Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Internal Sound Card

by Creative Labs

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000CG4DI
• Item model number: SB0350
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #67 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Computer Components > Internal Sound Cards
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 11, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The THX certified Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS delivers 24-bit ADVANCED HD audio, 108dB SNR clarity across 8 channels, and is the only available PC platform to deliver Advanced Resolution 24-bit DVD-Audio playback in 24-bit/192kHz stereo and 24-bit/96kHz 5.1 surround. EAX ADVANCED HD effects produces ultra-realistic sound in supported games and multi-channel playback in 5.1, 6.1and 7.1 with over 400 existing 3-D games. EAX ADVANCED HD acoustic enhancements dramatically improve all your music with features including Bass Boost, Graphic Equalizer, Audio Clean-Up, and more!

• Superior Fidelity 24-bit ADVANCED HD Audio
  Superior quality 24-bit/192kHz audio, ultra-realistic EAX ADVANCED HD GAME effects, and studio quality EAX ADVANCED HD MUSIC settings
• THX Certified Sound Card for Cinematic Audio
  The only certified sound card with exclusive Creative THX Setup Console that provides accurate audio calibration for a precise speaker listening environment
• Advanced Resolution 24-bit DVD-Audio Playback
  The only certified PC platform for Advanced Resolution 24-bit/96kHz 5.1 surround and 24-bit/192kHz stereo DVD-Audio playback
• Ultra-realistic EAX 4.0 ADVANCED HD Effects
  Multi-Environment audio with up to four simultaneous environments processed in real-time and up to 7.1 surround with over 400 existing DirectSound3-D enabled games
• EAX Music Console with Acoustic Enhancements
  Dramatically enhance your music experience with new EAX ADVANCED HD MUSIC features including Bass
• Patented Creative CMSS 3-D Audio Technology
  Allows all stereo recordings including MP3/WMA, CDs, VCD, and movies to be played back in captivating 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 surround
• Integrated High Speed 1394 FireWire Port
  Enables PC-to-PC networking and low latency gaming plus high speed data transfers with IEEE compliant devices including MP3 players, storage devices and DV Camcorders

Features and Benefits

Superior Fidelity 24-bit ADVANCED HD Audio

• Superior quality 24-bit/192kHz audio, ultra-realistic EAX ADVANCED HD GAME effects, and studio quality EAX ADVANCED HD MUSIC settings
• Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS is the ideal platform for Windows Media 9 content including full 24-bit/96kHz audio in discrete 5.1 surround sound.

THX Certified Sound Card for Cinematic Audio

• Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS has received the prestigious THX Multimedia Certification making it the ideal choice for delivering cinematic quality audio on the PC.
• The unique Creative THX Setup Console provides accurate audio calibration for a precise speaker listening environment.

EAX Music Console with Acoustic Enhancements

• Dramatically enhance your music experience with new EAX ADVANCED HD MUSIC features including Bass Boost, multi-band Graphic Equalizer on all 8 channels, Audio Clean-Up and Karaoke. Bass Boost: Punch up the bass with all PC audio
• Multi-Channel Graphic Equalizer: Personalize playback across all 8 channels
• Audio Clean-Up: Remove noise from MP3s of old recordings
• Smart Volume Management (SVM ): Automatically match volume levels across music tracks
• EAX Effects: Add acoustic effects like Concert Hall to your music

Patented Creative CMSS 3-D Audio Technology

• Allows all stereo recordings including MP3/WMA, CDs, VCD and movies to be played back in captivating 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 surround.
• Delivers virtual surround with headphones and stereo widening with stereo desktop speakers.

Complete Cinematic Surround Sound with DTS-ES and Dolby Digital EX Movies

• Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS features built-in DTS-ES and Dolby Digital EX decoding to deliver captivating audio playback in 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 surround with DVD movies.

Comprehensive Multi-Channel Surround with 3-D Games

• Comprehensive Multi-Channel Surround with 3-D Games - Enjoy up to 7.1 surround in existing 3-D games. Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS plays back DirectSound3-D games in 5.1 surround, 6.1 surround with additional rear center channel, or 7.1 surround in rear center surround or side surround configurations.

Integrated High Speed 1394 FireWire Port

• Enables PC-to-PC networking and low latency gaming plus high speed data transfers with IEEE compliant devices including MP3 players, storage devices and DV Camcorders.

Product Description

The THX certified Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS delivers 24-bit ADVANCED HD™ audio, 108dB SNR clarity across 8 channels.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Audigy 2 ZS questions answered..., March 4, 2004

By 

Jonathan E Reberry (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Internal Sound Card (Personal Computers)

This is going to be a long review because I just purchased this and I want to answer some questions that I couldn't find answers to before I purchased it. If you want the 1 word summary, it's "INCREADIBLE"!!

