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Creative Sound Blaster Zx SBX PCIE Sound Card with ACM US$89.99@Amazon. AU$113.32 Delivered

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Creative Sound Blaster Zx SBX PCIE Sound Card with ACM US$89.99@Amazon. AU$113.32 DeliveredAffiliate
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wowoyu on 09/06/2014 - 15:07 amazon.com (379 clicks)
Last edited 09/06/2014 - 15:55 by 1 other user
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Creative Sound Blaster Zx SBX PCIE Gaming Sound Card with Audio Control Module SB1506

Very good price considering the local prices are north of $179(http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&c…).

If you want the version without ACM, the price is US$84.22 before shipping

For people who wants high-end sound card for gaming or htpc, it is a amazing card! Huge step up from previous gen X-fi card. Just a quick search you'll find fantastic reviews everywhere. Amazon reviews are 4.5

Using PCI-E x1 slot, make sure you have one available.

  • Features the Audio Control Module (ACM) which incorporates a built-in microphone array and mic/headphone I/O connections, plus a knob on the ACM to adjust the headphone levels
  • Features Sound Core3D Audio Processor for accelerating advanced audio and voice technologies
  • SBX Pro Studio sound technologies create unprecedented levels of audio realism including stunning 3D surround effects for your speakers and headsets
  • Scout Mode allows you to hear your enemies before they hear you, from further away, giving you a distinct advantage
  • DTS Connect, connects your home theatre system through a single digital cable and enjoy cinematic DVD movies by transforming any stereo or Dolby Digital 5.1 audio stream into high fidelity surround sound

What's in the Box?
Sound Blaster Zx sound card, Sound Blaster Audio Control Module, 1x Optical Cable, 1x Stereo (3.5mm)-to-RCA cable, Quick Start Leaflet, Installation CD containing: Drivers for Windows 7 and 8, Creative Software Suite, User's Guide

Product Description
The Sound Blaster Zx elevates the standards of technology and performance for the future of gaming and entertainment on the PC. Clad in brilliant red EMI shielding and featuring glowing LED lighting, it ideally complements any power gaming rig.

Our Sound Blaster product philosophy comes from a total system approach. We've designed the Z series cards to give the best experience for not only those wishing to experience content, but those wanting to create it as well. This includes optimizations for voice chat and recording in addition to all of the amazing SBX Studio Pro audio output enhancements.

High-Quality Connections
The Z card is equipped with gold plated connection points to ensure the card delivers the best possible audio signal.
3.5mm gold plated headphone jack driven by the 600 Ohm Maxim MAX97220 amp
3.5mm gold plated microphone jack
3.5mm gold plated 5.1 channel connections
TOSLINK digital audio input and outputs

116db Signal-To-Noise Ratio

SBX Pro Studio Technologies

Crystal Voice Technologies

Sound Core3D Audio Processor

Accessible Audio Control Module (ACM)

Price History at C CamelCamelCamel.
Computing Computer Component Computer Peripheral Creative Sound Card

Related Stores

Amazon US
Amazon US

closed Comments

  • congo on 09/06/2014 - 15:13

    Don't mobo these days already come with decent sound cards?

    • wowoyu on 09/06/2014 - 15:14

      Yes! That's why I'm saying "For people who wants high-end sound card"…

    • codhopper on 09/06/2014 - 15:34
      +2

      Onboard sound cards are usually shielded very poorly against electromagnetic interference, leading to static, hissing and other horrible/unwanted noises.

      These usually provide a higher sample rate and frequency range than onboard too. It isn't some sort of gimmick. I would liken it to an onboard video card which has a funny blurry line across it all the time, as opposed to a PCI-e card with a perfect video.

      • tessel on 09/06/2014 - 16:46

        And for "most" people they won't notice the difference. I used to be very much for dedicated sound cards, however, over the years this has changed. I do agree that they aren't as good quality, but the average Joe will not notice any difference.

