Creative outs new Sound Cards

[hydra]

Creative reveals Sound Blaster ZxR, Zx, and Z PCI-Express sound cards, pumps up the volume -- Engadget

PRESS RELEASE FROM CREATIVE

SINGAPORE 15 August 2012 Creative Technology Ltd today announced its new ultra high-performance Z-Series of Sound Blaster PCI-Express sound cards

Elevating the standards of technology and performance for the future of gaming and entertainment on the PC. Creative will preview the new Sound Blaster ZxR, Sound Blaster Zx and Sound Blaster Z at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from 15-19 August 2012.

"The audio landscape for gaming and entertainment on the PC has changed. As content creation and consumption evolves with the interactivity of the Internet, our vision is to enable the best listening experiences for music, video and games, and to transcend the basic concept of sound quality as a specification with enabling technologies that allow users to completely customise their PC audio," said Low Long Chye, Director of Product Marketing for Audio. "For audio playback, we use studio-grade components to deliver outstanding fidelity, and then greatly enhance the listening experience by implementing our SBX Pro Studio suite of audio technologies. This enables complete customisation of audio playback, uniquely catered to suit individual tastes. Our mixture of outstanding components and proprietary technologies also enables us to provide the highest quality recording experience for audio creation, which today expands beyond just music recording to include user interaction and creation with YouTube, eSports, and more."

"We also recognise how voice communications in massively multiplayer online (MMO) and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games are so crucial to winning, and how clear communications in VoIP applications such as Skype are so important to having meaningful conversations. This is where our CrystalVoice technologies enable users to experience the best possible sound quality the level of quality that is exclusively available with Sound Blaster. To complete the overall communication experience, all our sound cards comes standard with a high-quality dual microphone array," added Low Long Chye.

Each New Sound Card Offers a Complete Audio System

To dynamically power compelling audio playback, the new sound cards leverage the Creative Sound Core3D quad-core sound and voice processor, which is designed to work in perfect harmony with Creative's SBX Pro Studio technology and high-quality components to deliver a complete audio platform. Sound Core3D also works seamlessly with CrystalVoice communications technologies and the high-quality beam-forming microphone array included with each of the new sound cards to deliver Acoustic Echo Cancellation, Voice Focus and
Noise Reduction for clear online voice communications. This complete system for voice communications also enables gamers to use speakers and the high-quality microphone array to achieve a better overall experience.

Sound Blaster ZxR The World's Best Sounding Sound Card (SRP US$249.99)

This flagship Sound Blaster ZxR is designed to provide the best gaming and entertainment audio performance in any sound cards. It also delivers the ultimate audio playback and creation solution for the PC. Studio-grade components, which include external digital-to-analog converters (DACs) that deliver 127dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), sockets for swappable Op-Amps, a high-end 80mW into 600 ohm headphone amplifier, and 192kHz pass through, are used to deliver phenomenal audio quality.

The Sound Blaster ZxR has multiple connections including a proprietary connector to the DBpro, a daughter board that offers optical output for outstanding playback; and professional-grade 123dB analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with RCA Aux-in and optical input for outstanding recording quality.

Furthermore, a convenient external ACM (Audio Control Module) provides a built-in dual-microphone array and mic/headphone I/O connections. Designed to complement the Sound Blaster ZxR, the ACM adds convenience, extra connectivity and control, plus it enhances the look of any desktop.

In addition to the impressive hardware capabilities, the proprietary SB Speaker-Calibration feature, DTS Connect and Dolby Digital Live, all these three ensure an ultra-realistic cinematic audio playback and gaming experience. From the hardcore gamer fragging an opponent on a first person shooter to a die-hard MOBA or MMO player engaging with thousands of players online, gamers can get a competitive advantage from excellent audio quality and positional accuracy.

In many of today's most popular games, if gamers are not communicating, they are not winning. For voice communications, Creative's CrystalVoice technologies enable crystal-clear communications amongst gamers and their teammates.

