Product Reviews

The first thing you'll notice on unpacking these stereo speakers from Creative is their size. Intended as desktop monitors, they rival bookshelf speakers in their dimensions. They sit 30cm above desk level without the included stand, and are 14cm deep with the front grille attached, so you'll need plenty of space to sit them next to your Mac.

They look good, although we prefer them with the grilles removed. Creative says the arrangement of two mid-range drivers on either side of a cloth dome tweeter improves audio quality significantly and produces a more accurate lower-frequency response. Talking of lower frequencies, there's no sub-woofer

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in this set-up, and no option to add one. Instead, Creative has added what it calls BasXPort, which channels sound waves from the inner chamber to improve lower mid-range frequencies. The quoted frequency response is 50Hz - 20KHz and the power rating is 14W RMS per channel.

The front of the right-hand speaker has controls for treble, bass and volume, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack. At the back are a power switch, input jack, output to the left-hand speaker and a DC input. The power input is supplied by another hefty component, a transformer that is heavy enough to need placing on the floor.

The T40 speakers produce a big, warm, meaty sound. Detail is picked out well and bass is kept to reasonable levels. For a pair of sub-£100 speakers, audio quality doesn't get much better than this.

We have one or two minor criticisms: the stands don't feel as robust or well-made as the speakers. The on/off switch on the rear of the right-hand speaker is difficult to reach, and removing the speaker grilles, while easy, can make the rubber plugs that hold them in place come loose and fall off.

These are all relatively minor points, however. Overall, the T40 speakers look good, are well constructed and sound great.