      • Gnostikos on 10/06/2014 - 13:19
        +2

        Tom's Hardware did a comprehensive comparison between a $2000 DAC, a $200 DAC, an ASUS Xonar STX and Realtek's onboard ALC889 chipset.

        The conclusion reached was: "Anything above $2 (the cost of the Realtek chip itself) buys more features not quality"

        Though since the test was conducted exclusively through headphones; I hesitate to call it definitive by any stretch.

        • lostn on 10/06/2014 - 20:13
          +1

          I'm interested in seeing how Creative's stock prices have moved since the advent of onboard audio.

          The hissing, noises, and static that codhopper described with onboard audio, I can't say I've ever experienced.

    • Vladdo on 09/06/2014 - 16:03
      -1

      For those of us who don't listen to audio with a cheap $500 set of logitechs/sennheisers..

      • lostn on 10/06/2014 - 20:13

        You call that cheap?

        • Vladdo on 10/06/2014 - 20:42

          Yes.. when compared to more expensive gear..

    • standogg on 09/06/2014 - 16:29

      For general use on-board sound is ok, but for regularly listening to music and gaming a sound card makes a huge difference. I used to have an Asus xonar d2 and absolutely loved it, then when I did my new build it didn't have a pci slot so the d2 had to go. I thought that seeing as my new board was meant to have high quality on board sound I could get away without having to get a new sound card but everything just sounded flat, muffled and plain dull. Even though the sound blaster z isn't as top notch as my d2 it absolutely craps all over on board sound, my music actually pumps out of the speakers again.

      • Vladdo on 10/06/2014 - 20:51

        Having owned a D2 & a D2X the SBZ absolutely blows away the asus cards, namely because the asus/cmedia drivers are just horrible and outdated. 2 driver updates in since 2012.. In the end I just had to get away from the asus card as it's bugginess just drove me bat$hit..

    • twwyt on 09/06/2014 - 20:18

      nah inbuilt sound hardware is generally pretty pitiful through any sort of decent headphones

  • ausmechkeyboards on 09/06/2014 - 15:24

    Choosing the "with beam forming microphone" option shaves another $5 off.

    • standogg on 09/06/2014 - 15:35

      I purchased the version with the mic (Z) a while back, even though the model numbers are different it is the same card with different accessories. I was considering this one at the time I purchased mine but read that the control module degrades the sound quality quite drastically.

      • wowoyu on 09/06/2014 - 15:51

        I saw that too. But maybe just plug your gear directly into the back of the sound card?

    • codhopper on 09/06/2014 - 15:36

      But that is sacrificing the "Audio Control Module" for a "Beam Forming Microphone". Depends which you would prefer I suppose. Neither of the accessories look all that appealing.

      • bentan77 on 09/06/2014 - 15:40

        The "Audio Control Module" has a mic built into it, not sure if it's the same type though

        Edit:

        Audio Control Module
        (with built-in Beamforming Microphone)

        • codhopper on 09/06/2014 - 15:46

          I see what you mean. It says "built-in microphone array", and it just looks like it has 2 microphones. I assume quite a lot worse sound quality than the standalone mic.

        • TheContact on 09/06/2014 - 17:48
          +2

          The choice between beam forming mic and audio control module(ACM) is really a choice between the Sound Blaster Z, and Sound Blaster ZX, the ZX being the higher end one.

          While the standalone mic would look to be better in theory, Creative would have made it so the ACM mic is the better of the two. There's also the fact that the high end ZXR also has the same ACM, albeit in black.

      • standogg on 09/06/2014 - 16:20

        At the time I think there was about a $20 price difference and I wouldn't use either accessory so I opted for the cheapest option. I couldn't justify spending even $1 extra for 1.something I wouldn't use and 2.something that actually degrades the sound when you are spending so much trying to improve it in the first place.

  • 51722 on 09/06/2014 - 16:06

    Great timing!! I was thinking about buying one this week.