Creative's audio engineers designed the SBX Pro Studio suite of audio playback technologies so gamers can improve their audio experience and calibrate their game audio so they can hear the subtle nuances that gives a competitive edge. Immersive surround sound, the ability to clearly understand teammates and enhancements of specific sounds in a gaming environment are just a few elements of SBX Pro Studio that enhance gaming audio.

SBX Pro Studio Features:

SBX Crystalizer - Enhances sound for games, music and movies by restoring low and high end frequency curves lost to compression
SBX Surround - Delivers a 360 degree surround sound experience so gamers can hear sounds clearly from the front, back, above and below
SBX Smart Volume - Address the problem of abrupt volume level changes in music, movies and games by intelligently applying gain and attenuation to deliver consistent volume levels; includes Night Mode to reduce the impact of explosions and bursts of sound so as not to disturb others after hours
SBX Dialog Plus - Enhances voices in games and movies for clearer dialog, allowing the listener to hear the dialog over the rest of sound track and over ambient noise
SBX Bass - Fills in the missing low frequency tones and give the extra impact for a better entertainment experience

Designed to deliver crystal clear vocal fidelity in multiplayer games, online chats and video conferencing, CrystalVoice technologies also enhance voice communications for VoIP solutions such as Skype.

CrystalVoice Features:

Acoustic Echo Cancellation - Eliminates echoes and enables whoever is speaking to listen to the other party clearly
Noise Reduction - Enables the person speaking to be heard clearly over background noise by constantly monitoring the environment and eliminating unwanted noise that interferes with the conversation
Smart Volume - Automatically adjusts the loudness of a voice to maintain a consistent volume level. This makes it convenient for the speaker to converse normally, regardless of whether the speaker is close to or far away from the microphone
Voice Focus - Beam-forming creates a zone and suppresses noise outside it to enable whoever is speaking to be heard with amazing clarity. Multiple microphones are used to focus, enhance voice, and eliminate sounds outside the zone
VoiceFX - Enables alteration of voice with a variety of effects, which can be used to enhance the tone of a voice, create interesting accents, or enable someone to sound like a completely different person

Sound Blaster Zx High-Performance Gaming and Entertainment Audio (SRP US$149.99)

The Sound Blaster Zx incorporates all the hardware and software features of the Sound Blaster ZxR except for the DBpro daughter board.

Clad in brilliant red EMI shielding and featuring glowing LED lighting, the Sound Blaster Zx is the bad boy of the bunch, with an attention-grabbing design that ideally complements any power gaming rig. The Sound Blaster Zx leverages Sound Core3D processing with external DACs that deliver 120dB SNR. Other features include support for 192kHz direct pass-through to analog out, a 600 ohm headphone amplifier, gold-plated I/O connectivity, and SB Speaker-Calibration, which calibrates speakers to take advantage of room acoustics, resulting in an optimised audio performance. The Sound Blaster Zx also includes the convenient external ACM (Audio Control Module) with a built-in dual microphone array and mic/headphone I/O connections. To enhance digital entertainment capabilities, DTS Connect and Dolby Digital Live encoding are included. The product also includes high-quality optical and stereo cables.

Sound Blaster Z High-Performance Gaming and Entertainment Audio (SRP US$99.99)

The Sound Blaster Z incorporates all the hardware and software features of the Sound Blaster Zx except for the ACM. Instead, an external high quality dual-microphone array comes standard with this card.

An ideal all-around gaming and entertainment solution, the Sound Blaster Z comes with 120dB SNR and supports 192kHz direct pass-through to analog out. It also features glowing LED lighting, a 600 ohm headphone amplifier, an EMI-free analog input and output path, SB Speaker- Calibration and gold-plated I/O connections for pristine audio quality.

The ZxR seems to be aimed squarely at the Asus Xonar STX.

 

[ranjeetrain]

There was a time when computer audio (multimedia) meant Sound Blaster. People didn't buy a "sound card", they bought a "Sound blaster". Hope with these cards those days are back. Because the reliability of Creative cards is unmatched. I have 3-4 other cards lying with me that have failed on me, but none of them is a Creative. Two of my creative cards, both 10+ years old, are still working.

