Verdict: Great sound and whacky styling
To invert a stuffy Victorian maxim, speakers are better heard, not seen. PC speakers are either pug-ugly or nondescript, come with an awful lot of messy cabling, and only look worse as numbers multiply, particularly where space is limited. What's more, some 5.1 systems are designed for areas larger than the average study or back bedroom. If you don't hit the 'sweet spot' until halfway up the volume range, then prepare to be deafened up close.
There are more discreet speakers out there, but these are mostly 2.1 systems, which usually have problems in dishing out great sound across the full tonal range. The Creative I-Trigue 5600s are a bold attempt to change this, putting the technology behind the stylish I-Trigue stereo range into a full, 5.1 surround-sound package.
Aesthetically, the results are pretty successful. The two front and two rear satellite speakers are slim towers less than 18cm high, with the three drivers arranged vertically in a restrained black and silver enclosure. The effect is vaguely retro-futuristic, like the tailfins on a 1950s Cadillac.
Mounted on a tiny tilting stand, the front speakers will easily fit on the corners of the desk, with the horizontal centre speaker placed underneath the monitor, and the subwoofer lurking somewhere on the floor. The rear speakers can stand on shelves or on the floor behind, or all four satellites can be wall mounted using the brackets provided if you really want them out of the way. In fact, the rear units have 5m of cable to help you do just that.
There's no on-board decoding, so your sound card (hint, hint, from Creative there) has to handle the Dolby Digital or DTS decoding for true surround-sound DVD playback. It will also need the standard analogue front, rear and centre/subwoofer outputs to send the signal to the speakers. This keeps things simple, however, and colour-coded inputs and clearly labelled outputs make setup a breeze.
Creative's claims for this system rest on its 'Neo-Titanium Tri Array' driver technology and its 'Acoustic Loaded Module' enclosure design. The first bit means that each satellite uses three Titanium dome micro-drivers to - theoretically - deliver an accurate, natural sound. The second bit refers to a method of channelling this sound through several concentric chambers to make a bigger sound with warmer bass from a smaller unit.
The surprise is that the design actually works. The I-Trigues can dish out a far meatier sound than you'd expect from such stick-thin speakers, with lots of warmth and plenty of depth. If you're watching DVDs, the effects are quite directional, but the whole lot combines into a solid, coherent sound field that made the first sea battle in 'Master and Commander' almost too immersive for comfort. The centre speaker, which can sound weak or muddy on many small systems, delivered punchy dialogue with enough power to cut through the surrounding noise. Clarity isn't always perfect and the sound breaks up at high volumes, but at sensible levels the results are very impressive indeed.
The same goes for music, with some small reservations. Basslines sound strong and funky, and there's enough power on offer to make hard rock or classical music work. The output might sound boxy in comparison to proper hi-fi speakers or a larger home cinema system, but the I-Trigues really punch above their weight.
And they really hit the mark in games. The sturm-und-drang of 'Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth' comes through to the full, the dialogue and the clash of steel on skull sounding precise and even harrowing. Doom 3 becomes even more scarily atmospheric. The tight sound field only adds to the feeling of dread in quiet moments, and there's enough boom and rumble to make the violence shocking when it comes.
CONCLUSION
There isn't really enough power to fill a large room but for a back bedroom, study or small flat, this system has more volume than you'll probably need. The I-Trigues lack a range of inputs, and it's also true that they're fairly expensive for 5.1 speakers, particularly with great 7.1 systems such as Creative's own Inspire T7900s available at almost half the cost. However, if style and size is important to you, then the price is worth paying.
