Deal is still going, but old post got locked. Repost.
Pebble 2.1 does NOT have Bluetooth. It has 3.5mm wired input only.
Same price as the Amazon AU deal for Click and collect from Umart. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/748054
They have a few stores around Australia so you might be close to one.
Says 6 days left, but in my experience Umart deals have a habit of not expiring (counter just resets).
so the best is thats the one on this post above?
Yes there is only 1 version of the 2.1 Pebble.
V1, V2, and V3 in the review are referring to the 2.0 Pebbles (no bass woofer).
But be aware this does not guarantee they will sound "amazing" to you (depends what speakers you already listen to). Obviously being powered by USB means they are very limited in power, so they won't "thump" if that's what you think.
The 2.1 are just the best sounding of the Pebble range so IMO worth the extra cost and better value.
Since I posted them last time I actually got my Pebble 2.1 delivered. So I can answer any questions for you.
They definitely benefit from some custom EQ. I go further than most people and actually use a free App on my iPad to measure the Frequency response then use a PEQ to correct any issues and they sound balanced and good. But even if I turn up the volume the bass isn't really "thumping" like you would expect with a subwoofer, it's just a small woofer so limited in low frequency.
Another thing I realized is the power consumption is very low, I measured it with a USB power meter and at medium volume it consumes about 0.6 to 0.7A so I am guessing at max volume the entire system will only be consuming around 5 watts. I can easily power it from my powerbank for a whole day or maybe 2 or 3 because it is so power efficient. It would also make it a portable system if I stuck the satellite speaker on top of the woofer box with some double sided tape.
Also I don't notice much difference in sound quality between high gain mode and normal mode. It seems to just enable a higher volume level for maximum output.
The Pebble 2.1 satellite speakers also don't have the passive radiators on them because they aren't needed when you have an active woofer.
Cable's connected to right speaker are also non removable, so you need to deal with the length they supply. Only the new Pebble Pro has fully removable cables.
Personally I think the V3 may be the better option.
Apparently the speakers got a slight sound quality increase, at lease according to the couple of review videos I watched.
I'll be getting the V3 as the sub doesn't appear to be that good anyway, rather not have to worry about another component to a speaker system (plus the extra cable that runs to the sub)
Apparently the speakers got a slight sound quality increase, at lease according to the couple of review videos I watched.
From V2 to V3 they increased the driver size from 2 inch to 2.25 inch, that's likely where the increased sound quality comes from since the driver is working less hard to produce all frequencies. But that is the main crux of the Pebble 2.0's, that tiny driver struggles to produce lower frequencies so they have to make a sacrifice with the tuning. With the 2.1's they have a 4 inch active bass woofer taking care of the lower frequencies, freeing up the 2 inch drivers to output only higher frequencies which makes for a better sound overall.
I think the bass woofer box on the 2.1 should not be thought of as a "subwoofer" the woofer is only 4 inches in diameter. It should be thought of more as a bass woofer that takes the stress off of the tiny 2 inch satellite drivers. I say tiny because 2 inch drivers are the common size speakers for Portable Bluetooth speakers.
The V3's have other benefits though which might suit other users. First of all it has Bluetooth, so that's convenient if you want to connect and play music from your phone. As you said they also don't have the bass woofer box so they will fit neatly on a desk with less cables and there won't be any box taking up space under the desk.
V1 and V2 don't have Bluetooth just like the 2.1. So for anyone looking at those and have the space I think the 2.1 are an easy recommend.
A quick spec comparison can be found if you scroll down halfway on this page here. https://au.creative.com/p/speakers/creative-pebble-v2
Are there any speakers on the market like this that are bluetooth/wireless? Only ones ive been able to find are in the 200+ price range.
Are there any speakers on the market like this that are bluetooth/wireless?
Bluetooth yes, wireless (WiFi) no.
These Edifier's seem pretty popular here for $100 https://www.ozbargain.com.au/product/edifier-r1280db
From spec they also use a 4 inch woofer and while it's not a 2.1 system you get two of them. So I think performance should be better than the $49 Pebble 2.1's in this deal.
Oh I forgot about those edifiers, they are a bit big for my desk though. the pebbles are the right size for me. Maybe I just nab them and deal with a few wires
Maybe I just nab them and deal with a few wires
Or maybe find a cheap Bluetooth Receiver DAC and plug the Pebble's into that then connect whatever (phone/PC bluetooth) to the Receiver.
Had a quick look on Amazon and something like this https://www.amazon.com.au/Bluetooth-Receiver-Wireless-Stereo…
(click under Add to Wishlist where it says "New(2) from" and you can add it Fulfilled by Amazon for only 40c more.
There are a few more compact ones which are the size of a USB stick, but a lot of bad reviews seem to say they have issues with inteference/hiss.
To be honest you could probably find the same product cheaper on Aliexpress, but if it's Fulfilled by Amazon they should cover your return/refund if you have any issues.
I've had these for a couple of years now. Super solid, especially for the price.
You absolutely HAVE to power them in a wall socket, though, not via usb to your PC. The extra but of power makes a massive difference.
You absolutely HAVE to power them in a wall socket, though, not via usb to your PC.
Yeah I mean Creative recommends anything with 5V/2A output is fine. My powerbank can output that and it works the same as from a 5V/2A wall socket.
A typical USB socket on a PC will output only 5V/0.5A(USB2.0) to 5v/0.9A(USB3.0). I actually tested power consumption using a USB power meter at medium volume and it was around 0.7A, so yeah that's already higher than a PC's USB2.0 can output and if you go louder in volume than that the PC USB3.0 socket won't provide enough power.
TLDR: Refer to this Amazon US (.com) reviewer who has tried all Pebble speakers. They found the 2.1 hands down the best sounding out of all of the Pebbles, not just because of the bass woofer but in tuning as well.
So if you have space for the small woofer box they say it's worth it for the little bit extra.
(you only need to read the first paragraph)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1C2JYA7BVQSVS/re…