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REVIEWER’S GUIDE Corporate Headquarters
Tel: +(65) 6895 4000
Creative Technology Ltd.
Fax: +(65) 6895 4999
31 International Business Park
Creative Website: www.creative.com
Creative Resource
For more details on Creative Gaming headsets,
Singapore 609921
Visit www.soundblaster.com
INTRODUCTION Designed around the powerful processing cores of the SoundCore3D, the Sound Blaster Z series once again raises the bar for the industrystandard in PCIe sound cards. The Z has been designed to meet the standards of those who want a vastly superior experience to motherboard audio. With external DAC’s delivering 116 dB SnR, a 600 ohm audiophile-grade headphone amp, and massively customizable SBX Pro Studio technologies, the Z packs a serious audio punch.
SBX Studio ProTm technologies enhance both speaker and headphone or headset audio with an array of options to customize every detail of audio at the output level, with easy to create and load audio profiles that you can optimize for every type of playback or recording scenario you want. Blast wave gaming? Multi-channel entertainment audio? Optimized for voice chat and recording? Refined music listening? The Z and the SBX profile system not only makes every one of these scenarios possible, it makes them awesome.
Much More Than Just A Sound Card. It’s A Philosophy. The 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.
● Includes a beamforming microphone optimized for use with CrystalVoiceTm technologies. The dual microphone array allow for several complex uses such as advanced noise cancellation creating superior recording and voice transmission platform than a standard single mic solution.
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HARDWARE AND TECH Multiple Layer Super Grounded PCB Design with EMI Shielding A PC has many potential analog signal interference points. Multiple Layer Super Grounding dedicates layers of PCB and materials to shield signals travelling across the board away from possible interference points. EMI shielding adds yet another level of protection from analog interference by shielding the card from potential outside signals. The Z uses these two methods in conjunction providing crystal clear signal transmission that is vastly superior to motherboard audio and even dedicated discreet PCI and PCIe audio solutions that do not utilize this methodology.
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
Get A Sonic Advantage The hardware benefits of the Sound Blaster Z card are only half the story. High-power gaming demands high power features. The exclusive Scout ModeTm feature powered by the SoundCore3D chipset is one such feature. This tech enhances specific ranges of audio to allow you to hear your enemies before they hear you. Tuned by pro-gamers who know what to listen for, this is audio that gives you a definitive edge while gaming.
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PRODUCT FEATURES EMI Shielding
3.5mm Headphone and Mic Gold-Plated Connectors LED Illumination
Gold-Plated 5.1 Outputs
TOSLINK Optical Input and Output
SoundCore3D™ Audio and Voice Processor
PCIe 1X Connection
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SBX PRO STUDIO™ AUDIO CUSTOMIZATION SBX Studio Pro Technologies The SBX Pro Studio suite of technology is specially designed to reproduce the great audio experience found in live performances, films and recording studios to the PC. SBX Pro Studio aims to deliver the fullest audio experience for music, movies, and games; while remaining true to the source and intention of the artist’s creation. Total Audio Control The SBX Studio Pro interface allows for complete control and customization of every playback and Z audio system. The interface has been refined to to make all all functions much easier recording aspect of the ZxR audio system. The interface has been refined make functions much to access and understand as wellas aswell opening up newup options for customization which can all can be saved easier to access and understand as opening new options for customization which all be in uniqueinprofiles. profile system it makes easy toitinstantly switch toswitch a preconfigured set of customized saved unique The profiles. The profilemakes system easy to instantly to a preconfigured set of options. Thisoptions. is ideal This for the user for that wants take full advantage the powerofofthe thepower Z andofit’s amazing customized is ideal the user to that wants to take fullof advantage the ZxR playback and recording capabilities. Fullycapabilities. customized Fully recording, audiophile playback, gaming, and of and it’s amazing playback and recording customized recording, audiophile playback, course multi-channel profiles can be aprofiles simplecan clickbeofaasimple mouseclick away. gaming, and of courseentertainment multi-channelplayback entertainment playback of a mouse away.
CustomizeYour YourAudio Audio Custmize Main Menu Options • •
Choose Choose from from several several configuration configuration options options on on this this side side bar. bar. Every Every SBX SBX technology technology can can be be accessed accessed from from this this level. level.
Manage Profile Manage Profile • •
Create, save, load and delete profiles Create, save, load and delete profiles
Top Level Volume Adjust •
Master volume control
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SBX Crystalizer™ Hearing fingers effortlessly glide across a guitar fret or fingers on an accoustic bass all add to the magic performance. SBX Crystalizer ensures that every audio detail is heard by restoring the “highs” and the “lows” that are compromised with audio compression. The SBX Crystalizer effect can be adjusted in strength for a larger amount of real-time restoration or more subtle amount by moving the slider to a chosen percentage in the interface.
SBX Surround™ Goes beyond 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound by creating an unprecedented level of audio realism including stunning surround effects that produce hundreds of virtual speakers around you. The SBX Surround effect strength and separation can be adjusted by moving the slider to a chosen percentage in the interface. The larger the value the higher the number of simulated channels and larger the virtual sound stage will be set.
SBX Bass™ SBX Bass technology dramatically improves the sound experience by expanding the low frequency tones.
SBX Dialog Plus™ Intelligently enhances voices in games and moves for dramatically clearer dialog. Both levels can be adjusted via the sliders.
SBX Smart Volume™ SBX Smart Volume minimizes abrupt volume changes and reduces audio fatigue during long listening sessions. All playback will be actively normalized to the pre-determined level making listening to content of various sources much more consistent.
