Onkyo Creator Series GX-30ARC Powered Monitors Review

When it comes to computers, there’s a lot of content creators. And it’s not just about graphics or video. The audio portion should be taken into consideration. For that reason, Onkyo came out with their Creator Series of speakers. Up for review is their Onkyo GX-30ARC Powered Monitors. MSRP is $349.

 

Features and specs:

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION:  Powered Monitor (pair)

FREQUENCY RESPONSE:  55Hz-20kHz

MAX OUTPUT:  115 dB (1M Stereo Pair)

TOTAL SYSTEM POWER:  50W Total System Power 17W LF+8W HF/ch

HIGH FREQUENCY DRIVER:  3/4 inch (19mm)

LOW FREQUENCY DRIVER:  4 inch (101.6mm) cone woofer

ENCLOSURE MATERIAL:  MDF with PVC

ENCLOSURE TYPE:  Bass-reflex via rear-Slit duct

BLUETOOTH®

VERSION: Bluetooth 5.3

A2DP Codecs: SBC

SPECIFICATIONS

INPUTS: HDMI-ARC with CEC, Bluetooth® 5.3 wireless technology, Phono/Line analog (with switch and ground screw terminal), 3.5mm analog mini jack, USB Type C, Optical

OUTPUTS: Single RCA line level output for connection to subwoofer

PRODUCT DIMENTIONS:  5.75" (146mm) x 8.66" (220mm) x 6.69" (170mm)  (W X H X D )

PRODUCT DIMENTIONS W/STAND (W X H X D):  5.75“ (146mm) x 10.55” (268mm) x 8.27” (210mm)

WEIGHT:  Primary: 6.0lbs (2.7kg) - Secondary: 5.3lbs (2.4kg)

BOX DIMENTIONS (W X H X D):  16.7" (423mm) x 14.2" (360mm) x 11.2" (285mm)

GROSS WEIGHT:  17.6lbs (8kg)

FINISH:  Black / White

VOLTAGE:  100V-240V 50/60Hz AC Adapter

 

The Onkyo GX-30ARC came in a standard white box. Opening the box revealed a well-protected speaker held in place by custom molded Styrofoam. Materials used in the construction was MDF, PVC, and steel. The speakers appear to be made using a paper cone with rubber surround for the woofer, and the tweeters appear to use silk for the dome. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, is very good. Also included were the speaker stands, remote, AC adaptor, speaker cable, HDMI, and USB-C cables.

 

I love the design on the Onkyo GX-30 ARC powered monitor. Whether gaming, websites, or other content creating with a computer, it’s part of their content creator Series. It works great connected to a computer, but it can also do so much more. With imputes that consist of RCA with phono, 3.5 mm, optical, HCMI, USB-C and Bluetooth, it can be used with just about anything. You could connect a record player directly to it, as well as to a TV like a soundbar. You can even set them up by themselves in a living room or den and use your smartphone with Bluetooth to listen to your music. So many possibilities.

 

They are also designed for great sound, tapping into Onkyo’s decades long heritage. They employ a ¾ inch silk dome tweeter for smooth highs. And while they also use a smaller 4 inch woofer to keep the enclosure size down, they still have it ported to improve bass performance. Onkyo even has them bi-amped, for the best sound possible. This means there is a separate amp for the tweeter and woofer, which would also control the frequencies they play.

 

I also love the synergy that seems to have been realized due to the sum of the parts done right. It stars with the quality drivers, great electronics, efficient design, down to the multitude of connects for ease of use. And lastly an efficient and well-made enclosure. It’s a well-made product that should provide years of use. Now let’s see how it sounds.

 

Guns & Roses: Patience – The whistling was silky smooth with excellent harmonics and a tone of air.  The strings from the acoustic guitar was really crisp and clean with really good resolution to show off not just the good dynamics of the strings as they were plucked, but also hear the decay. Vocals were smooth like honey with good texture of the timbre. 

Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E  - hi-hat was really crisp and clean, piano sounded really natural, violin was silky smooth with great resolution of the bow across the strings.  Th bass was equally smooth with not just good low-end extension, but also played with authority.  Trumpet was extremely dynamic with excellent harmonics without being too brassy.  Snare drum was also dynamic.  But just as impressive was not just the soundstage that was really big, not just deep but also forward.  The imaging on a dime was equally impressive.

 

Jessie J, Ariana Grande, & Nickie Minaj: Bang Bang – The various drums and claps were nice and dynamic with great pitch definition.  And while it was the stellar harmonics and timbre of the multiple parts of the female vocals that seamlessly came together to steal the show, I am also impressed with the bass performance.  It had good low-end extension and played with more authority for its size than I expected.

 

The Onkyo GX-30ARC performed as well as I expected.  They had a neutral sound signature as expected from a monitor.  The highs were crisp and clean, with silky smooth mids, and bass that performed well for its size.  What I was not expecting was the level of soundstage and imagine that I heard at its price point.  It’s not perfect, but at only $349, it’s a grand slam for bang for the buck. 

 

Onkyo has a reputation for making great products. And it’s products like the Onkyo GX-30ARC Powered Monitor, that bring a smile to my face, to see that Onkyo is not just sitting on their Laurels. They want to protect their reputation. And the Onkyo GX-30ARC proved to be not just  a great sounding speaker, they are made to be used in many different set ups. They’re even well made to be able to perform for years. Based on their design, features, quality, and performance, the Onkyo GX-30ARC has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. If you are looking for great sounding a small package, the Onkyo GX-30ARC Powered Monitor should be on your short list. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.onkyo.com.