Monday, January 18th 2021

Blast from the Past: Creative Announces Updated Sound Blaster Z SE Discrete Sound Card

by
Raevenlord
 Discuss (74 Comments)
Creative today has announced an updated to their Sound Blaster Z discrete sound card. The updated Sound Blaster Z SE keeps the up to 116 dB SnR and 24-bit/192 kHz sound of the sound card it updates, but adds 7.1 support for headphones and 5.1 discrete audio on speakers. The new dedicated sound card also features additional gaming profiles (it has specially-designed profiles for PUBG and Fortnite, for example), and new equalizer presets.

If you suppose most of these features could have been added via a software/firmware update, you'd be right; Creative is releasing most of these features via a software update for the Sound Blaster Z as well. Other specifications remain the same, with the Sound Blaster Z SE sound card featuring Creative's Sound Core 3D audio processor. Whether or not there is a requirement for discrete soundcards in this day and age of integrated sound quality is another discussion, as is the option for users to connect and process their audio via an external DAC.
Source: Creative

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74 Comments on Blast from the Past: Creative Announces Updated Sound Blaster Z SE Discrete Sound Card

#26
progste
lexluthermiesterNo. What we don't need is more clutter on our desks.
Then put it under your desk or use the integrated chipset.
This kind of sound card will give you no advantage over what's included in a decent motherboard.
Posted on Reply
#27
Ruru
S.T.A.R.S.
progsteThis kind of sound card will give you no advantage over what's included in a decent motherboard.
I disagree on that. I had the older SB Z and it was superior over a decent integrated one.
Posted on Reply
#28
djisas
Well, I had a X-fi fatal1ty champion, then moved to integrated and back to a X-fi fatal1ty pro pcie...
Probably the last good 7.1 card...
Posted on Reply
#29
Wirko
freeagentOr they could put PCI slots back on mobos so those of us who already have high end sound cards can use them on modern hardware :laugh:
We still have a nonzero number of S1200 and AM4 mobos to choose from, all of them low end though. I built my 2016 PC around an old PCI soundcard, an E-mu 1212m. The card doesn't pick up any audible interference from VRMs and other dirty stuff inside the chassis. Amazing, considering that it's not even shielded.
Posted on Reply
#30
bug
RedelZaVednoI have integrated Realtek 1220 on Gigabyte B550 AORUS PRO motherboard and an ultra old Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS discrete audio card, connected to Teufel Cubycon 5.1 speaker system and AKG N60NC headphones and there is just no comparison. Realtek 1220 sound like a shallow shit with a lot of static noise compared to Audigy. Discrete audio solutions are still well worth it when coupled with decent speakers/headphones. I mean what's the point of having hi-fi headphones/speakers when you feed it with bad audio source?
Onboard sound is always crappy if you use analog out. So don't.
For years, I've been using digital out + ordinary DVD players and it made a world of difference. Then I bought a Dragonfly Red :cool:

This discussion changes a little if you also want to use a mic, though.
Posted on Reply
#31
progste
bugOnboard sound is always crappy if you use analog out. So don't.
For years, I've been using digital out + ordinary DVD players and it made a world of difference. Then I bought a Dragonfly Red :cool:

This discussion changes a little if you also want to use a mic, though.
schiit fulla has a mic input I guess.
Posted on Reply
#32
freeagent
I have an old Asus Xonar Essence ST I would like to use. But honestly the onboard audio on my board is pretty good for what I'm using it for now. And to listen on my stereo I have a line out from my GPU so its not really missed. I don't use headphones because I like my subs.
Posted on Reply
#33
lexluthermiester
progsteThen put it under your desk or use the integrated chipset.
No thank you. I prefer an internal sound card.
progsteThis kind of sound card will give you no advantage over what's included in a decent motherboard.
Rubbish. That statement clearly shows how you misunderstand how sound devices work.
Posted on Reply
#34
Camm
You buy these for the DSP, rather than for the sound quality.


