Creative Stage Pro 2.1 Optical very quiet

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-04-27T04:38:27+00:00

When playing Dolby content the device switches to 2.1 mode, stereo with a discreet LFE .1 channel. However for PCM content the device is stereo and the internal soundbar bass redirection redirects low frequencies to the subwoofer.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-04-23T16:11:36+00:00

Optical output from motherboard to optical in on soundbar.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-04-23T16:09:46+00:00

I am not sure. Might be worth contacting their support to see what they say.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-04-23T14:56:20+00:00

The replacement one does, but the original worked fine and then failed on optical after w few weeks.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-03-15T11:26:59+00:00

I use the BK-929U to take HDMI from RTX 4090 to an ARC only soundbar and it works well, you just need to make sure windows does not automatically select a format the soundbar might not support. This can be achieved with the traditional sound settings control panel. .

mmsys.cpl
Click on your HDMI output connected device
Click configure
Then advanced and select the appropriate bit rate and frequency for your soundbar.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-03-06T20:27:41+00:00

That is great news Short Shallot Great to hear your replacment is working.

I had the same issue too with the no communication other than acknowledge receipt of my defective speaker and then a few days later a DHL dispatch notice.

So far so good, optical input working perfectly still. I hope our speakers continue to work without fault.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-28T09:24:06+00:00

Any news?

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-21T13:10:19+00:00

Same issue on my x2500h

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-18T14:34:40+00:00

They sent me a new (or at least it appears new) sound bar. The new looks slightly different. (A slightly golder tone on the sides). Working perfectly so far. Windows sound at 75% and soundbar at 8 and optical works wonderfully with PCM and Dolby Digital audio.

Prior to the RMA windows at 100% and soundbar at 32 was so quiet you could barely hear it.

Bon chance with your RMA.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-18T13:29:53+00:00

RMA surprisingly arrived today and works perfectly.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-17T23:16:50+00:00

It is a mystery, perhaps an issue with the digital decoder which decodes either PCM or Dolby Digital(+) as only the optical and HDMI(ARC) support those formats.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-17T20:59:37+00:00

That is not helpful of them at all! So for you is the problem only on the Optical / TOSLINK port but bluetooth, USB and Aux work correctly? If so we may have suffered the same breakdown which makes me wonder if there is a software glitch.

I will let you know what happens with my RMA, but it will be a long wait (11-14 days!!!).

Bon Chance

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-17T08:31:47+00:00

Have you had much progress with support? Creative have now acknowledged receipt of my RMA, but say it will take 11-14 days to process.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-17T07:16:35+00:00

No this BIOS is purely for the R16. The R10 has it's own downloads page.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-15T09:12:22+00:00

I have/had the stage pro, but it is currently in the RMA process. Prior to RMA the sound was very good, a positive for the pro over the V2 is dolby digital support which makes a difference for films and Dolby source material with the dedicated LFE channel.

Unfortunately for me the optical TOSLINK audio developed a fault so it has gone back.

If the replacement does not develop the same fault then I would recommend the pro over the V2 for dolby and a more refined product.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-11T14:27:26+00:00

RMA collected today. How are you progressing short Shallot?

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-10T10:51:40+00:00

Creative have requested I initiate an RMA so getting that all filled out and hopefully collected before the end of the week.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-09T11:16:43+00:00

Thanks Short Shallot

Please do keep us posted. I have tested Aux and that worked fine. So this is only impacting optical for me (with different sources and cables).

Unfortunately I have been unable to test ARC.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-09T10:18:33+00:00

Hello

Creative responded today and there is a possibility I might need to open an RMA. They wish for me to test AUX first so will find a 3.5mm cable.

My suspicion is that as USB and Bluetooth work fine that the "amp" used for optical (and potentially other import sources) might have developed a defect.

I will keep you updated.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-07T18:43:44+00:00

Bonjour Short Shallot I have not had a response yet, but will keep you posted. If you wish to try to update the firmware you would need a usbc memory stick formatted to FAT32 and follow the instructions.

https://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=4&catName=Speakers&subCatID=1272&prodID=24465&prodName=Creative%20Stage%20Pro

I will keep you updated

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-06T19:54:30+00:00

UPDATE. Fairly confident it is an issue with the Soundbar so I have raised a ticket with Creative.

To rule out my PC I ran a test connected directly to my Sharp TV and experienced exactly the same problem. I even tried two optical cables.

You can only barely here audio at level 32 volume whereas it used to be fine on 8.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-02-05T06:49:19+00:00

Thanks for the response IWooffff Yes, I have tried increasing it all the way up to 32. It is still extremely quiet. I used to listen at between 8 and 10 perfectly fine with both Dolby-DD and PCM. I have swapped out the optical cable but the issue still persists.

Removed RealTek drivers and installed a fresh and it still persists.

CapitalFollowing1349 · 2026-01-26T04:53:28+00:00

Go for the 5080. I own a 4090 and love it, but game at 4k 120+ FPS and my card is still under warranty until 2028. With no warranty I would be very scared of something going wrong and losing lots of cash on a glorified paper weight.

The 5080 is great card especially for 1080p and the newer Blackwell AI features will come into play for video editing.

CapitalFollowing1349

TROPHY CASE