I was upgrading from a Fortissimo 1 sound card. I understand that this is not a great card, however I was using the optical out to connect to a DTS receiver. Essentially the sound card was doing nothing but transferring data and my nice receiver was doing all of the work. This made me apprehensive about upgrading to the Audigy 2 because I wasn't sure if I would notice a difference from my optical card. (pause for a quick side note) You can NOT hook this card up digitally to a receiver. I LOVE this card, but I feel this is important for customers to understand this fact, and very deceiving from Creative. The digital output on the card uses a proprietary digital signal. For the techs out there, a normal (electrical not optical) digital signal is a sine wave. The crest of the wave registers as "on" and the bottom of the wave registers as "off". The creative digital-out uses 8 points on the sine wave to create the signal. 1 point for each audio channel. This will only work with computer speaker sets designed for this type of proprietary signal. It will not work with home theatre receivers because it is not a standard digital signal. (now back to my review) With the Audigy 2 ZS I would need to hook everything up using analog THX certified monster cables. Essentially it boils down to weather my receiver will sound better decoding the digital signal (old card), or if the Audigy 2 ZS will sound better decoding the signal and then passing it to the receiver for amplification. I honestly could not be happier with the results. The Audigy 2 ZS sounds 10 times better than my old setup. Everything is MUCH more crisp and well defined, and the low end sounds AMAZING. I'm not talking loud bass, I'm just talking really really tight and smooth. I could not recommend this card more. It is THE BEST upgrade I have made to my PC in years.

I also wanted to touch a bit on the setup, because I couldn't find any reviews anywhere that explained how to hook up the analog outs to a home theatre receiver, and Creative made it a little tricky. First, the 8 channels use only 3 mini plugs as connectors. How you ask? The first connector is an easy to find cable. It's a mini -> 2 RCA. This is the same cable you use to hook a Discman up to your receiver. The other 2 are weird. They are mini -> 3 RCA. The only use I've ever seen for a cable like this is hooking up a DV camcorder to a TV. If you are using monster it is called a CAMAV cable. The first plug feeds your front right and front left speakers. The second plug feeds you rear left, rear right, and side left speakers. The third plug feeds your side right, center, and sub speakers. I could not find that info anywhere before buying and experimenting. I use a double receiver setup with two 5.1 receivers. The second receiver has some unused channels, so later I can expand as far as 10.2. I highly recommend this setup.

I also HIGHLY recommend this card. Like I said before, I am blown away by the sound quality. I've never heard a computer sound so good.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Boom for your Buck...., January 21, 2004

By 

AntVector (NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Internal Sound Card (Personal Computers)

I bought this card as an upgrade for my default Dell system, having done a little shopping around for a good deal. I was attracted to this card for several reasons - A) It supports 5.1 surround sound (just got some new shiny speakers to play with y'see), B) I trust Creative to make a reliable and compatible product, since I'm not a computer whiz, and I don't have the time or experience to reconfigure stuff just to get it to work, and C) The price is just about right.

Installation was a breeze - like always just follow the instructions carefully and make sure everything is connected before you close the case - this model comes with a separate cable to link the sound card to the digital port on the CD drive. My XP system detected everything right away, and the software installed without a hitch. There's a few different programs bundled with the card, including EAX, THX and speaker configuration support, all of which is nicely presented and was helpful when setting up my speakers. The 5.1 surround support is just as groovy as I'd hoped, and the card software made it a breeze to adjust the levels, configure Winamp 5 to play through all the channels, and add funky effects. I don't really have much use for all the software included, but I can imagine if you were starting from scratch, or, conversely, quite an advanced user, you might enjoy the various different functions included here. I'm a bit middle-of-the-road to need all the bells and whistles, but I appreciate them being there.

So, easy to setup, easy to use, simmering with latent power and nicely priced. I admit that I was also persuaded to get this card for secret reason D) It came bundled with Raven Shield (and Angel of Darkness, but I'm treating that as a fancy test for my speakers rather than a `real' game...I'm such a snob) which sounds awesome through this card. A great buy for a lower end user who wants to ramp-up their audio experience without breaking the bank (or an eardrum). Recommended.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding performance, but something you should know., June 12, 2004

By 

Christopher Buckner "C. Buckner" (Syracuse, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Internal Sound Card (Personal Computers)

First, the something you should know. If you are upgrading from a previous Sound Blaster card you will need to completely uninstall this card, the drivers and all files related to it. The Sound Blaster website has a very clear cut article on how to do this. If you do not completely uninstall your previous card this new one will have conflicts and lock your computer up. Also you will need to download the newest updates for the card and make sure your BIOS is updated (something you probably need to do anyway.) The process took about 45 min but once it was done this card absolutely rocks!!!

And now the performance. If this is your first plunge into the whole THX/true Dolby surround sound experience on your computer you won't regret buying this card. Since installing this card I have replayed Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, URU and other games and it's a whole new experience. With my 5.1 surround sound speakers the sound was crisp, clear and definately worth the $85.00. I am not a hardcore "tech guru" so I can't get into the serious stuff that some of the other people here have: They seem to have done a good job with those reviews, so I'll leave it at that. But if you are looking for great surround sound and don't want to spend loads of money this card is for you.