Did a Heritage Japanese Hi-Fi Brand Create the Ultimate Affordable Desktop Speakers?

After announcing a “rebirth” at the end of 2024, saying it would expand beyond home theater components and enter new product categories, Onkyo had a big CES.

At the trade show, the heritage Japanese hi-fi brand revealed its Icon Series — its first high-end, audiophile-grade amplifiers that the company has released in years.

Lost in the hoopla were Onkyo’s other new products, which happened to fall on the other side of the audio spectrum — a series of budget-friendly computer speakers.

Onkyo Creator Series

Onkyo

Re-entering the speaker market

Onkyo’s new Creator Series consists of two sets of powered speaker systems, the GX-10DB ($199) and the larger GX-30ARC ($299). They are the first speakers that the Onkyo brand has released in years.

Onkyo sells other speakers, soundbars, and home theater systems, but they are actually made by Klipsch. The two companies are owned by the same parent company, Voxx International.

In fact, last year, the two heritage audio brands collaborated on the Flexus Series, a line of wireless soundbars, subwoofers and surround sound speakers that leverage Klipsch’s loudspeaker and Onkyo’s amplification technologies.

Onkyo

Not just desktop speakers

The two sets of compact powered speakers in Onkyo’s Creator Series, the GX-10DB and the larger GX-30ARC, are quite similar. Both have a two-way design with a Class D amplification and built-in digital signal processing (DSP). One speaker in each set is the primary, which is the one that connects to powers and houses all the connections.

Each set is designed primarily as desktop speakers — they connect easily to any computer via USB-C — but they also support Bluetooth streaming. Most interestingly, they have a built-in phono preamp (switchable) and an RCA input, meaning you can connect them to an entry-level turntable as well.

Aside from size (and price), the biggest difference between the two sets of speakers is the additional wired connections that the larger GX-30ARC offers. It comes with an additional 3.5mm aux input and an HDMI-ARC connection, allowing you to use them as compact TV speakers.

Onkyo

Price and availability

Both sets of speakers in Onkyo’s Creator Series, the GX-10DB and the larger GX-30ARC, come in two different finishes: white or black. The angled stands — which are removable, so you don’t have to use them — are included with the speakers. So too, are the removable grille covers.

Onkyo’s GX-10DB and GX-30ARC powered speaker systems cost $199 and $299, respectively. Both are available for pre-order now, with a ship date of “early March.”

Onkyo

Onkyo GX-10DB Powered Speakers

• $199 at Onkyo

Onkyo

Onkyo GX-30ARC Powered Speakers

• $299 at Onkyo

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