Creative Labs releases special edition Sound Blaster Z PCIe

#5878603

OnnA

2021-01-18 10:04

Sound Blaster Command ver. 3.4.94.3 is with SB-Z support.

#5878608

TheDeeGee

2021-01-18 10:37

Yeah, i installed Sound Blaster Command for my ZxR a couple of days ago. Same sound, modern look, can't complain.

#5878631

insp1re2600

2021-01-18 12:21

Shame it didn't go as far as recon3d, fiancee still has one of those in her rig.

#5878665

RavenMaster

2021-01-18 14:26

I wish Creative would bring out a dedicated sound card with a HDMI 2.1 eARC Output. Optical only supports a maximum of 5.1 surround. HDMI 2.1 eARC can do 7.1 or 5.1.2, 7.1.4 and has support for Dolby Atmos and DTS TrueHD. Perfect for a Home Theatre PC. Pretty much all the PC monitors out there on the market don't have eARC either. So you can't go from GPU ----> Monitor ----> AV Receiver. You'd have to go GPU ----> AV Receiver ----> Monitor. This is a problem because you don't get to use the Monitor's technological benefits such as VRR/G-sync/Freesync etc. You have to rely on the AV Receiver's display technology instead, which is usually a bit laggier and not as precise when it comes to clarity. Or you could go GPU ----> Monitor. Then put in a 2nd HDMI cable from the GPU to the AV Receiver directly. But this creates a 2nd 'Phantom monitor' and Windows thinks you are using a dual monitor setup when in actual fact only sound is being sent to this 'Phantom monitor.' This causes flickering when you alt tab out of a game and takes about 10 seconds to re-adjust itself to give you an image from your actual monitor.

#5878685

gx-x

2021-01-18 15:49

I just use toslink don't need hdmi to do, well, anything really. Where toslink is hardly appropriate or impossible, spdif over coax cable is also fine ( you can convert it to fiber and back, if you want to, using adapters that are not expensive). It's actually quite freeing to move away from creative. Been on Asus for years, and have all the options creative is introducing just now, but I've had them since forever. They come even with Xonar DG (~$25 ), not to mention other cards and especially external usb cards. Creative has some more years to match software and hardware of those....They will never match the pricing tho, too greedy.

#5878707

pimp_gimp

2021-01-18 17:02

Just installed this and the new driver for my SBZ. Nice to see Creative still giving it support, it'd been a great card.

#5878710

SHS

2021-01-18 17:18

Fergutor:

Wait, so you couldn't set windows to 7.1 while headphones in the Creative software like in the older Creative cards (for example the Audigy SE PCI I'm using now for gaming)!?!?!? Or is this something else/different I'm misunderstanding?

That right you need new Sound Blaster Z SE card for that

#5878743

SHS

2021-01-18 18:48

Fergutor:

But "The press release says that users of the regular version of Sound Blaster Z can install a new application from Creative to get the updated functionality described above." ?

I don't see any press release on Creative Lab web site about the new driver say that in fact it just the other way other way around if got a link post it

#5878747

SHS

2021-01-18 19:03

Fergutor:

No, no, just quoting the Guru3D article. If there was a driver's changelog but it isn't. Someone with the Z should be able to confirm.

I have a Z

#5878755

SHS

2021-01-18 19:37

Fergutor:

Dissapointing. I wonder now what other cards can't virtualize 7.1! Uff kind of lucky I never bought any of them!! Really, really stupid on part of creative... But wait, if you go to the Windows sound output device panel, you can't configure 7.1 there either?

I had all ready check long ago only Stereo and 5.1 is available

#5878764

SHS

2021-01-18 19:58

Fergutor:

crap. Hey. In the Z page it says this: "The Latest Sound Blaster Command Software Access unlocked! For all the old and new users of the Sound Blaster Z, we've updated the software from Sound Blaster Control Panel to Sound Blaster Command so you can enjoy the latest audio technologies! Get your hands on the full suite of Sound Blaster's industry-leading audio processing technologies including 7.1 Surround for an incredible immersion, Crystallizer that helps improve the dynamic range of audio, or Bass that provides bigger punch on the low end. All enhancements are fully customizable from the Sound Blaster Command software suite on PC."

All I can tell you is that not there

#5878772

SHS

2021-01-18 20:23

Fergutor:

Yeah, I understand. But clearly there's a contradiction there on Creative's part between page's info (and Guru's info that surey came from Creative) and with your experience. Probably buggy soft release...?

No bugs and work just fine I even like the new UI which far better then the old one.

