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  • Sound Blaster Z PCIe Gaming Sound Card with High Performance Headphone Amp and Beam Forming Microphone
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Sound Blaster Z PCIe Gaming Sound Card with High Performance Headphone Amp and Beam Forming Microphone

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List Price: $119.99
Price: $98.10 & FREE Shipping. Details
You Save: $21.89 (18%)
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With Beam Forming Microphone
  • Includes an external high quality dual-microphone array standard with card
  • 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
  • Delivers 116dB SNR, plus audiophile-grade capacitors and gold-plated I/O connectivity
  • Use the Sound Blaster Control Panel just toggle between you headphone and speakers system with a flip of a switch
62 new 20 used from $59.99 2 refurbished from $69.99

Frequently Bought Together

Sound Blaster Z PCIe Gaming Sound Card with High Performance Headphone Amp and Beam Forming Microphone + Intel Core i7-4790K Processor  (8M Cache, up to 4.40 GHz) (BX80646I74790K)
Price for both: $428.09

Buy the selected items together


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Style: With Beam Forming Microphone
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Technical Details

Style: With Beam Forming Microphone

Product Details

Style Name: With Beam Forming Microphone
  • Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 5 x 0.9 inches ; 6.4 ounces
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
  • ASIN: B009ISU33E
  • Item model number: SB1500
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (372 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • Date first available at Amazon.com: November 15, 2012
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Product Description

Style: With Beam Forming Microphone

Product Description

Creative Sound Blaster Z SBX PCIE Gaming Sound Card with Beamforming Microphone
Creative Sound Blaster Z SBX PCIE Gaming Sound Card with Beamforming Microphone
View larger

Creative Sound Blaster Z SBX PCIE Gaming Sound Card with Beamforming Microphone

This Sound Blaster Z is an ideal all-round solution for your PC gaming and entertainment needs. It comes complete with the Sound Blaster beamforming microphone for crystal clear voice communication.

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
What's in the Box?

Sound Blaster Z sound card, Sound Blaster Beamforming Microphone, Quick Start Leaflet, Installation CD containing: Drivers for Windows, Creative Software Suite, User’s Guide

116db Signal-To-Noise Ratio
116db Signal-To-Noise Ratio

A signal to noise ratio or SNR of 116dB means your audio will be >99.99% pure audio which is 34.4 times better than motherboard audio.

SBX Studio Pro Technologies
SBX Pro Studio Technologies

Experience awe-inspiring audio with the SBX Pro Studio suite of technologies that immerses you in your games and movies with amazing detail and a 360-degree true-to-life sound stage.

Crystal Voice Technologies
Crystal Voice Technologies

Experience crystal clear commmunication with your teammates with the CrystalVoice suite of technologies that removes echoes, ambient noises and picks up your voice from within a zone (Voice Focus). It also maintains your voice level even if you are near or further away from the microphone.

SoundCore 3D
Sound Core3D Audio Processor

The quad-core Sound Core3D audio processor is to designed to offload SBX Pro Studio and CrystalVoice effects processing from your primary CPU, improving your overall PC performance, resulting in drastically superior audio and voice quality.

Sound Blaster Beamforming Microphone
Sound Blaster Beamforming Microphone

When used with CrystalVoice Focus, the bundled beamforming microphone creates an acoustic zone and suppresses noise outside it, enabling you to be heard with amazing clarity.

Which Creative Soundcard is Right for You?

Creative Labs Creative Sound Blaster ZxR SBX PCIE Gaming Sound Card with Audio Control Module Sound Cards SB1510

Sound Blaster ZxR
Creative Sound Blaster ZX SBX PCIE Gaming Sound Card with Audio Control Module SB1506

Sound Blaster Zx
Creative Sound Blaster Z SBX PCIE Gaming Sound Card with Beamforming Microphone SB1500

