Creative Technology today announced its new ultra high-performance Z-Series of Sound Blaster PCI-Express sound cards namely the Sound Blaster ZxR, Sound Blaster Zx and Sound Blaster Z. These sound cards are equipped with Creative’s Core3D quad-core sound and voice processor. The Creative ZxR features external digital-to-analog converters (DACs) that deliver 127dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), sockets for swappable Op-Amps, a high-end 80mW into 600 ohm headphone amplifier, and 192kHz pass through. The Sound Blaster Zx incorporates all the hardware and software features of the Sound Blaster ZxR except for the DBpro daughter board. The Sound Blaster Z is equipped with all the hardware and software features of the Sound Blaster Zx except for the ACM. The Creative Sound Blaster ZxR, Sound Blaster Zx and Sound Blaster Z are priced at $249.99, $149.99 and $99.99, respectively. [Engadget]
We can thank GamesCon going on in Germany this week for all the new gaming hardware and peripherals that have surfaced today. At the show, Creative has unveiled its latest line of Sound Blaster soundcards for computer users. It has been a long time since we talked about a Sound Blaster sound card. The Sound Blaster used to be common in gaming PCs, but many people have started using HD integrated audio support on the mainboard rather than a add-on card for audio.
Creative has unveiled three new Sound Blaster varieties including the ZxR, Zx, and the Z. The ZxR is a top-of-the-line with Creative claiming it’s the world’s best sounding sound card. The card retails for $249.99 and uses studio-grade components inside including digital to analog converters delivering 127 dB signal-to-noise ratio. The sound card also has an 80 mW into 600-ohm headphone amplifier and 192 kHz pass through.
All those features are targeted at the best audio quality available. The car also has a small daughterboard with an optical output and a lot more. The next down is the Sound Blaster Zx retailing for $149.99. It offers the same exact hardware as the ZxR minus the DBpro daughterboard. This card also has an attention grabbing color scheme with a red EMI shielding and glowing LED lights.
On the low end of the spectrum is the Sound Blaster Z with a retail price of $99.99. It has the same hardware as the Zx sound card minus the external Audio Control Module. The sound card is aimed at gamers looking for an all-around gaming entertainment solution on a budget. It features 120dB SNR and supports 192kHz direct pass-through to analog out as well as a 600-ohm headphone amplifier, glowing LED lighting, and more. All of these cards use PCI Express slots inside your PC.
[via Engadget]
Creative launches new Sound Blaster sound cards for PCs is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Sound quality is important, and AudioQuest’s DragonFly is a simple device that anyone can use to bypass the not-so-great quality of a computer’s built-in sound card, turning it into a high-performance sound source to enjoy at home or on the go. DragonFly comes in the form of a flash drive that connects to any Mac or PC USB jack and uses an ESS Sabre DAC—a quality chip found in most high-end Blu-ray and CD players.
DragonFly can work with MP3 formatted audio files and CD-standard 16-bit/44KHz to 24-bit/96KHz files. Over 100 components are mounted inside the device on a 0.6×1.7-inch four-layer board that includes regulators and custom capacitors. You can use it with your desktop speakers or directly with headphones.
Whichever audio file format your computer can recognize, DragonFly can make it sound better. Rather than relying on a digital volume control that can actually lower signal resolution and the quality of sound, the volume control operates in the analog domain to ensure only the best sound. This little desktop DAC has been designed with the audiophile in mind and comes at a price of about $249.
AudioQuest’s DragonFly is a USB-powered digital-to-analog converter is written by Elise Moreau & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.