** Creative Sound Blaster Z Gaming Sound Card Review **

Nice review.

I have one myself and have found it to be a very good soundcard.

No problems with the drivers either. It was pretty much plug and play for me. I do agree though that the settings need a bit of tweaking to get the best sound out of it, but that is hardly difficult to do.

I currently use the Mic with Vent when I play wow and the others tell me my voice comes in loud and clear.

One thing though rjk, on the SBX Pro Studio screenshot you posted, the Bass option is enabled. Did you have to do anything to enable it since mine is greyed out?

Thanks.
 
It's funny this should pop-up now as I've been tempted to go for a dedicated sound card after 10 years of using various onboard chips. My budget was going to be around £80 too, so would you recommend this or another card? I'm using Logitech Z-5300 5.1 speakers.

EDIT: I use USB headset for for voice comms when playing multiplayer, so the mic/headphone performance isn't my manin concern.
 
xibinim said:
I am guessing this is only worth a purchase if you have the equipment/speakers to match? Said goodbye to my Audigy 5.1 which I got 10 years ago in favour of the onboard sound with my new build. Speakers are Inspires 5.1 - also purchased 10 years ago.
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well, i only have a set of aego m speakers and a standard stereo headset currently. a sound card is a genuine step up from on board. i would never run a pc without a dedicated sound card now.

Westyfield2 said:
Good review :). Unfortunately for Creative though, they lost a lot of customers with their drivers... and I'd take a lot of convincing to switch back from Asus!
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i gave them a second chance.

even after this thread.

im sure you can tell that i was not their biggest fan for a while after a quick read of that.

the review is totally unbiased, i am not our sound card buyer at OcUK so I have no incentive to try and make you guys buy one :p
 
Hmm I m looking for a decent sound card, for both headphone(Goldrings) and edfiers

I have a mic already but it won't hurt to have a proper desktop one.

also the card is very appealing with this lovely red cover ( I like red @_@)

I think £80 is a bit too much, considering the D2X still seems to be slightly ahead of it

I heard it has headphone amps on it too?
 
never going back to soundcard .. once you go offboard dac with headphone amp and good headphones...... it's just heaven :)
 
I have just bought one and the inclusion of the dedicated headphone amp is superb. Much clearer and a more powerful sound that converting from the front speakers to a set of headphones. A fine upgrade from my x-fi fatal1ty edition even though I havent really done any major gaming with with it yet.
 
I have the oem Recon 3d version , going to a set of Bheringer ms20 active monitors , and it is awsome . Nice clear and crisp , and the bass is unreal ,to the point of having it near enough set to flat . And just controlling it through the speakers . When using a headset through the jack on the speakers whilst running on onboard it sounded awful , but now if anything it is better than the speakers alone .

For the price £43 it is a bargain I will never go back to onboard sound again . There is only 1 issue I have found is if you adjust any setting on the go , you sometimes loose the sound , and have to go back into audio manager , and reasign the output . I'm sure it will get fixed in a driver update .
 
Hope it's better than my X-Fi where I have to change modes every time I boot up just to get sound working :/
 
ubersonic said:
Do these have the usual Soundblaster PCB header for connecting a gameport?
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No it doesnt

InkZ said:
Hope it's better than my X-Fi where I have to change modes every time I boot up just to get sound working :/
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I found that deleting and cleaning all creative stuff off and reinstalling the drivers/reseating the card cured that for me.

So far no problems with drivers very stable. Just looking to see if daniel K will be customising the drivers like he has for all the other creative SB cards.
 
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