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Creative Outlier Gold
The Creative Outlier Gold earbuds are a fine deal for anyone who wants to comfortably enjoy their music for long stretches at a time. Both the case and earbuds are the same as the older Outlier Air but with a shiny gold exterior. Unlike their cheaper counterpart, the Outlier Gold feature Super X-Fi integration which makes your audio sound more realistic than before. These are a great pair of earbuds, and we’re going to find out if they outperform the more affordable Outlier Air.
Editor’s note: this Creative Outlier Gold review was updated on February 6, 2021, to include information about the Creative Outlier Air V2 and update the alternatives section.
Who is the Creative Outlier Gold for?
- Budget buyers should get the Creative Outlier Gold. Creative has mastered the ability to produce affordable, high-quality products and continues its legacy with the Outlier Gold. This Super X-Fi enabled headset sounds great and makes few compromises for being a pair of sub-$100 true wireless earbuds.
- Athletes should look into the Creative Outlier Air earbuds because of their IPX5 rating. Virtually no amount of sweating will damage the earbuds. Plus, the lightweight design makes them comfortable and unobtrusive, perfect for your training sessions.
- iPhone and Android users should consider the Outlier Gold because both the aptX and AAC high-quality Bluetooth codecs are supported. No matter what smartphone you have, you’re able to stream top-notch audio with these buds.
What is the Creative Outlier Gold like?
Aside from the fresh gold paint job, the Outlier Gold looks identical to the original Outlier Air. Teardrop-shaped housings are adorned with angled nozzles that curl into the ear canal to create a secure fit. The included small and medium ear tips are uniquely stout relative to other default ear tips, which saves precious room in the case. If you want a more substantial material, Comply makes true wireless memory foam ear tips.
Each earbud has an inlaid circular button and unfortunately, it requires a lot of pressure to operate just like the Outlier Air. I usually grab the top portion of the housing with my index finger to resist the push of my thumb, rather than exerting all that pressure directly into my ear canal. Once I got used to this awkward positioning, I really enjoyed the functionality of the comprehensive on-board controls. Holding the left button down for a few seconds decreases the volume while doing the same to the right button increases the volume. You can also access Google Assistant, Siri, or Cortana by way of triple-tapping either button.
The plastic, aluminum charging case is equipped with a USB-C input and sliding mechanism to conceal the earbuds when inactive. Another similar issue arises with the case, which has an unchanged shape from the Outlier Air: it’s still difficult to handle. There were many times where I accidentally dropped the case while trying to eject the interior tray and remove the buds.
How do you use the Super X-Fi app?
Just like the Outlier Air, the Creative Outlier Gold requires users to use the Super X-Fi digital signal processing app in order to get the most out of the earbuds. The app may be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store. Interestingly, the Super X-Fi technology only works with local audio and music files, so if you’re limited to using a music streaming service, the Outlier Air makes more sense to get.
This is a huge bummer, if you want a similar experience unhindered by streaming services, you may want to get the Super X-Fi amplifier. Depending on what music streaming service you use, you may be able to download songs and listen to them through the SXFI app for holographic audio. This isn’t guaranteed though as certain content is protected and will only playback on gated applications (e.g. Spotify).
If you do have a local library of music, you’re in luck and can proceed with downloading the Creative Super X-Fi app. Upon opening it, you’re prompted to create a profile and connect the Outlier Gold to your account. From there, you may enjoy your music through the SXFI app: that’s the only way to experience Super X-Fi technology with the Outlier Gold.
Do the Creative Outlier Gold stay connected?
The earbuds operate via Bluetooth 5.0, provide a 10-meter wireless range, and support aptX and AAC high-quality Bluetooth codecs. iPhone and Android users will all benefit from the codec support by way of less audio compression and latency. This is good if you intend to stream videos with the earbuds because you won’t encounter any perceptible audio-visual lag. Unfortunately, they lack multipoint functionality, if you’re looking for true wireless earbuds that can connect to two devices at a time, you’ll need to turn your attention to Jabra’s products.
The initial batch of the Creative Outlier Air earbuds gave the company a rough start on its true wireless journey as many users experienced connection issues. That, however, wasn’t the case with our Outlier Air unit then and isn’t the case with our Outlier Gold unit now. I was able to walk well throughout some of my favorite, two-tiered coffee shops without a hitch. I did notice some skipping, though if there was a wall between my phone and the earbuds within the 10-meter range.
How do you connect the Outlier Gold?
Creative provides uniquely specific directions on its site, detailing the proper pairing method. When you first open the Outlier Air, remove both earbuds simultaneously. They should instantly flash blue and red, indicating pairing mode. From here, open your phone’s Bluetooth menu and select one of the Creative Outlier Air earbuds. This will dictate which earbud is the primary and which is the secondary. Don’t worry, there’s no wrong choice: this can always be reversed later; just be sure not to select both earbuds as this will require you to perform a hard reset to the earbuds.
