The Creative SXFI CARRIER made its first public appearance last year at CES 2020 but finally makes its maiden vow in 2021.
The highly acclaimed soundbar – which received three Best of CES awards – measures less than a meter in length (88 cm) but is packed with a host of audio tech designed to deliver the full home theatre experience.
The SXFI CARRIER is described as a first-of-its-kind Dolby Atmos Speaker System (DASS) soundbar that Creative developed together with Dolby laboratories, featuring an acoustic design developed by the latter.
Fits discreetly in your decor. Image: Creative
The CARRIER also inherited the SuperWide soundstage expansion tech from the Sonic Carrier speaker. According to Creative, they’ve integrated the acoustic concepts of both Dolby Atmos and their SuperWide tech to create a very compact soundbar that punches above its weight, acoustically.
The soundbar houses seven drivers, each with a dedicated DSP-controlled amplifier, and is paired with a 10-inch wireless subwoofer. Creative says that the SXFI CARRIER can produce the same sound signature as its bigger sibling at less than half the size and a fraction of the price.
Compatible with Super X-Fi headphones for a home theater experience in your head. Image: Creative
The new soundbar also features Super X-Fi Headphone Holography, which recreates the soundstage of a surround speaker system for headphones, and personalised for a natural listening experience with the help of AI – real handy for those late-night bingeing of epic Netflix action.
Despite the smaller form factor, Creative didn’t appear to have omitted much by way of connectivity options: Bluetooth, USB-C, USB-A, eARC for lossless HD audio, SXFI-out port, optical inputs are all present, while two HDMI 2.1 makes it ready for HDR10+ passthrough, Dolby Vision, and even 8K content.
The SXFI Carrier is priced at $1,499 and is available on Creative.com .
Image: Creative
