Test of the Creative Pebble Nova: cosmic design and powerful bass for your setup

Imagine for a moment: you place two elegant spheres on your desk, they light up with a colorful halo, and as soon as the music starts, the whole room vibrates. The Creative Pebble Nova do not go unnoticed. With cosmic design, powerful sound, and modern connectivity, these 2.0 USB-C speakers promise much more than just background noise. I’ve had the chance to test them daily for several months, and I can tell you that, for once, the look isn’t there to mask technical weaknesses. They deliver heavy sound! Let’s discover them without further ado…

Unboxing the Creative Pebble Nova

The packaging already announces the color, with a very classy look, and a rather bulky box.

As soon as the box is opened, the “wow” effect is immediate. The Creative Pebble Nova are showcased here in deep white, with their spherical shape and sturdy metallic base that inspires confidence. One could almost believe it’s a piece of modern art, placed there to impress the gallery. They also come in black, but I fell in love with the white version when I spotted them at CES 2025.

In terms of construction, it’s serious business. The base is heavy, the materials exude quality, and nothing moves, even at high volume. It’s worth mentioning that each speaker weighs almost 2kg!

The speakers are elevated at 45°, right in line with the ears: a detail that makes all the difference for sound immersion.

At the back, we find a complete connectivity: USB-C for power and sound, a 3.5 mm jack input, and of course Bluetooth 5.3. A clever detail: you can swap the left/right channels depending on the location of the plug, handy for adapting to all desk configurations.

Also note the presence of a headphone and microphone port. However, you will have to wait for a future update for their activation.

On top of one of them, we find the touch control buttons, with a small indentation, making them easy to locate by touch.

The base is quite heavy, to keep the speakers in place. Rubber pads are present to ensure stability.

Feet are also included: it will thus be possible to position the speakers low or high, according to your preferences:

Before going further, let’s take a quick look at the technical specifications:

Installing the Creative Pebble Nova

Installing the Creative Pebble Nova is super simple. Plug in the USB-C (which acts as power and audio transmission), pair via Bluetooth if you prefer wireless, or connect a jack cable for the die-hard wired enthusiasts. The LEDs indicate the active source: blue for Bluetooth, purple for USB, green for AUX. The buttons on top manage power, volume, source selection, and lighting ambiance, directly on the main speaker.

But where it really gets fun is with the Creative app (PC, Mac, Android, iOS). You can adjust the RGB lighting in every detail: color, intensity, dynamic effects, it’s all there.

On the audio side, the app offers a complete equalizer and several audio profiles (Gaming, Music, Movies, Adventure…), not to mention the in-house technologies like Acoustic Engine, which allows you to adjust surround sound, dialogue clarity, or bass power.

You can even check for firmware updates, just to be sure you don’t miss any future evolutions (especially the activation of the headphone/microphone port).

In just a few minutes, everything is ready: all that’s left is to start a playlist or a movie to see what these spheres can deliver.

User Feedback: Impressive Sound, Versatile Uses

So, how do these Creative Pebble Nova perform in reality?

Their size remains reasonable, but they assert their presence, especially once the RGB LEDs are on. It’s a real spectacle: the light diffuses under each speaker, customizable at will via the Creative app, with wave effects, cycling, or static color according to the mood. The only drawback is that the lighting isn’t compatible with software like SignalRGB, for example, to integrate it into the overall management of PC light effects. But support isn't out of the question; I’ve actually made that request to the developers.

But the most important thing: the sound. From the very first notes, you can tell that Creative hasn’t cut corners. The bass is deep, well-presented, never overwhelming (except at very low volumes, where everything becomes a bit slack, I must admit). The midtones are warm, perfect for voices, whether in a video call or a podcast. The highs, on the other hand, climb high, without aggression, provided you don’t push the volume beyond 75%. Beyond this threshold, distortion begins to show its face and the sound becomes more muddled.

For music, it’s a real treat, especially on pop, R&B, or electro tracks. The instruments stand out well, the soundstage is wide, and you get that immersive feeling that’s not always found on desktop speakers. For movies or series, the “Movies” mode of the app works wonders: explosions, dialogues, ambiance… it’s all there, without the need for an additional subwoofer. Even for gaming, the effects are well-represented, and the spatialization allows for easy location of sounds (handy not to get ambushed in an FPS!).

I also tried the experience plugged into a laptop: the listening comfort is unmatched, whether for Teams calls or to get motivated with an energetic playlist in the background. And then, I must admit, seeing the LEDs change color with the rhythm of the day puts you in a good mood :p

On the Bluetooth side, the connection is stable, but we would have liked a more qualitative codec than the SBC, especially at this price level. It’s a pity that you can’t connect an external subwoofer, even if the bass is already excellent.

My Opinion

It’s hard not to fall under the charm of these Creative Pebble Nova speakers. Their design truly stands out, and they transform any desk into a mini futuristic studio. In white, they perfectly match my SecretLab Magnus Pro desk. I love it!

The sound quality is there, with a rare balance between power and finesse, although purists might regret a slight lack of brilliance in the highs and a certain softness at low volumes. The Creative app adds real value, both for sound customization and lighting ambiance, and the complete connectivity allows for juggling between uses without hassle.

So yes, at €279, the price is a bit steep, especially for fans of the Pebble range who were used to excellent value for money. But one must recognize that Creative is targeting a more demanding audience here, ready to invest in a product that is both high-performance and aesthetic. If you're looking for speakers that impress, both for your ears and eyes, and you love to tweak settings endlessly, the Creative Pebble Nova are made for you.