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Creative Labs SoundBlaster ZXR Review
Posted by: on: 07/18/2013 12:05 PM [
79 comment(s) ]
We review the Creative Labs SoundBlaster ZXR. Creative Labs has been a powerhouse force in the world of PC audio ever since there was such a concept as PC audio. They developed loads of great audio tech for gamers and were considered the pinnacle of PC gaming audio devices for quite some time. Creative Labs basically had the market cornered for many years and some diehard fans felt that during this time their designs suffered a bit. They weren’t really pushing the envelope and trying to advance the market as much as a company would if they had steady competition. As the saying goes it is great to be king!
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SoundBlaster ZXR review
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thatguy91
Senior Member
Posts: 6643
Senior Member
Posts: 6643
Posted on: 07/18/2013 12:28 PM
Isn't Soundblaster and interesting name, when you consider it is silent without speakers?
Isn't Soundblaster and interesting name, when you consider it is silent without speakers?
Arbold
Senior Member
Posts: 225
Senior Member
Posts: 225
Posted on: 07/18/2013 12:33 PM
I was thinking about getting one of these. The question is. Do you have to install the 2nd Card right next to the first one? Or could you have that one a few slots away?
I was thinking about getting one of these. The question is. Do you have to install the 2nd Card right next to the first one? Or could you have that one a few slots away?
TheDeeGee
Senior Member
Posts: 7914
Senior Member
Posts: 7914
Posted on: 07/18/2013 12:42 PM
I wonder if it's worth upgrading my current Soundcard to this one.
I'm using Headphones only, the AKG K601.
I wonder if it's worth upgrading my current Soundcard to this one.
I'm using Headphones only, the AKG K601.
Neo Cyrus
Senior Member
Posts: 10090
Senior Member
Posts: 10090
Posted on: 07/18/2013 12:55 PM
I'm terrified its flimsy ribbon cable will crust up and die just like every ribbon cable in history has, and it only has 1 year warranty so Creative will just laugh at me. I tried contacting Creative to see if I can order a spare ribbon cable but I couldn't get a hold of them.
One thing that really annoys me is that as the dial is turned to change the volume it causes static and sometimes for whatever reason it can disable the right channel so I have to move it, yes as in turn the dial. I don't know if mine is defective or if they're all like this, knowing Creative they'll take 2 weeks to respond to an RMA request then do nothing but waste my time. Also it's made of mud and sticks, I looked in its general direction and the SB logo on it started to peel.
If there was a simple alternative I would have taken it just to avoid Creative but there wasn't. The only other option for me would have been the Essence ST + Xonar H6. That would have required a PCI slot and ordering them separately as I couldn't get them in one location. The STX cannot connect to the H6. Having the daughterboard on the ZxR is also a nice hand up over the ST + H6.
I wonder if it's worth upgrading my current Soundcard to this one.
I'm using Headphones only, the AKG K601.
My last card was an X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty Pro, same card as yours I think? It's definitely an upgrade in all sound ranges, but nothing to write home about. I wanted it so I can have swappable op amps (which I still haven't gotten around to, life, you know) and I needed a dedicated headphone amp as my headphones are the 250 Ohm version.
I should note that it will not be loud enough for 600 Ohm headphones, I use the 600 Ohm setting with my 250 Ohm headphones.
I'm terrified its flimsy ribbon cable will crust up and die just like every ribbon cable in history has, and it only has 1 year warranty so Creative will just laugh at me. I tried contacting Creative to see if I can order a spare ribbon cable but I couldn't get a hold of them.
One thing that really annoys me is that as the dial is turned to change the volume it causes static and sometimes for whatever reason it can disable the right channel so I have to move it, yes as in turn the dial. I don't know if mine is defective or if they're all like this, knowing Creative they'll take 2 weeks to respond to an RMA request then do nothing but waste my time. Also it's made of mud and sticks, I looked in its general direction and the SB logo on it started to peel.
If there was a simple alternative I would have taken it just to avoid Creative but there wasn't. The only other option for me would have been the Essence ST + Xonar H6. That would have required a PCI slot and ordering them separately as I couldn't get them in one location. The STX cannot connect to the H6. Having the daughterboard on the ZxR is also a nice hand up over the ST + H6.
I wonder if it's worth upgrading my current Soundcard to this one.
I'm using Headphones only, the AKG K601.
My last card was an X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty Pro, same card as yours I think? It's definitely an upgrade in all sound ranges, but nothing to write home about. I wanted it so I can have swappable op amps (which I still haven't gotten around to, life, you know) and I needed a dedicated headphone amp as my headphones are the 250 Ohm version.
I should note that it will not be loud enough for 600 Ohm headphones, I use the 600 Ohm setting with my 250 Ohm headphones.
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Senior Member
Posts: 430
You guys didn't test it for true hardware acceleration?