Sound Blaster Z
Audio Processor 2x Sound Core3D Sound Core3D Sound Core3D
Audio Resolution 24-Bit/96 kHz 24-Bit/96 kHz 24-Bit/96 kHz
Digital Audio Converter TI Burr-Brown with Fine Gold Caps Cirrus Logic Cirrus Logic
Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR)
(20kHz Low-pass filter,
A-Wgt), @24-bi, 96kHz
124dB 116dB 116dB
I/O Ports (Main Card) Headphone: 1x Amplified 1/4" jack
Speaker Out: 2x RCS (L/R)
2x 3.5mm jacks (Rear, C/Sub)
Mircrophone In: 1x 1/4" jack
Headphone: 1x Amplified 3.5mm jack
Speaker Out: 3x 3.5mm jacks (F/R/C-Sub)
Line/Mic In: 1x shared 3.5mm jack
Optical Out: 1x TOSLINK
Optical In: 1x TOSLINK
Headphone: 1x Amplified 3.5mm jack
Speaker Out: 3x 3.5mm jacks (F/R/C-Sub)
Line/Mic In: 1x shared 3.5mm jack
Optical Out: 1x TOSLINK
Optical In: 1x TOSLINK
I/O Ports (DBPro Card) Line In: 2x RC (L/R)
Optical Out: 1x TOSLINK
Optical In: 1x TOSLINK
N/A N/A
Digital Audio Converter TI Burr-Brown with Fine Gold Caps Cirrus Logic Cirrus Logic
Shielding EMI and Copper Plating EMI EMI
Included Accessories Audio Control Module
(with built-in Beamforming Microphone)
Audio Control Module
(with built-in Beamforming Microphone)
Beamforming Microphone

Amazon.com

Creative Sound Blaster Z SBX PCIE Gaming Sound Card with Beamforming Microphone
Creative Sound Blaster Z SBX PCIE Gaming Sound Card with Beamforming Microphone
View larger

Creative Sound Blaster Z SBX PCIE Gaming Sound Card with Beamforming Microphone

This Sound Blaster Z is an ideal all-round solution for your PC gaming and entertainment needs. It comes complete with the Sound Blaster beamforming microphone for crystal clear voice communication.

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
What's in the Box?

Sound Blaster Z sound card, Sound Blaster Beamforming Microphone, Quick Start Leaflet, Installation CD containing: Drivers for Windows, Creative Software Suite, User’s Guide

116db Signal-To-Noise Ratio
116db Signal-To-Noise Ratio

A signal to noise ratio or SNR of 116dB means your audio will be >99.99% pure audio which is 34.4 times better than motherboard audio.

SBX Studio Pro Technologies
SBX Pro Studio Technologies

Experience awe-inspiring audio with the SBX Pro Studio suite of technologies that immerses you in your games and movies with amazing detail and a 360-degree true-to-life sound stage.

Crystal Voice Technologies
Crystal Voice Technologies

Experience crystal clear commmunication with your teammates with the CrystalVoice suite of technologies that removes echoes, ambient noises and picks up your voice from within a zone (Voice Focus). It also maintains your voice level even if you are near or further away from the microphone.

SoundCore 3D
Sound Core3D Audio Processor

The quad-core Sound Core3D audio processor is to designed to offload SBX Pro Studio and CrystalVoice effects processing from your primary CPU, improving your overall PC performance, resulting in drastically superior audio and voice quality.

Sound Blaster Beamforming Microphone
Sound Blaster Beamforming Microphone

When used with CrystalVoice Focus, the bundled beamforming microphone creates an acoustic zone and suppresses noise outside it, enabling you to be heard with amazing clarity.


Customer Questions & Answers

Customer Reviews

Are there people I would recommend skip buying a sound card?
Derrick
This card is amazing. after installing the card and disabling my onboard sound (Asus p8z77v-deluxe) I immediately noticed a difference for the better.
S. Kurtz
I have no regrets - the difference in sound is very clear, in game, music, and movies.
B. Bolivar

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

273 of 300 people found the following review helpful By Povell42 on March 30, 2013
Style Name: With Audio Control Module Verified Purchase
There is a major flaw with the more expensive ZX model of this product. The Audio Control Module (ACM) that you are paying about $50 more, LOWERS the QUALITY of the audio signal versus plugging your headphones directly into the back of the sound card.

Seriously, how has no one else caught this? I checked online and found no one complaining about this. So, I thought my ACM was defective. Amazon kindly sent me a replacement. I got the replacement and plugged the new ACM into the back of the sound card and then plugged my headphones in the ACM. SAME ISSUE. (I tried both the 3.5mm and 1/4in plugs) I then changed out the sound card with the new replacement card and reinstalled the software and drivers just to be sure.....SAME ISSUE.

If you already own this.....and you love the ACM....you most likely did not compare it to the sound when your headphones are plugged directly into the back of the sound card.