In that regard, I have a possibly silly setup with a Creative X3 external, which then goes Optical over to a Topping D90, to then output game audio to my headphones or speakers.
Posted on Reply
#35
lexluthermiester
CammYou buy these for the DSP, rather than for the sound quality.
Nope, I buy them for the sound quality.
Posted on Reply
#36
bobbybluz
I scored an Asus Xonar D2X in pristine condition with all the accessories in the box that looks like new for $20 a couple of weeks ago. It's the 6th one in my collection. 13+ years old and still slightly better specs than the new Creative card. The aftermarket Uni drivers are a must for them, Asus drivers were never up to the task.

When I was still in broadcast radio we tried several different consumer and professional audio cards. In the actual broadcast studio PC's we ended up using pricey Audio Science because they had AES/EBU digital inputs and outputs for the Harris digital mixing boards. When it came to doing production work for broadcast the D2X was and still is my favorite audio card. Digital coaxial & SPDIF inputs and outputs, 7.1 audio and great sound quality. When combined with Sound Forge Pro 14.0 it's a Swiss Army knife of versatility.
Posted on Reply
#37
progste
lexluthermiesterNo thank you. I prefer an internal sound card.

Rubbish. That statement clearly shows how you misunderstand how sound devices work.
The bit stream is reconstructed into a wave (in this case by the sabre chip) and then amplified to line/headphone amplitude levels, there is not much to understand in that sense.
Using an internal card will give you a rubbish noise floor because of all the interference inside the case and the shared power supply with the other components, so even if you use an high end chip and a good output stage it will give you poor results and those money you dump into the sound card would be better spent elsewhere.
If you care about having good sound it's better to just send the digital signal via usb or optical to an external device for the conversion to happen there.
It's fine if you want the internal card anyway but don't go around talking as if you know better when you don't understand the basics.
Posted on Reply
#38
R-T-B
djisasI bought one, it was inferior than my old sound card...
Basically it would cost more than a sound card and it wouldn't drive my speakers...
They aren't meant to drive speakers. You'd then need an amp. Or a combo unit.
lexluthermiesterRubbish. That statement clearly shows how you misunderstand how sound devices work.
I mean, there are good sound cards but this is really a middle rung one. And even the best sound cards are going to deal with more interference in a PC case than a DAC, nature of the beast I'm afraid.
Posted on Reply
#39
bug
progsteThe bit stream is reconstructed into a wave (in this case by the sabre chip) and then amplified to line/headphone amplitude levels, there is not much to understand in that sense.
Using an internal card will give you a rubbish noise floor because of all the interference inside the case and the shared power supply with the other components, so even if you use an high end chip and a good output stage it will give you poor results and those money you dump into the sound card would be better spent elsewhere.
If you care about having good sound it's better to just send the digital signal via usb or optical to an external device for the conversion to happen there.
It's fine if you want the internal card anyway but don't go around talking as if you know better when you don't understand the basics.
I agree with what you say, with two caveats:
1. You can get lucky and get next to no interference when using a sound card. Not something I'd base my build on, but it can happen.
2. Past your twenties, your hearing dulls, even if there are some interferences, you may not spot them so easily.

Bonus caveat: if you don't have quality cans, interference is the least of your worries.
Posted on Reply
#40
Apocalypsee
I wish they make new card based on CA20K2 DSP (X-FI Titanium DSP). I wished hardware accelerated audio would come back to PC because there is barely any improvement in terms of sound quality in games. Last game that impressed me immensely in terms of sound is Doom3 and Battlefield 2 which both using EAX (4 and 5). I still using X-Fi Titanium HD till this day, no onboard sound can come close.
Posted on Reply
#41
R-T-B
ApocalypseeI wish they make new card based on CA20K2 DSP (X-FI Titanium DSP). I wished hardware accelerated audio would come back to PC because there is barely any improvement in terms of sound quality in games. Last game that impressed me immensely in terms of sound is Doom3 and Battlefield 2 which both using EAX (4 and 5). I still using X-Fi Titanium HD till this day, no onboard sound can come close.
I do agree hardware accelerated audio would be nice to have again.

