.5mm stereo input, optical digital input, subwoofer output, Bluetooth 4
Extras
Remote control, volume, source, and power buttons on right speaker, converts to mono mode, can add battery pack
Design
The appeal of the Creative T20 Series II starts with their design. You're not getting any materials here – you miss out on the weighty MDF build of the Edifier R1280DB, for instance – but the black plastic cabinet is reasonably tidy and is nicely offset by the silver knobs, gold-plated sockets, and yellow speaker cones. A removable fabric cover also lets you choose between the covered or exposed style.
In truth, the design could do with modernizing (why, oh why, won't Creative just do a Series III) but it's no eyesore. The one major caveat here is the glossy black front. As ever with this type of finish, it's prone to fingerprints and scratches.
Features
Each speaker houses a driver and a tweeter of unspecified size, but they're approximately 2.5-inch (64mm) and 0.8-inch (20mm) in diameter, respectively. A bass port also fires out the top of each speaker – a convenient arrangement for speakers likely intended to sit against a wall or on a shelf above a desk, as the bass port isn't blocked.
Measuring 230 x 88 x 143mm, the cabinets are fairly tall and deep but still have a small enough footprint for all but the tiniest of work or gaming spaces. The extra internal volume also provides plenty of breathing space allowing the bass presence of these speakers to feel reasonably smooth and integrated rather than forced.
On the front of the right speaker are controls for bass, treble, and volume/power along with a headphone jack and auxiliary input jack. Meanwhile, around the back is the main audio input, the connection to the left speaker (which unplugs from the right speaker but is tethered to the left speaker), and the power input.
Sound quality
Sonically, the T20 delivers a very comforting, warm sound that's particularly good for rock or indie music but also lends itself well to a broad range of applications. For high-end detail, they fall behind options, such as the Audioengine A1, Klipsch R-41PM, and even the Edifier R1280DB, and can't deliver booming bass, but for their price, they provide a nicely balanced sound.
In particular, these speakers are far better than most of the cheaper 2.1 speaker options available that tend to have shrill-sounding main speakers with a muffled, booming subwoofer. You get bass with those systems but they sound hollow and lacking in mid-range. It all depends on exactly what you mainly intend to use your speakers for but in general, we recommend the smooth, wider-rangey sound of the T20 for most desktop PC purposes.
Price
Priced at around $70, the Creative T20 Series II are the definition of mid-range as far as 2.0 computer speakers go. For this price, they absolutely maximize sound quality, somewhat at the expense of extra features and big bass, though.
Conclusion
We've long liked the Creative T20 and we still hold them in high regard. They could perhaps do with a design and feature update, and their popularity means they're not outstandingly cheap, but we still think they're the go-to option for mid-range 2.0 desktop speakers.
For more computer audio upgrade options, check out our best gaming headset guide that includes a wide range of wired and wireless headsets.
