Creative's XF1 desktop speakers land in Australia at $339.95, and the price is the problem
Creative's XF1 hi-res desktop speakers are out in Australia at A$339.95. They look good on paper, but a near-twin from Edifier costs less.
By Laurence Deer
Image: Creative.
Most of us spend more hours at a desk than on the couch, and the sound on that desk is often the worst in the house: laptop speakers, or a pair of plastic boxes that came free with a PC years ago. Creative’s new XF1 is pitched at exactly that gap.
The XF1 is a pair of compact powered speakers that Creative launched in Australia this week. They’re on sale now through Creative’s Australian store for A$339.95.
What you get
Each speaker has a 3-inch woofer and a small tweeter, with separate amplifiers for each. Creative quotes 72W RMS in total. You can connect over Bluetooth 6.0 with LDAC (the higher-quality codec many Android phones support), plug a computer in over USB-C, or use a 3.5mm cable for anything else. There’s a subwoofer output if you want more bass later, and a Creative app with a 10-band EQ and a long list of presets. The pair sits on cork stands that tilt them up 15 degrees towards your ears.
Our take
The spec sheet is strong for the size. USB-C, LDAC, a subwoofer output and a proper EQ app is a sensible set of features for a desk. USB audio means a laptop plays straight to the speakers without a separate DAC, and the cork stands deal with the most common desk speaker mistake, which is firing sound at your chest.
Australia is paying more than everyone else. Creative’s own store labels A$339.95 a promo price. Overseas listings put the XF1 at about US$180 and £140. Converted, the Australian price looks high, though US prices don’t include sales tax the way ours include GST.
There’s a near-twin for less. Edifier’s M60 is the obvious comparison. Edifier says it has 66W, LDAC, USB-C and the same pair of hi-res certifications. JB Hi-Fi had it at A$231.20 on 30 October. On paper the XF1 adds Bluetooth 6.0, a subwoofer output and a few more watts. If you’ll never add a sub, that’s a lot to pay for a newer Bluetooth version.
Reviews overseas are good, with one catch. PC Gamer rated the clarity highly for the size and price, and Stereo Guide called the sound neutral. Expert Reviews liked plenty but found the bass slow and heavy. Three-inch woofers can only do so much, which is presumably why the subwoofer output is there. We haven’t heard them ourselves.
Check the warranty. Creative’s Australian store lists a one-year limited warranty. Your rights under Australian Consumer Law can go beyond that for a faulty product, but a longer manufacturer warranty is easier to use, so compare it before you buy.
Why it matters right now
Black Friday is on 27 November, four weeks away. Desktop speakers are a regular in those sales, and a brand-new product at a promo price with no retailer competition yet is unlikely to be the cheapest it will ever be. If you’re setting up a desk over the holidays, our guides to standing desks and desk mats cover the rest of the setup, and our deals page lists current price drops on the products we cover.
Price and availability
- Creative XF1 (pair): A$339.95 at Creative’s Australian online store, labelled a promo price, from 28 October 2026.
- In the box: both speakers, cork stands, a 2m cable between the speakers, a USB-A to USB-C cable and the power adapter.
- Warranty: one year limited, per Creative’s Australian store.
Who should buy, and who should wait
Buy if you want tidy, good-looking desk speakers with USB-C and LDAC, you like the idea of adding a subwoofer later, and you’d rather buy now than chase a sale.
Wait if price matters most. The Edifier M60 covers most of the same ground for about A$100 less today, and Black Friday may bring the XF1 down too. And if you want speakers to carry around the house rather than sit on a desk, our Bluetooth speaker guide is the better place to start.