Creative Labs SoundBlaster ZXR gets tested and reviewed

Discussion in 'Frontpage news' started by Hilbert Hagedoorn, Jul 18, 2013.

  1. CrazY_Milojko

    CrazY_Milojko Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    2,683
    Likes Received:
    1,611
    GPU:
    Asus STRIX 1070 OC

    I'm not audiophile, my last non-onboard audio card was Creative Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 Digital (SB0220) and I was more than happy with it, still have it and it still works like a charm in one older computer with WinXP. Now I'm quite happy with integrated audio solutions mainly because I don't have/care for hi-end Hi-Fi audio sistems anymore. But to pay 250$ and get only 1 year limited warranty for something that supposed to be HiTech audio card? No way, at least 3 years of warrany is right measure for that price, for my old SB0220 it was 5 years od warranty and back then that card was just a lower-middle class audio. No thanks Creative, for less money I'll buy some comparable audio solution from Asus with 2 to 3 years of warranty even here in Serbia.
     
  2. Neo Cyrus

    Neo Cyrus Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    10,777
    Likes Received:
    1,388
    GPU:
    黃仁勳 stole my 4090
    Typically long warranty on a sound card isn't crucial as it doesn't have such strain on it as a video card does. The only one I ever had die was killed by an OCZ power supply that was dying and at the time it was probably around 5 years old (X-Fi Xtreme Music).
     
  3. finaxe

    finaxe New Member

    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    ATI Radeon 5770
    Did you own an Asus Xonar Essence?
     
  4. BarryB

    BarryB Guest

    Messages:
    1,163
    Likes Received:
    10
    GPU:
    Palit SJS 780 in SLI
    Well isn't 'Creative' an interesting name for a company considering they've done nothing 'creative' for chuffin years!!
     

  5. ---TK---

    ---TK--- Guest

    Messages:
    22,104
    Likes Received:
    3
    GPU:
    2x 980Ti Gaming 1430/7296
    Sure they have look at the line of z series sound cards.
     
  6. eclap

    eclap Banned

    Messages:
    31,468
    Likes Received:
    4
    GPU:
    Palit GR 1080 2000/11000
    ??? Elaborate pls?
     
  7. BarryB

    BarryB Guest

    Messages:
    1,163
    Likes Received:
    10
    GPU:
    Palit SJS 780 in SLI
    Just personal opinion, they don't seem to make anything reliable. Just look at some customer reviews on newegg mentioning they run hot, has bad ASIO support, going faulty after a few weeks. It's just so reminiscent of experiences I had years ago with their cards and why I don't use them any more.

    Granted some of those reviews were really positive, but to me not everyone was happy with the card after buying it. It seems Creative just stumble from product to product hoping to get it right eventually.
     
  8. TheDeeGee

    TheDeeGee Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    9,624
    Likes Received:
    3,409
    GPU:
    NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti
    Still wondering if i should get it.

    Price went down even further... 169 Euros now.
     
  9. harkinsteven

    harkinsteven Guest

    Messages:
    2,942
    Likes Received:
    119
    GPU:
    RTX 3080
    Where do you see it for that price?
     
  10. TheDeeGee

    TheDeeGee Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    9,624
    Likes Received:
    3,409
    GPU:
    NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti
    Shop here in Holland called Azerty Hardware.
     

  11. Keitosha

    Keitosha Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    4,942
    Likes Received:
    192
    GPU:
    RX6800 / Vega56
    Yeah, saw that one as well. Thinking about getting the ZxR, replacing my Z (will use that in another system). For that price it is too tempting.
     
  12. TheDeeGee

    TheDeeGee Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    9,624
    Likes Received:
    3,409
    GPU:
    NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti
    167 Euros now...

    Costs me 161 Euros now Incl. Shipping. I had 13 Euros of points to spend aswell ^^

    Money well spend i hope, since it will last 5+ Years.
     
  13. krash3x

    krash3x Guest

    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    EVGA Titan Black Edition
    Yes you can if you have the space. The second card isn't a Pci express card or anything its just a daughter card that plugs into the main card with the ribbon cable, and screws into the case. I think that putting the daughter card above the main card and under the GPU helps shield against the EMI from the GPU since there is no extra noise whats so ever. My Asus d2x was terrible about EMI from even the slightest movement of the mouse. This thing sounds amazing and can even push my hifiman HE500s to uncomfortable sound levels. It makes my asus sound uninteresting and boring.
     
  14. TheDeeGee

    TheDeeGee Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    9,624
    Likes Received:
    3,409
    GPU:
    NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti
    Just got mine installed coming from Creative X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro.

    What a difference it makes for a Headphone user, everything is MUCH MUCH more alive. The Surround generated for Headphones is of such high quality. Money well spend :)

    I'm using AKG K601 Headphones.
     
  15. Keitosha

    Keitosha Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    4,942
    Likes Received:
    192
    GPU:
    RX6800 / Vega56
    Glad you like it. The Z series are awesome cards. I went from Titanium regular -> Z. Loved it the first moment as well.
     

  16. TheDeeGee

    TheDeeGee Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    9,624
    Likes Received:
    3,409
    GPU:
    NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti
    My ZxR seems to be having some strange noise when booting, rebooting and shutting down the PC.

    There is a clicking noise everytime Windows passes the Welcome Screen.

    It's pretty much the same sound when you shut down the PC and the PSU shuts off, you also hear a click. But it doesn't come from the PSU, cuz when i take the ZxR out it's not happening.

    I thought about shorting so i also put plastic washers between the cover of the ZxR, but that didn't seem to help.

    Apart from that it's working just fine...

    Anyone know if this is normal?
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2013
  17. Ryu5uzaku

    Ryu5uzaku Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    7,546
    Likes Received:
    608
    GPU:
    6800 XT
    Seems like my next card will be again creative. Been loving Auzentech but oh this looks really nice :p

    Really good review too.
     
  18. Pill Monster

    Pill Monster Banned

    Messages:
    25,211
    Likes Received:
    9
    GPU:
    7950 Vapor-X 1100/1500
    I can't complain, still using a 10 year old Audigy 2 and 7.1 speaker set from Creative....

    Never been impressed with their drivers though.
     
  19. TheDeeGee

    TheDeeGee Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    9,624
    Likes Received:
    3,409
    GPU:
    NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti
    Been answered already in another post.

    It's the headphone amplifier.
     
  20. Neo Cyrus

    Neo Cyrus Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    10,777
    Likes Received:
    1,388
    GPU:
    黃仁勳 stole my 4090
    Has it been explained how it it's clicking? Mine of course does the same thing.
     

Share This Page