The Creative Pebble X Plus is a compact 2.1 speaker system that delivers very good sound quality for its size and $130 price tag. It has a warm and surprisingly expansive sound that does well in nearfield. The system includes a subwoofer that adds extra bass and depth to the audio. For $40 less, Creative will happily sell you the Pebble X speakers, which are nearly identical to the Pebble X Plus model, but they replace a dedicated subwoofer with a passive radiator on the rear side of each speaker. Because of that the sound performance of the "regular" Pebble X takes a massive hit; the Pebble X Plus system is well worth the price difference.

Connectivity options include USB-C, Bluetooth, and 3.5-mm AUX. The right speaker also has a headphone output and a microphone input for added convenience. The microphone input performs as well as you might hope; when tested against the $300 Sound Blaster X5 external USB sound card, there's no audible difference in recording quality. The Creative App software suite allows you to customize the sound and the RGB lighting effects to your preference. It's also available for mobile devices, but limited to RGB control.

The Creative Pebble X Plus is not without its flaws. It could do with a bit more power, especially when playing loud music or watching action movies. It also creates a lot of cable clutter, as you have a cable running from the right to the left speaker, another one going from the right speaker to the subwoofer, and two more connecting the right speaker to your computer and a 30 W or better USB-C PD power adapter. The adapter is mandatory to double the power output and significantly improve the sound performance of the Pebble X Plus. It's a shame Creative didn't include it in the bundle, forcing users to spend more money to get one separately.

Overall, the Creative Pebble X Plus is a good choice for anyone looking for a compact and feature-rich 2.1 speaker system. It offers a satisfying listening experience and its price doesn't strike me as outrageous. Just steer clear of the $40 less expensive Pebble X; it offers all the features of the Pebble X Plus but doesn't come anywhere near it in sound quality.