Just to remind people that this is a OEM product so there will not be any official packaging and you will not receive the microphone. Also the decorative shield is not included but if you have a closed box there really isn't much need for it to be honest.
Now I'm no true audiophile so I cannot give you a comprehensive review on the quality of the sound but many have already provided such reviews and I recommend you go and search for the official boxed product (search for 'sound blaster Z' on amazon and you will find it).
From what I can tell though the quality is definitely a step up from the on-board sound, but if you don't have studio grade/audiophile headphones and you have a relatively modern motherboard then the quality gains in my opinion isn't worth it. In other words you really need to appreciate true audio quality to truly benefit from a product like this. At the moment I'm not using amazingly high quality headphones either (I am using a MDR-XB500), but even with these mid-range headphones there still is a clear difference and the quality is just superb. In my circumstances a casual user probably wont recognize the difference but if you are even considering purchasing a sound card to begin with then you are anything but casual, which is honorable.
The real reason of why I bought this was because I needed a dolby digital live card so I could make true surround sound work with my headphones. In conjunction with the Sound Blaster Z I am using an old Earforce DSS sound processor (still works well) which basically allows you to enjoy full surround sound on any headphone/earphone. Without dolby digital live encoding true PC headphone surround sound is not possible (when using an external processor like mine). And let me tell you something, true headphone surround sound is just AMAZING! If you are a gamer this is a must! It is the cheapest way to experience true surround sound without sacrificing quality. A similar setup with actual speakers will costs thousand to replicate the quality and immersion. Not to mention the convenience of headphones is far better (especially if you watch/play at night). I always thought cinema sound was awesome but this is just a whole new level! And I'm not even using audiophile grade headphones (just imagine the quality then...)
Anyways that was my real reason for buying this sound card. There are other ways to make true surround sound on the PC work but since I already had this Earforce DSS processor I didn't look much further. There may be better ways now to make headphone surround sound work on the PC so make sure you do your research.
Just to add further clarification. The Sound Blaster software does have a 'surround sound' slider. but this is not true surround sound, this merely takes stereo information and tries to expand the sound to make it seem like it is surrounding you. This is why I kept emphasizing the phrase 'true headphone surround sound' because the software surround feature is no match at all. The Earforce DSS takes actual surround sound information and relays that on properly to the headphones (it uses the optical cables btw). If you are a gamer you will truly appreciate this because you can naturally tell the exact position of where the sound is coming from. It would be awesome if they could add this ability directly on to a future sound card and perhaps dedicate a special headphone port just for this feature.
The software is very easy to use and there are some useful features which really improve the audio quality further. Feel free to mess around with the settings as there is a small arrow on each slider to tell you what the default setting was. I found the Crystalizer slider to improve the sound clarity further, the bass slider can be put all the way up without sacrificing too much of anything else and the dialog plus does improve the clarity of speech but it does hinder the loudness of background noise/music (which is what it is supposed to do). I don't use the surround setting because it interferes with my true surround sound setup. Also the bass setting I mentioned is actually disabled on default for me because the software thinks that I am using a 5.1 surround setup so if you go to the speaker/headphones tab you can find a separate bass slider there. The software is fooled like this because the Earforce DSS is converting true surround sound information to the headphones so one of the great things you can do in this software is to test out the directional sound. On the speaker/headphones tab if you click on the rear right sound button you will hear the sound exactly at that position when wearing the headphones (sometimes it makes you want to turn your head around lol). This is a good way to test to make sure that your headphone surround sound setup is working. There is a separate headphone section but that only has stereo sound buttons so you can't test out headphone surround sound (again proof that true headphone surround sound is not an actual feature).
Anyway, in short if you are in need of a solid sound card and perhaps want to make headphone surround sound work (using a separate processor) this is the card to get. The quality and price is unbeatable and is even better than some older inferior sound cards (some of which are twice the price of this!).
Just a quick note: if a sound card doesn't have the Toslink optical in/out then you won't be able to use external processors such as the Earforce DSS.
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From the manufacturer
PCIe Gaming Sound Card
Sound Blaster Z, part of the ultra high-performance Z-Series of Sound Blaster sound cards, is an ideal all-round solution for your PC gaming and entertainment needs.
High fidelity multi-channel surround
Connect to your home theatre system through a single digital cable and enjoy cinematic DVD movies by transforming any stereo or multi-channel streams into high fidelity immersive surround sound.
Crystal clear communication
In gaming, if you're not communicating, you're not winning. Experience crystal clear communication with your teammates with the CrystalVoice suite of technologies that removes echoes, ambient noises and picks up your voice from within a zone (Voice Focus). It also maintains your voice level even if you are near or further away from the microphone.
