Creative's new XF1 desktop speaker proves big sound doesn't need a big footprint

TL;DR: Creative has launched the XF1, a Hi-Res desktop speaker with 72W RMS output, dual Hi-Res Audio certification, and app-based EQ control, priced at $179.99.

Creative just dropped a new desktop speaker that's punching well above its size. The XF1 is small enough to sit next to your monitor without taking over your desk, but it packs enough power and tech to make you forget it's tiny at all.

The XF1 delivers 72 watts of power, split between two speakers, each with its own dedicated amp for the woofer and tweeter. Instead of one amp trying to push both the bass and the treble at once, each part of the speaker gets its own power source. That means cleaner sound at any volume, without muddying or distorting when you crank it up.

Sound-wise, the XF1 covers a wide range, from deep, rumbling bass to super-high frequencies that most speakers in this price range just can't reproduce. Creative says you'll notice it in the small stuff: the rasp in someone's voice, a bass line under a game soundtrack, the finer notes in a piano piece.

Credit: Creative

It connects wirelessly via Bluetooth 6.0 with LDAC support, which means better audio quality over Bluetooth than you'd normally get. You can also plug in over USB-C for high-res playback, or use a standard 3.5mm cable if you want to keep things simple.

The speaker also connects to Creative's app, Nexus, which lets you fine-tune its sound. There's a 10-band EQ if you want to get hands-on, plus over 120 built-in presets tuned for specific games, movies, and music genres, so you don't have to be an audio expert to get it sounding right.

The Creative XF1 launches for $179.99 in the U.S. and £139.99 in the UK.