#5878779

valentyn0

2021-01-18 20:37

RavenMaster:

I wish Creative would bring out a dedicated sound card with a HDMI 2.1 eARC Output. Optical only supports a maximum of 5.1 surround. HDMI 2.1 eARC can do 7.1 or 5.1.2, 7.1.4 and has support for Dolby Atmos and DTS TrueHD. Perfect for a Home Theatre PC.

Why would Creative do that ? these are PC soundcards, for gaming, why would they need to go into home cinema territory ? There's no need.

#5878830

Mufflore

2021-01-18 23:08

RavenMaster:

I wish Creative would bring out a dedicated sound card with a HDMI 2.1 eARC Output. Optical only supports a maximum of 5.1 surround. HDMI 2.1 eARC can do 7.1 or 5.1.2, 7.1.4 and has support for Dolby Atmos and DTS TrueHD. Perfect for a Home Theatre PC. Pretty much all the PC monitors out there on the market don't have eARC either. So you can't go from GPU ----> Monitor ----> AV Receiver. You'd have to go GPU ----> AV Receiver ----> Monitor. This is a problem because you don't get to use the Monitor's technological benefits such as VRR/G-sync/Freesync etc. You have to rely on the AV Receiver's display technology instead, which is usually a bit laggier and not as precise when it comes to clarity. Or you could go GPU ----> Monitor. Then put in a 2nd HDMI cable from the GPU to the AV Receiver directly. But this creates a 2nd 'Phantom monitor' and Windows thinks you are using a dual monitor setup when in actual fact only sound is being sent to this 'Phantom monitor.' This causes flickering when you alt tab out of a game and takes about 10 seconds to re-adjust itself to give you an image from your actual monitor.

HDMI 2.0 can support eARC, it doesnt need HDMI 2.1. The product has to support it, sadly HDMI 2.0 displays dont. (Many HDMI 2.0 receivers do) Saying this because the Creative card doesnt need the more expensive HDMI 2.1 to do this. Although I've managed to get my Samsung Q9FN HDMI 2.0 TV, playing video on its USB input, to pass Atmos to my receiver - this needs eARC. But it will only pass ARC from an HDMI video in signal, not eARC.

#5878831

Alessio1989

2021-01-18 23:16

Some dedicated sound cards have decent components. This is kinda meh... but always shit software and basically joking EQ. Nothing compared with APO + Peace.

#5878866

Aaron123

2021-01-19 03:13

SHS:

No bugs and work just fine I even like the new UI which far better then the old one.

I installed the commander software, but i could not find crystalizer so i uninstalled, and the new software's eq sucks. I couldn't get it to sound like the old software, so i had to go back to the classic pro studio. Such a shame.

#5878889

SHS

2021-01-19 07:04

Aaron123:

I installed the commander software, but i could not find crystalizer so i uninstalled, and the new software's eq sucks. I couldn't get it to sound like the old software, so i had to go back to the classic pro studio. Such a shame.

You didn't look very well it under SBX Profile page

#5878918

alanm

2021-01-19 10:03

RavenMaster:

I wish Creative would bring out a dedicated sound card with a HDMI 2.1 eARC Output. Optical only supports a maximum of 5.1 surround. HDMI 2.1 eARC can do 7.1 or 5.1.2, 7.1.4 and has support for Dolby Atmos and DTS TrueHD. Perfect for a Home Theatre PC. Pretty much all the PC monitors out there on the market don't have eARC either. So you can't go from GPU ----> Monitor ----> AV Receiver. You'd have to go GPU ----> AV Receiver ----> Monitor. This is a problem because you don't get to use the Monitor's technological benefits such as VRR/G-sync/Freesync etc. You have to rely on the AV Receiver's display technology instead, which is usually a bit laggier and not as precise when it comes to clarity. Or you could go GPU ----> Monitor. Then put in a 2nd HDMI cable from the GPU to the AV Receiver directly. But this creates a 2nd 'Phantom monitor' and Windows thinks you are using a dual monitor setup when in actual fact only sound is being sent to this 'Phantom monitor.' This causes flickering when you alt tab out of a game and takes about 10 seconds to re-adjust itself to give you an image from your actual monitor.

Its what I do, plug display directly into GPU and use another port (DP to HDMI cable) for AV receiver. I have a 2nd display on the side, so dont have the issues you have. Before that I used a display emulator which also worked fine without issue.

#5878976

RavenMaster

2021-01-19 13:37

valentyn0:

Why would Creative do that ? these are PC soundcards, for gaming, why would they need to go into home cinema territory ? There's no need.

Can't claim to be selling audiophile quality gear if you're not selling stuff that audiophiles want XD

#5878982

mackintosh

2021-01-19 14:21

Audiophiles rarely use their PC to listen to music, and if they do, it’s through custom DACs and headphone amps. You can get a much better sounding stack for less money anyway.