- 116 dB Signal-to-noise ratio
- SBX Pro Studio technologies
- CrystalVoice-Technology
- Sound Core3D audio processor
- Audio Stream Input/Output (ASIO) support
- Switch between headphone and speaker system
- Dolby Digital Live
- DTS Connect
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116 dB Signal-to-Noise ratioA signal to noise ratio or SNR of 116 dB means your audio will be more than 99.99 per cent pristine, which is over 35.4 times better than motherboard audio. |
SBX Pro Studio technologiesSBX Pro Studio sound technologies create unprecedented levels of audio realism, including 3 D surround effects for your speakers and headsets. |
Never unplug your headphones againWith the Sound Blaster Z-series Control Panel, just toggle between your headphone and speaker system with a flip of a switch. |
Sound Core3D audio processorThe multi-core Sound Core3D audio processor is designed to offload SBX Pro Studio and CrystalVoice effects processing from your primary CPU, improving your overall PC performance, resulting in drastically superior audio and voice quality. |
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| Sound Blaster Z bulk | Sound Blaster Z | Sound Blaster Zx | Sound Blaster ZxR | |
| Audio Technology | Sound Core3D | Sound Core3D | Sound Core3D | Sound Core3D |
| Max Channel Output | 5.1 Channels | 5.1 Channels | 5.1 Channels | 5.1 Channels |
| Included Accessories | none | Sound Blaster Beamforming Microphone | Audio Control Module (with Beamforming Microphone Built-in) | Audio Control Module (with Beamforming Microphone Built-in) |
| Signal-to-Noise ratio | 116dB | 116dB | 116dB | 124dB |
| Frequency range | 100Hz ~ 20kHz | 100Hz ~ 20kHz | 100Hz ~ 20kHz | 100Hz ~ 20kHz |
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| Creative HS-810 SB Blaze | Sound BlasterX H5 Tournament Edition | Sound BlasterX Katana | |
| Characteristics | Performance Gaming Headset with Detachable Noise-reduction Microphone | Professional Analog Gaming Headset | Multi-channel Gaming Soundbar |
| Description | This powerful, lightweight piece of gaming gear is the real deal. Commands, explosions and sniper shots are reproduced through the large, responsive 40mm FullSpectrum drivers, giving you total immersion in your game.The detachable, noise-cancelling microphone lets you make crisp, clear commands, or flip the mic out for great music on the go. | The BlasterX H5 Tournament Edition is an upgrade from the BlasterX H5 with improved drivers for better sensitivity and more accurate sound reproduction. This gaming headset also features an upgraded microphone to help you ace your games with better voice pick up and noise cancellation in loud gaming environments. | In a league of its own, the Katana fits right under your monitor with a slimness that's unmatched by other so-called gaming “sound bars”, and is powered and enhanced by our award winning multi-core audio DSP making it the world's first true Under Monitor Audio System (UMAS). In addition, the Sound BlasterX features the Aurora Reactive lighting system. |
| Comfort in the Heat of Battle | Gaming Audio Remastered | Under Monitor Audio System: So Sleek, Yet So Powerful |
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 29 April 2013
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 29 August 2018
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 13 May 2019
comes as you'd expect OEM only but compared to the retail one which has a red shell and a mic, it's the same card.
plugged in and quick download of the drivers, all working.
coming from an xfi, i can see it still has the crystaliser, bass boost and surround, but honestly, compared to the old cms3d, this didn't sound as good.
however, after a little play with the equalizer, softening the bass, etc. it was sounding awesome on a range of different things such as games, blu rays and some simple youtube videos; suggest creating a profile for general, games, music, movies etc. if you want - at least for games where you want the effects off and one for normal where you might want them on.
ignore the "scout mode". pointless, don't work, don't even know what they were thinking.
can't comment on the mic as i really only use it for skype calls and stuff so it's good enough for that.
the software is really good as it lets you pick speakers you do or do not have i.e. i picked 5.1, deselected the center and all working fine.
this has a little front panel head[hone header which works for most i would guess. if you have very good headphones, you may want to use the headphone port in the BACK. when i plugged into the front, i noticed a slight hiss in the high bitrate music i tested with... could be the cable in the case, could be any number of things, but didnt get the hiss plugging into the back. no hiss with my cheapo sony in ear handsfree ones. some review sites mentioned the same thing, something about front panel audio not being shielded etc.
all in all a great purchase - still miss my xifi but this is pretty good so far!
great sound quality once you've tweaked it your preference and speakers
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 13 May 2019
obviously this is subjective based on my preference, ears and speakers. for reference some quadraphonic bose speakers.Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 13 May 2019
comes as you'd expect OEM only but compared to the retail one which has a red shell and a mic, it's the same card.
plugged in and quick download of the drivers, all working.
coming from an xfi, i can see it still has the crystaliser, bass boost and surround, but honestly, compared to the old cms3d, this didn't sound as good.
however, after a little play with the equalizer, softening the bass, etc. it was sounding awesome on a range of different things such as games, blu rays and some simple youtube videos; suggest creating a profile for general, games, music, movies etc. if you want - at least for games where you want the effects off and one for normal where you might want them on.
ignore the "scout mode". pointless, don't work, don't even know what they were thinking.
can't comment on the mic as i really only use it for skype calls and stuff so it's good enough for that.
the software is really good as it lets you pick speakers you do or do not have i.e. i picked 5.1, deselected the center and all working fine.
this has a little front panel head[hone header which works for most i would guess. if you have very good headphones, you may want to use the headphone port in the BACK. when i plugged into the front, i noticed a slight hiss in the high bitrate music i tested with... could be the cable in the case, could be any number of things, but didnt get the hiss plugging into the back. no hiss with my cheapo sony in ear handsfree ones. some review sites mentioned the same thing, something about front panel audio not being shielded etc.
all in all a great purchase - still miss my xifi but this is pretty good so far!
Images in this review