 

[musicbee]

I still have a couple of Sound Blasters lying around. Don't use them (the audiophile bug bit me and I jumped on the Asus bandwagon) but long before the others computer soundcards and speakers only meant Creative.

I still use a Creative Inspire 5.1 with Sound Blaster Live! to watch movies on the PC and it continues to be an enjoyable experience.

 

[hydra]

I've been using an Audigy 2NX USB Soundcard for about 8 or 9 years now. It has seen 3 desktops go by, and it still works like a charm.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Early sound blasters were true to their name --- but the technology has grown up and so has Creative.

There seems to be a lot here for the gaming and home-theatre markets, including some very innovative programming. It's a great idea, for the 2.00am film watcher, to process HT sound so that dialogue can be heard but the dynamite blasts don't wake up the neighbourhood.

For those of us that are two-in/two-out purists, not so much to interest us, and the hole in the market is still there, leaving us with little choice other than semi-pro gear, which comes with all sorts of other things we don't need. The hifi DAC makers can rejoice!

 

[rud3dawg]

I agree with Thad E Ginathom here.. Creative has primarily devised Sound cards for Gamers in the last decade or so.. the initial Sound blasters were definitely more reliant .. having said this I have had a Sound blaster live X-Fi titanium which I have scored from a friend about 2 yrs ago and he had used it for over 2 yrs I think..

I am a gamer primarily and my Sound card definitely pleases me during my rage filled FPS s like BF3, COD or even a low end Counter strike 1.6. The only issues that i faced with my sound card is with the drivers...now, thanks to a friend who has the same card I know the exact version and sequence of drivers and apps which will result in the best outcomehyeah: I have seen and compared my X-Fi titanium with a Asus xonar (not sure which model ) but WRT to analog sound and for audiophiles the music and sound quality the Asus takes and cake for sure.. and for gaming I still feel the X-Fi titanium had the edge...with different features..

 

[corElement]

I don't know if you guys are familiar with the early incarnations of soundblaster from days of dos but this was my very first sound card.

The Creative sound blaster awe 64 gold. I used this soundcard upto 2002 till motherboards stopped supporting ISA slots.

It might not have amazing specs but the sound of this card rivals any modern day audiophile card. It's even got gold played rca outputs which was unheard of back in early 90's.

I wish I could power it up and compare it with my xonar stx. It's sitting inside a box, still have it.

 

[ranjeetrain]

AWE 64 had the best sound possible from a PC in it's days.

Quality of early days Creative was superlative. My most reliable CD-ROM was a circa 1994 Creative that I sold as late as 2006. Bad decision. The drive could read even scratched discs that today's drives simply fail to load. And the sound, an earphone plugged right into the 3.5 mm jack on it's front, was equivalent to INR 50k Marantz CDPs (back in the days).

My oldest Creative sound card is a 2 channel card too. Didn't need anything else till I needed bit-perfect output through SPDIF. That's when I bought my next creative, an Audigy (2 ZS perhaps). Very low latency, ultra low distortion, capable of MLP processing (enable DVD-A playback on PC for the first time), and best of all, all multichannel format pass-thru via SPDIF. There was no simpler/more cost-effective/elegant way to experience computer based entertainment. It was a bliss at that time.

Too bad, post 2004, Creative lost the grip on the market.

 

[haisaikat]

which include external digital-to-analog converters (DACs) that deliver 127dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR),

This specs surpass the same of STX. Hopefully some day a low height PCIe card will be launched comparable to STX or this ZX

 

[gryph0n]

This specs surpass the same of STX.

I'd be skeptical of this claim. Most manufacturers quote the DAC chip's specs, while their actual implementation falls short. IIRC, even the Asus cards had lower SNR ratios than claimed, when tested with professional AP test equipment.

 

[aramosfet]

I was also a proud owner of a sound blaster.. Once upon a time... But the drivers and utilities have gotten progressively worse. I own a X-fi 5.1 usb sound card now. It'll be the last creative that i'll buy. enough said!