I noticed this dramatically because I did not use the ACM for the first week or so. I did all my initial testing in music and gaming without it. As soon as I plugged it in I thought something was wrong with my headphones or the sound card went bad on me. I quickly discovered that it was solely the AMC.

PLUGGED INTO THE ACM
- The sound is significantly softer making me believe that the built in AMP is being weakened by the ACM. This is a bigger issue for those that have high impedance headphones

- Second it affects the balance and quality of sound. For example: While playing COD Black Ops 2 - I immediately noticed that the sound of my gun was muffled and recessed even at the same volume level. I then plugged my headphones directly into the back of the sound card...and it is so much better! Everything is louder, clearer, and precise.
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34 of 37 people found the following review helpful By RKB on November 30, 2012
Style Name: With Beam Forming Microphone Verified Purchase
Coming from an Xtreme Muisc this was a huge leap. The sound is clearer and the surround sound that replaces cmss-3d is better at creating directional audio. It's almost hard to explain jumping into a game you know and having it sound totally different and more detailed. This card is basically a X-FI with a core3d chip which is what the recon3d should have been. I am not sure how much of a difference it would be coming from a Titanium HD but if you have an older X-FI or a terrible recon3d this is worth a purchase
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31 of 35 people found the following review helpful By Derrick on December 8, 2012
Style Name: With Beam Forming Microphone Verified Purchase
Does a great job adding bass to the Audio Technica ATH-AD700 cans I have using their control panel (SBX Pro Studio) and bass boost setting, which also lets you set the crossover frequency. I found the default settings, 80hz, and 50% on the slider, worked great... so there's room for even more bass than I find necessary. It can also be added via the equalizer which can do a somewhat better job, and the settings can be saved for each pair of headphones or genre.

Now I no longer need to buy the high impedance cans I was looking at, the cans I have currently get the job done (Sennheiser HD-558, Fischer FA-003, and ATH-AD700), so essentially this sound card has saved me a couple hundred bucks. I find the preset Equalizer settings such as 'rock' and 'classical' work very well and have tweaked the equalizer to my liking to give each pair of cans what I'm looking for in them.

Great for gaming too, the extra effects over the onboard sound are worth it. Great for people with home theater setups, with the optical out on the back. Easily best bang for the buck card out there, and eliminates the need for a headphone amp for all but the most picky audiophiles, since it includes a 600 ohm headphone amp built in. Mine came with the gold nicheon capacitors as well.

With the monster size of the heatsink on my sandy bridge setup, the card barely fit into the small PCI express slot on my motherboard though. I have about one of the largest aircooled heatsinks available so I can't imagine it not fitting unless you have the 120mm fans positioned bottom to top. Mine were positioned side to side so they covered up the RAM instead. Make sure you have clearance.

Installs on Windows 8 without issue using the installation disc provided.
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19 of 22 people found the following review helpful By Brent A. Feinberg on December 20, 2012
Style Name: With Audio Control Module Verified Purchase
First, off, let me preface this by telling you a bit about the card I am switching from. The HW on the ASUS Xonar Phoebus is actually better than the HW for the Sound Blaster ZX. That said, the SW and driver support of the ASUS Xonar Phoebus is complete crap - so much so, that you actually have to move the card around to different PCI slots to get it to recognize the card needs a firmware update. The SW is very confusing, and they can't even bother to label the ports correctly in the installation guide, resulting in several people connecting their cards incorrectly. That is the reason I snagged one of the first SoundBlaster ZX's when I saw some available on here on Tuesday.

The installation went very smooth, and the external breakout box / audio control module is very solid, well designed (in this case, actually better than the Xonar Phoebus's). One nice feature is that you can leave the headphones plugged in and switch between them and speaker through the SW so you aren't having to plug/unplug cords which could degrade the connector over time.

The SoundBlaster ZX does not require a power cable like the Xonar Phoebus, yet is still has a headphone amplifier built in.

The SW is excellent, easy to understand, and the documentation is sparse but accurate (unlike the Xonar Phoebus as mentioned above). The 3D positional audio for headphones is better than for the Xonar Phoebus.

Overall sound quality is great and I played some Max Payne 3 through my headphones last night which has an excellent orchestral jazz soundtrack. Sound was clear and noise free and I was able to hear small nuances/background sounds like people arguing in the background in a hotel room my character was in. I then switched to The Secret World through a 5.
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