When you hold the box packaging for the Creative Zii Sound D5 you can tell there is something special going on inside – from the reflective glossy logo to the appealing packaging and “Award Winning Wireless Audio Technology For Pure Audio Performance” message. The Bluetooth logo also catches the eye, together with the “Made for iPod” and “Works with iPhone” logos.

Whilst looking at this Creative Speaker I used an Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB. If you don’t have an Apple device then you can use the speaker system with many other supported Bluetooth devices including Desktop PC, Laptop and Mobile devices. If you do have a supported device you can also use the speaker for charging your device using EZ-Charge technology.

  

Unpacking the box reveals the black speaker bar with what seems like no buttons (apart from the master power button on the back) – until you realise these are pressure sensitive pads so you just need to swipe your finger to use the interface.

Not that you need to operate the system using the controls – especially if you are using an Apple device as a special , pre-paired, attachment arrives with the package which connects to your iPod or iPhone and works seamlessly with the speaker system.

The attachment for the iPhone/iPod uses a special co-dec, “apt-X”, which is designed for CD quality transmission over Bluetooth (apt-X say it is 16-bit 44.1kHz audio).

Volume can be controlled directly from the iPhone which is a cool feature.

Included in the box, as well as the one-piece speaker system itself, are a Bluetooth wireless transmitter (for iPod/iPhone) with a UK and European power cable, an auxiliary cable for older devices, a support rest with seven fitments for a range of Apple devices, instructions and details of the 12-month Warranty (make sure you keep the receipt with the Warranty in case you need it).

Once the device is unpacked and in place it’s visual appeal is very  high.

The minimal interface fits very well and the bar leans slightly back allowing music to broadcast out and slightly up. Glossy black edges and centre piece are nice touches and complemented nicely with a fabric style covering for the speakers themselves.

As mentioned earlier the volume can be controlled directly from the iPhone and it’s a nice touch being able to control the music directly from the iPod/iPhone which becomes a transmitter and remote control all-in-one. Let’s face it – the remote controls that come as standard with many third party docks don’t quite live up to the Apple build standard and they are often small – so get lost quickly, so having the control in the same place as the music itself is a great benefit.

The device has two indicators/touchpads, one for master volume and the other is a status indicator with a pairing connection Touchpad. Configuring a pair is simply a case of touching and holding the Connect Touchpad (then pressing and holding the pairing button on the wireless transmitter although the transmitter and speaker are paired at the factory), whilst switching between existing paired devices just needs a quick touch and release. Supported Apple devices include the iPhone (including the 3GS and 3G), the iPod Touch (1st and 2nd Generation), iPod Classic (80GB, 120GB, 160GB), and the iPod nano (3rd Generation, 4th Generation, and 5th Generation video versions). It’s worth noting that the iPod nano 5th generation FM radio function isn’t supported.

Sound is rich, there is plenty of bass, and the volume goes all the way up to what feels like all-night-party mode. This wireless sound system feels like quality and it’s a joy to use – as long as you keep the wireless within the specified distance it works fantastically well. If you do experience interference it’s worth checking what’s between your device and the Creative Speaker system including walls, wireless networks, microwave ovens, and cordless phones.

One of the simplest ways of getting up and running, especially with older equipment, is to use the AUX-In jack on the rear of the speaker using the supplied stereo-to-stereo cable. You can connect the other end to other devices that have headphone or line out sockets – just check the sound level on the Zii Sound as I nearly jumped out of my skin when I first tried this (I had inadvertently set the Zii Sound to full!).

Connecting other devices using Bluetooth is  straightforward too. For example, using a laptop you can typically perform a Bluetooth discovery which should locate the Zii Sound D5 allowing you to pair with it using the default pass code. From then on just change your sound output to your Bluetooth device and off you go. For added performance, taking advantage of the apt-X technology, you could opt for the Bluetooth Audio BT-D1 adaptor which is a small USB device that fits into an available USB slot on your computer and utilises the A2DP Bluetooth profile.

Similarly, connecting using a mobile device is just as easy – I tried it on a Palm Pre, Motorola Milestone, Nokia N95 8GB and it was quite straightforward. The Zii Sound D5 says it supports A2DP (for wireless stereo) and AVRCP (for remote control) Bluetooth profiles so it’s worth checking your device supports at least A2DP.

Overall the Zii Sound D5 Speaker feels and sounds like the quality dock it clearly is. It is just as happy playing all-night parties as it is playing back audio books for those quite, more reflective, times. Whilst testing the Speaker I experienced no drop outs due to Bluetooth – the iPhone stuttered once or twice but primarily because the kids were playing games on the phone whilst it was streaming – if the iPhone was left to get on with streaming it was fine. The other devices worked well too – I am listening to the D5 through the computer right now and it sounds great.

For more information about the Creative range of audio products, including the Creative Zii Sound D5, visit the C
reative Speakers Site.