How long does the battery last?
Battery life is exceptional for budget true wireless earbuds. When subjected to our battery life testing, the Creative Outlier Gold lasted 10.3 hours on a single charge, leagues ahead of more expensive alternatives like the Jaybird Vista and Google Pixel Buds (2020). The USB-C case supplies an additional 1.8 charge cycles, so you can enjoy about 30 hours of playtime. If you happen to listen to volumes quieter than 75dB SPL, you’re likely to get closer to Creative’s listed 14-hour battery life.
It takes about two hours to complete a full charge cycle for the Outlier Air earbuds and about 3.5 hours to fully charge the case. Unfortunately, there’s no mention of quick charging functionality, so if the earbuds are out of battery, you’re out of luck. To conserve energy, the earbuds automatically shut off after 10 minutes of inactivity.
What does the Creative Outlier Gold sound like?
Creative’s Outlier Gold earbuds amplify bass frequencies which subjects midrange notes to auditory masking. This means the headset is perfectly fine for casual listening and when exercising, but it isn’t the best possible option for listeners who want an unadulterated reproduction of their music libraries.
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Isolation properties are fine, just make sure you get a proper seal to your ear canal. There were a handful of times I carelessly inserted the earbuds which resulted in a poor fit. Not only did this severely hamper audio quality but, because these earbuds only hang on by the ear tips, it made the buds more susceptible to falling out if I moved about quickly.
Lows, mids, and highs
Since the Creative Outlier Gold only uses SXFI technology with local files, I downloaded the song Enough to Get By by Daniel Gunnarsson in a lossless format (WAV) and played it directly through the mobile app, because I didn’t want to use the pre-uploaded song provided by Creative. I was impressed by the software’s ability to create a realistic representation of open space. I alternated between playing directly through the SXFI app and from Google Play Music; while the difference isn’t as drastic as switching the dedicated Super X-Fi amplifier on and off, it’s noticeable to the observing ear.
Super X-Fi technology is limited to local files; downloading protected works from a given streaming service may not be compatible with the SXFI app.
You can really hear the software’s effect during the chorus (0:40), Gunnarson sings, “Now I know what it means to grow old.” He holds the words “know” and “old” for a few seconds and his vocal resonance is more audible than compared to without SXFI processing. Granted, I was concentrating intently to hear this difference. In busier situations, say on a train or airport, it’s really difficult to hear the difference because of how external noise masks audio detail.
Microphone quality is passable
Both earbuds are equipped with a microphone, but only the primary microphone will relay your voice to the person on the other end of the call. Regardless of which microphone we tested, the vocal quality was just passable. There is major attenuation toward the low-end of the spectrum which can cause some voices, particularly those of the male persuasion, to sound “hollow” or unnatural. It doesn’t sound nearly as bad as the chart may lead you to believe, but I still wouldn’t use it for extended calls as my voice was frequently interrupted by sporadic static or popping noises.
Creative Outlier Gold microphone demo:
How does the microphone sound to you?
Should you buy the Creative Outlier Gold?
The Creative Outlier Gold is still a solid buy, but some listeners may prefer the more subdued colorway of the Creative Outlier Air V2. These earphones have a slightly shorter, but still impressive, standalone battery life. The Outlier Air V2 also supports both AAC and aptX high-quality Bluetooth codecs, but the microphone issues remain.
If you’re someone who has a collection of audio files on your smartphone and never stopped buying music with the advent of streaming services, then the Creative Outlier Gold earbuds are a great way to experience your library in a whole new light. Plus, the ~2.5 additional hours of battery life and tempered frequency response may justify the Gold over the Air for you without the SXFI bells and whistles.
How do the Creative Outlier Gold compare to other true wireless earbuds?
If you’re ok with spending a bit more, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus are a smart alternative. Each earbud is outfitted with a touch control panel and wing tip design for a more secure fit than provided by the Outlier Gold. What’s more, the charging case is significantly smaller and can be wirelessly charged atop a Samsung Galaxy smartphone. Battery life is stellar, and these IPX2 buds have better microphone quality.
In a similar vein, the 1MORE True Wireless ANC earphones are a great pick for Android users who want noise canceling without paying a premium for it. 1MORE’s earbuds are IPX5 -rated and feature the company’s signature O-hooks for a stable, comfortable fit.
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Frequently asked questions about
Yes, you may, but depending on the size you get, it may not fit into the case. Comply’s memory foam true wireless ear tips attempt to remedy this problem, but it’s heavily dependent on the size of the case and how much room there is in the earbud cutouts.