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CRYSTALVOICE™ CrystalVoice™ Technologies The total system approach of Sound Blaster couples superior hardware and hardware accelerated functions with a flexible interface. The CrystalVoice™ suite of technologies ensures you’ll experience crystal clear communications while using VOIP services, chatting, or gaming as well as providing a set of hardware tools to ensure that recordings are of studio quality. • CrystalVoice™ Noise Reduction CrystalVoice™ Noise Reduction – Eliminates unwanted background noise from your conversations by utilizing powerful adaptive noise reduction algorithms accelerated in hardware by the SoundCore3D chipset. • CrystalVoice™ Smart Volume Be heard clearly without having to shout or whisper. The CrystalVoice algorithms actively listen to the recording audio stream and attenuates the volume louder or softer to a pre-set level. When activated this ensures recordings or outbound voice will be recorded at this pre-determined level regardless • CrystalVoice™ AECall(Active Echo-Cancellation) of where the microphone is where you for arerecording in the room. AEC allows for youplaced to use aormicrophone or conversation even while using • CrystalVoice™ AEC (Active Echo-Cancellation) top AEC allows for you to speakers. This is done for by comparing theconversation recording feed andwhile the playback feed use a microphone recording or even using desktop elimi- speakers. This is done nating the echo in the outbound audio recording stream. by comparing the recording feed and the playback feed and eliminating the echo in the outbound audio recording stream. • CrystalVoice™FX Change and alter your voice to match in-game avatars or just to add some fun to your recordings. There are several presets to choose from as well as the ability to create your own custom voice mask.
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CrystalVoice™ Controls Recording Level Controls •
Mic Volume and Mic boost are controlled with these sliders. You can also customize each recording device level independently by selecting from the drop down menu
Activate or Deactivate •
Clicking this button will activate or deactivate your selected CrystalVoice tech in once click
Voice FX •
Clicking this checkbox will turn Voice FX voice alteration technologies off and on. You can choose from several
Additional CrystalVoice Tech
presets in the drop down menu •
Clicking these checkboxes will enable or disable the additional CrystalVoice technologies
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MORE SBX PRO STUDIO™ Scout Mode™ Technology Intended for competitive online gaming, this proprietary technology allows you to hear your enemies from further away, giving you a distinct tactical advantage in combat. Scout Mode can also be programmed to be activated or de-activated on the fly by assigning a hot key, allowing you to turn “bionic hearing” off or on with a simple keystroke.
• CrystalVoice™ AEC (Active Echo-Cancellation) AEC allows for you to use a microphone for recording or conversation even while using top speakers. This is done by comparing the recording feed and the playback feed eliminating the echo in the outbound audio recording stream.
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Speakers / Headphones Tab This tab allows you to configure your system for use with headphones, stereo speakers, or multi-channel speakers. Choose the appropriate output setup. Cinematic Tab This tab enables or disables Dolby® Digital Live SPDIF output. Enabling the checkbox turns on Dolby Digital Live SPDIF output.
Equalizer Tab The equalizer tab opens a standard 10 band graphic equalizer. You can choose from pre-set equalizer types or create your own custom EQ setting and save for future use and inclusion in your audio profile.
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MIXER Mixer and Output Controls The SBX Studio Pro interface has refined the control system to allow for easy selection of various input audio and control of the output levels as well. Each input and output has configuration options. You can also assign the functionality of the multipurpose jack on the card to serve as a rear-microphone or rear line-level input.
• CrystalVoice™ AEC (Active Echo-Cancellation) AEC allows for you to use a microphone for recording or conversation even while using top speakers. This is done by comparing the recording feed and the playback feed eliminating the echo in the outbound audio recording stream.
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SPEAKERS & HEADPHONES Multichannel and Stereo Speakers When multi-channel or stereo speaker audio is chosen in the drop down menu of this tab you will see the corresponding options for these output settings. You can fine tune your speakers and define them as full-range or surround type speakers as well as turn off and on optional speaker types (center channel speaker, etc.). • CrystalVoice™ AEC (Active Echo-Cancellation)
AEC allows for you to use a microphone for recording or conversation even while using In addition, you can engage a basstop redirection option which speakers. This is adone by comparing the recording feed and the playback feed will enable elimi-crossover to send bass nating the echo in thetooutbound audio recording stream. level frequencies
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the subwoofer instead of your surround or stereo speakers. The crossover frequency can be fine tuned by adjusting the slider.
Headphones The SBX Pro Studio interface also allows for you to switch from speaker to headphones mode with a single toggle. This is located at the top of the speaker / headphones tab menu. In headphone mode you can enable a highpowered gain stage takes full advantage of the powerful headphone amp included in the Z series cards and allows the card to power high-end headphones up to 600 ohms.
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PROFILES Another level of audio customization The SBX Pro Studio profile system allows you to create several profiles that are optimized for the various useage scenarios of the Z series cards. There is a massive amount of flexibility in tuning your audio and switching between the different profiles is instantaneous and easy.
• CrystalVoice™ AEC (Active Echo-Cancellation) Once you have configured your card to the AEC allows for you to use a microphone for recording or conversation even while using setting desired, click the profile tab and top you’ll see the windowspeakers. done by comparing the recording feed and the playback feed pop up This that is allows elimi-for profiles to be saved nating the echo in the outbound audio recording stream. or loaded.
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When saving a profile you will also be able to select one of the included icons or select your own image to represent the particular profile you have created. It’s easy, quick, and extremely useful when taking advantage of the massive amount of customization SBX Pro Studio provides. You will have fine tuned audio, entertainment, and gaming profiles a few clicks away.
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