Creative Labs SoundBlaster ZXR Review
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Warboy
You guys didn't test it for true hardware acceleration?
Arbold
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
I wonder if it's worth upgrading my current Soundcard to this one.
I'm using Headphones only, the AKG K601.
Neo Cyrus
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.
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.
ROBSCIX
k1net1cs
schmidtbag
Neo Cyrus
They were in typically well ventilated/cooled cases. My current one has excellent air flow. It's not too dry or humid either, but it is slightly on the humid side.
Taint3dBulge
I have the downgrade to this just the Z. Its very very good.. I use ****ty desk speakers and some good razar headphones.. Funny thing the desktop speaks now sound rather good lmao..
k1net1cs
LesserHellspawn
I'll cling to my Auzen X-Fi, just because of 7.1 speaker support, since I have that setup. If there's no new Creative card with 7.1 support agian by the time I build my next rig, they'll lose me as customer.
BLEH!
If I didn't have a 16-channel recording soundcard I'd probably be using something like this. High end audio really does make a difference.
RavenMaster
I love my ZXR - best sound card I've ever owned. Great quality for both music and games + movies and the ACM mic is a nice addition too
TheDeeGee
Is that extra card needed or optional to install?
maikai
Neo Cyrus
warezme
Is it worth the price point?
I'm still rocking X58SLI, mobo and OC'ed i7 920 with the PCI slots. I just upgrade the video card(s) from time to time. I have been dragging an old XFI Fatal1ty with break out box from mobo to mobo and there will come a day when PCI is not included. Is this card that much better then the old XFI cards? or is it time to leave built in well enough alone?
TheDeeGee
Right now it costs around 175 Euros here in Holland.
I wonder if it's worth the money as Gamer only to replace my X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro.
It's quite some money, but then again the components are top of the line and a soundcard will last for long time.
CrazY_Milojko
Neo Cyrus