Over the years, Creative has made the Pebble series into a very successful product line. They are popular because they are extremely affordable and they sound generally good. There are various sizes and features that will fit the budget and space of any consumer. You can power them with just USB, some models include a subwoofer, some with RGB lights, some support connecting to higher wattage for more audio power to your desktop audio experience.
And now to up the ante, Creative has launched their most premium Pebble model. The Pebble Nova looks nothing like any previous Pebble model, yet it is similar in many areas. It is still designed in spherical shape with the drivers tilted at 45-degrees. But instead of just a single full-range driver, there are now two drivers with the 1-inch tweeter positioned in front of the 3-inch woofer-driver to produce soundwaves from the same point of origin. This coaxial layout saves space and allows Creative to retain the signature spherical design while providing a radical stunning outlook. Pebble Nova delivers 50W RMS with a peak power of 100W, making it the most powerful 2.0 speakers made by Creative.
The retail package weighs over 4kg, and most of the weight goes to the solid-metal base with an optional metal rod attachment to elevate the speakers. For the first time, the Pebble Nova cannot be powered up by standard USB port, so the package comes with a 65W USB-C PD adapter to drive the speakers. Also included are 2 sets of USB-C cables and 1 set of 3.5mm audio cable. One good thing is that the left speaker connector can be detached so I can move the speakers around separately. After all, it is not easy to carry two speakers weighing 1.89kg each (including the heavy detachable base).
Most of the connectors are located at the back, like the USB output, USB power, and 3.5mm audio. The headphones out and mic inputs are located at the sides, sealed with a silicone rubber mould to provide a pleasing seamless look when not in use.
To retain the sleek look, all the control buttons are located on top of the right speaker and are touch-sensor. As the controls do not face the front unlike previous Pebble models, it is a hassle to operate the touch-sensitive buttons as user needs to look at the buttons before touching them. It would be very nice if Creative could include a remote control, as they did on the Sound Blaster GS5 soundbar or the T100 desktop speakers. The small LED light next to the power indicates the audio mode: green is AUX 3.5mm, blue is Bluetooth, purple is USB. When it turns yellow, it’s on active standby.
Once you connect the Pebble Nova to the computer and run the Creative App, you can access the usual audio features like the Acoustic Engine, Surround, Crystal Voice+, adjust EQ, as well as customising the RGB lights.
One underrated feature that a lot of consumers should appreciate is that it is now possible to swap the channels between the two speakers. Now you can define the master speaker as the left or right channel. For my case, I will put the master speaker closest to the power source.
Audio Quality
Before I started listening to the Pebble Nova, a part of me feels that this speaker should sound great, but another part of me feels that it might not be as good as it appears. After listening, I am both impressed and disappointed.
One thing that Creative got right is the bass and mids. The Nova produces voluminous lows that have better presence and cohesiveness compared to 2.1 setups. The midrange is warm, full of details, and rather charming to listen to. It wraps your aural senses within this frequency spectrum where most of the instrumental frequencies reside. I am also a little impressed with the dynamic sensitivity, as the Nova can project very fine musical details that I often do not hear from open speakers.
The disappointment, albeit fixable, is the treble is conservatively tuned. Since the Pebble Nova has a separate 1-inch tweeter, I really expect to get outstanding treble clarity and sparkle, but that was not the case. The sound character from the Nova is warm, detailed, full, powerful, with just a little lacking on the bright side. If you see my screenshot above of the EQ chart, you notice that I bumped up the treble. Also, when the speakers get pushed at high volume levels, I feel it sounds a little messy with slower sonic decay from the overwhelming mids and bass.
How did Pebble Nova get the thick midrange and heavy bass to work in its favour? I think it has got to do with the near-field positioning. Nova has got to be one of the most powerful speakers designed for close range positioning and are probably over-powered for the use case. I mean, you do not really need 50W speakers (with max 100W peak power) to listen at arm’s length. The Nova is powerful enough to be used as living room speakers, but with the drivers angled at 45-degrees, it is difficult to achieve accurate imaging.
At near field, however, I get the full impact of the bass and midrange over well-controlled harmonics to ensure the tones do not sound too hazy and foggy. The sound is warm but not sluggish, the upper frequencies provide hints of musical sparkle buried underneath the music. I feel that boosting the treble will bring a better listening experience to counter the heavy bass presence.
Pebble Nova vs. Pebble X
Comparing to the Pebble X, the Pebble Nova excels in the bass and midrange. The Pebble X has a brighter upper midrange and treble which makes vocals a little more shouty. Nova offers a more balanced full-range sound with confident bass, while the Pebble X is favoured for treble sparkle.
| Features | Pebble Nova | Pebble X |
| Speaker Driver Size | 3-inch + 1-inch | 2.75-inch |
| Power Output | 50W RMS (with 60W USB PD) | 15W RMS (USB power), 30W RMS (external 30W power) |
| Cable Length Between Speakers | 1.5m | 1.2m |
| Connectivity | USB audio Bluetooth 5.3, SBC codec 3.5 mm AUX input 4-pole headphone port 3-pole microphone port | USB audio and power Bluetooth 5.3, SBC codec 3.5 mm AUX input 4-pole headphone port 3-pole microphone port |
| App Features | Acoustic Engine Sound Modes Equalizer CrystalVoice Lighting Mixer Channel Setup | Acoustic Engine Sound Modes Equalizer CrystalVoice Lighting Mixer |
| Retail Price as of 25 Dec 2024 | S$399 | S$129 |
I would choose the Pebble X for the price, for brighter sound that is not so heavy in the bass section. I would pick the Pebble Nova for better bass impact and fuller bigger sound.
Pebble Nova vs. AT-SP3X
The Audio-Technica AT-SP3X is a standard desktop speaker that is retailing at a lower price than the Pebble Nova. The SP3X treble sounds more precise though not as forward as Pebble X. It produces substantial bass impact but on the Pebble Nova, the bass is even more tangible. The other advantage of SP3X is the drivers face forward while the Nova faces upwards at 45-degrees, so it is not exactly ideal for accurate room placement. I would go for the SP3X with better upper treble while achieving a satisfying bass. The sound is less dense and still room-filling. The Pebble Nova wins in the bass and midrange and better as a near-field setup, warm sound.
Verdict
The Pebble Nova beats all my bookshelf speakers in delivering lower-frequency musical elements to my ears, something that subwoofers could not achieve as they are designed more for “feels”. It would have been perfect if the treble can bring more sparkle and highlight to balance the heavy sound, and fortunately the perfection can be achieved by applying EQ the way you like it.
The Pebble Nova is not tuned for audiophiles, the bass would be too heavy and the treble too rounded. They are also not so impressive when used as room speakers for I find it better to get standard front-facing bookshelf speakers. As a pair of desktop speakers that you put right in front of you, the Pebble Nova is spectacular. I find the Nova is best for listening at moderate levels and not for over-pushing even though they can easily fuel up with massive volumes. It’s exactly due to its power that allows the drivers to deliver audible musical details across a wide dynamic range, especially the midrange full of musical richness.
The Pebble Nova is not designed nor priced as a mid-tier value-for-money speaker that Pebble series is known for. Creative is using the tried-and-tested Pebble DNA to create a breakout premium speaker solution. The Nova is easily mistaken as just another boom box for gaming or movies. But after spending hours of listening time, I think they will appeal to music lovers who like detailed warm tuning that I feel is hard to achieve. People might be hesitant to pay for the sound that they get from these speakers, but like any good pair of speakers, the Pebble Nova makes me enjoy music in a new inspiring perspective.