    Thank you.

    • wowoyu on 09/06/2014 - 16:08
      +1

      Glad to hear that! Enjoy it!

  • Jinster on 09/06/2014 - 16:19

    I didn't think many people are still buying sound cards. Most MB would have HDMI outputs and you can just feed that directly into an Hifi grade amplifier, with big speakers attached. The amount of amplification these cards provide make them only suitable for small desktop speakers, which surely cannot produce true hi-fidelity sound to justify premium sound cards to start with. So I must say I don't understand why such products still have a market. Each to his own though.

    • standogg on 09/06/2014 - 16:46
      +2

      I run mine into the Logitech z906, and while they aren't huge in size I'd hardly classify them as "small desktop speakers". The speakers make stuff sound good, but the sound card just makes it sound even better.

      • krisspy on 09/06/2014 - 17:07

        No logitech speaker sounds good lol, sound card or not

      • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 10/06/2014 - 00:55

        If a soundcard makes it sound better, youre not making good use of your speakers. You should be using optical out from your pc to the z906 receiver, in which case having an added soundcard will do diddly squat

    • madska on 09/06/2014 - 17:03
      +1

      agree, watch this before you buy
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1rXcJuEsy0

      • standogg on 09/06/2014 - 17:34

        Exactly, In the end good quality sound comes down to having a good quality audio source, feeding an average quality source through good speakers or headphones is still going to sound average.

      • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 10/06/2014 - 00:52

        Thanks for the video. if my digital onboard sound wasnt broken id have cancelled my order.

  • smurfinaus on 09/06/2014 - 17:12

    How is this versus an Asus Xonar EssenceSTX ?

    • standogg on 09/06/2014 - 17:17
      +1

      Depends on if you are buying for music or gaming, I'd recommend the Xonar for music and the sound blaster for gaming. I currently own the Sound Blaster Z and used to own a Xonar D2 which is very similar to the Essence so I'd say the Xonar does have a slight edge in overall sound quality but at a higher price.

      EDIT - I must add that while these cards are optimized for different things they both do a pretty good job at handling the other task (eg. the sound blaster for music and xonar for gaming)

    • thelastnoob on 09/06/2014 - 17:19
      +1

      much cheaper

  • unifex on 09/06/2014 - 18:46

    ACM = Volume control switch ?

    • wowoyu on 09/06/2014 - 21:27

      "Accessible Audio Control Module (ACM)
      Take control in style and ease with the ACM that incorporates a built-in microphone array and mic/headphone I/O connections. The knob on the ACM lets you conveniently adjust the headphone levels."

      Just fancy name for Mic(better than normal one maybe) & Headphone jack

  • ihavok on 09/06/2014 - 22:12

    This looks like such a good deal! Gonna hold out for the ZXR to drop in price though. Had my mouse hovering over the 'Buy' button for a while! Thanks for sharing :-)

    • wowoyu on 09/06/2014 - 22:38

      Yeah, pity ZXR not having a big discount

  • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 10/06/2014 - 00:30

    thanks for the post. i ordered one. I bought a asus xonar DGX last year to fix my broken onboard soundcard only to find it doesnt support DTS 5.1 encoding =\

  • randoom on 13/06/2014 - 09:20

    Depending on how much Amazon likes you, you may well be able to talk them down to the original price. Just open a chat to their customer support and see if they think you are a "valuable customer to Amazon". Originally, they'll give you spiel about not price matching anyone, but then just ask them to do the original $89.99 price and they probably will - like they did for me.

    • Gnostikos on 15/06/2014 - 02:24

      When exactly did you talk to customer support? Before purchasing or after?
      And how extensive is your Amazon purchasing history, that you're considered a "valuable customer"?

      And by $89.99, you mean $89.99 AUD + shipping (AUD) or $89.99 in total, etc…

      Information brother; you've just opened up a Pandora's box of potential thievery there, don't leave the OB community hanging.

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