Redragon GS560 / Trust GXT 1619 gaming soundbar review

The Belief GXT 1619 (additionally offered because the Redragon GS560) is a very easy audio improve possibility to your gaming desktop PC. Its compact, gaming soundbar kind gives you with a single stereo analog enter, a handy USB energy connection, and it even has a quantity knob! Sure, it’s that easy, however in the event you’re after probably the most fundamental improve from gaming monitor audio system, it’s value a glance.

One of the best laptop audio system can present room-shaking bass and crystal-like readability, together with a bunch of straightforward connection choices, none of which you get right here. Nonetheless, for a super-cheap possibility, this Belief soundbar delivers the fundamentals.

Specs

Options

For such an ultra-budget possibility, the Belief GXT 1619 (the title of the model we examined) is a fairly smart-looking soundbar. Its lozenge form is straightforward and clear, as is its selection of black plastic for many of its construct, together with the black steel speaker grille over the entrance. The RGB lighting strip that runs across the backside entrance edge is even fairly neatly built-in.

Extra lighting will be discovered across the central energy/quantity knob, and there’s even a line on the dial to indicate the quantity stage as you flip the knob. In reality, the quantity knob is mostly one thing of a triumph. It clicks off with a satisfying surety when turned absolutely left, and there’s no wobble or grinding really feel to the dial rotation. For such an affordable unit, these aren’t small concerns.

With the quantity/energy knob absolutely off, all of the lighting is turned off however is in any other case illuminated to the identical brightness always. We discovered it supplied a very good stability of brightness that isn’t too distracting, or so dim as to be pointless (it seems somewhat brighter in actual life than our images recommend).

A touch-sensitive button on the highest of the unit helps you to alter the decrease lighting ring. It could actually present both a continually altering rainbow of colour, a blue gentle that then turns ever redder, then yellower (from left to proper), in accordance with audio quantity, or a set crimson, inexperienced, or blue colour. The ultimate faucet additionally simply turns off this decrease gentle, however not the quantity dial lighting.

The unit’s connections encompass a non-removable conjoined cable that sprouts from the again of the unit and splits right into a USB plug and a 3.5mm jack plug. In principle, this setup is straightforward to plug into your motherboard’s neighboring onboard sound card and USB sockets. Nonetheless, you probably have any type of different setup with an exterior audio supply or USB hub – otherwise you need to plug in one other machine – the cables being joined is a bit inconvenient. We ended up pulling the cables aside to a size of about 1ft to get extra freedom of motion.

The unit measures 400 x 75 x 70mm (W x D x H) so it’s decently compact, and it’s additionally straightforward to suit on most desks and beneath most screens. The froth foot that runs the complete base of the speaker, mixed with its 714g weight, means it stays fairly safe, not like some actually low cost 2.0 desktop audio system that are likely to topple over with the slightest breeze or knock of their cables.

Sound high quality

It ought to come as no shock that the Belief GXT 1619 / Redragon GS560 isn’t setting new requirements in total sound high quality. Nonetheless, it’s a welcome improve on most monitor audio system and outperforms loads of low cost separate USB-powered audio system.

The primary improve is a deeper total sound, with the soundbar capable of fill out extra of the mid-range and bass finish of the sound spectrum than monitor or laptop computer audio system. You don’t get true sub-bass copy that you just really feel in your chest, however you get a bit extra energy total.

Which means that musical genres corresponding to heavy steel truly sound okay on this soundbar, because the distorted wall of sound isn’t changed into an ear-splitting, shrill mess. EDM, hip hop, and different genres that emphasize thumping bass drums and rumbling basslines are likewise listenable right here, not like on typical monitor audio system.

General quantity is simply sufficient to fill a small room with out resorting to the tinny horribleness that outcomes from cranking up your cellphone’s speaker, as an example. You gained’t be planning a home get together round this soundbar, however you and your finest pal can have somewhat boogie.

As the quantity of no matter you’re listening to ebbs and flows, although, you’ll be able to clearly detect the speaker decreasing the height quantity to keep away from distorting when the sound will get loud. Oddly, it does this even at low volumes. It does imply the speaker nearly by no means truly distorts, however it might probably suck a number of the affect when the louder components of a monitor (or an explosion in a recreation) kick in.

The stereo picture you get from this soundbar is poor, too. The 2 40mm drivers clearly aren’t balanced properly sufficient to offer a transparent sense of stereo picture when mixed. This makes music sound a bit flat, and nearly prefer it’s only a mono sign coming from the speaker – you don’t really feel that immersion within the sound that you just get from a top quality stereo setup.

As you may anticipate, this considerably impacts this soundbar’s gaming credentials. There’s no digital encompass sound anyway, and the pure directional impact you get from a very good stereo setup isn’t significantly robust right here. You positively do get some directional cues, but it surely’s not significantly correct.

Value

Priced at simply $35, the Redragon GS560 (£30 for the Belief GXT 1619) is about as low cost as you’ll be able to go for a soundbar. There are after all compromises for that low worth however total it presents respectable worth.

Options

Artistic Pebble V3

In the event you’re searching for a really low cost set of audio system that you just need to place on both facet of your monitor – getting you a greater stereo picture than this soundbar – the Artistic Pebble V3 is a good little speaker set. Additionally USB-powered with a 16W energy score, these audio system are fundamental, however they’re a strong step up from most monitor audio system for $30.

Artistic Sound Blaster Katana V2X

In the event you’re searching for a soundbar with a extra complete audio improve, the Artistic Sound Blaster Katana V2X is an effective shout. Because of a separate subwoofer, it delivers much more quantity, bass vary, and readability, with 180W of sound output. It’s much more costly, although, at round $200.

Verdict

For $35, the Redragon GS560 (Belief GXT 1619) is a superbly okay purchase in the event you’re simply trying to get some type of desktop loudspeaker setup that’s a step up from typical monitor audio system. You get a deeper audio sign that’s sufficient to make music listenable at low volumes, and it means you’ll be able to play video games with out headphones.

There aren’t any particular options right here, although, and the poor stereo picture means you don’t get an awesome sense of directionality in video games. Nonetheless, on the plus facet, the unit is compact, neatly designed, and naturally very low cost. That stated, in the event you can seize one among these items at even a slight low cost, it makes all of the distinction to its worth. You solely must spend round $70 to get a a lot better-sounding, extra succesful unit.

In the event you’re additionally searching for extra PC audio gear, be sure to learn our information to one of the best gaming headset, the place we take you thru all our favourite choices to swimsuit each funds.