Most of the same effects can be done in software mind (see Creative Alchemy) but they have latency and cpu load, and you notice it at times.
Posted on Reply
#42
bug
R-T-BI do agree hardware accelerated audio would be nice to have again.

Most of the same effects can be done in software mind (see Creative Alchemy) but they have latency and cpu load, and you notice it at times.
Well, removing hardware acceleration at the time was the right thing to do (audio drivers were really crappy, blue screening if you looked funny at them), but it would be nice if hardware sound processing acceleration could make a comeback. Sans the blue screens, of course.
Posted on Reply
#43
lexluthermiester
R-T-BAnd even the best sound cards are going to deal with more interference in a PC case than a DAC, nature of the beast I'm afraid.
That makes a lot of assumptions, most of which would likely be insignificant.
R-T-BI do agree hardware accelerated audio would be nice to have again.
Yes, yes it would! Tell that to the morons at Microsoft who have come up with the sound driver model.
progstebut don't go around talking as if you know better when you don't understand the basics.
You keep telling yourself that.
Posted on Reply
#44
R-T-B
lexluthermiesterThat makes a lot of assumptions, most of which would likely be insignificant.
They aren't assumptions. Experiencing talking here. Computers are EM farms and yes you can hear it if you don't get a well-shielded sound card. This isn't one.

I don't say this out of desire to knock you. This is a problem I have personally had across multiple builds, and took years to finally realize what was going on. I have actual science to back it up, but who am I vs anyone these days?
Posted on Reply
#45
djisas
R-T-BThey aren't assumptions. Experiencing talking here. Computers are EMP farms and yes you can hear it if you don't get a well-shielded sound card. This isn't one.
I think my previous card was way better at this than the current one, it was a nightmare to clean the signal, even a walwart adapter started screwing with it everything...
Posted on Reply
#46
R-T-B
djisasI think my previous card was way better at this than the current one, it was a nightmare to clean the signal, even a walwart adapter started screwing with it everything...
Onboards were worst for me but I think it's because my CPU was a LGA1366 at the time and the VRMs were HUNGRY.
Posted on Reply
#47
lexluthermiester
R-T-BComputers are EM farms and yes you can hear it if you don't get a well-shielded sound card. This isn't one.
Rubbish. That has been true for decades. Old SB cards don't suffer from noise problems and neither will this one. Really? Why are YOU of all people trying to spread FUD? Not taking this personally, I'm just surprised that you haven't taken a few moments to think that over...
R-T-BOnboards were worst for me
Onboards have only been ok recently as board makers have isolated the audio circuitry from the rest of the board components. Still doesn't do much for the quality though.
Posted on Reply
#48
djisas
R-T-BOnboards were worst for me but I think it's because my CPU was a LGA1366 at the time and the VRMs were HUNGRY.
That why I picked the X-fi card, wasn't too happy with onboard either...
it sounded decent, but it lacked a dedicated headphone out and picked all the noise...
I cant live without my soundcard's front panel...

For, it was mainly one of my case's feature, the illuminated front logo, it run on high voltage and was transferring noise to the audio signal.

Lot's of cable managment and cleaning, and replaced every old fan as well...
lexluthermiesterRubbish. That has been true for decades. Old SB cards don't suffer from noise problems and neither will this one. Really? Why are YOU of all people trying to spread FUD? Not taking this personally, I'm just surprised that you haven't taken a few moments to think that over...


Onboards have only been ok recently as board makers have isolated the audio circuitry from the rest of the board components. Still doesn't do much for the quality though.
Well, it turns out my current card picks up external noise...
It has been fixed though...

All that said, I would buy a new SB card, a 7.1...
Posted on Reply
#49
R-T-B
lexluthermiesterReally? Why are YOU of all people trying to spread FUD?
Might want to think about that a bit.
lexluthermiesterOld SB cards don't suffer from noise problems and neither will this one.
I'm guessing you don't use high sensitivity headphones.
Posted on Reply
#50
lexluthermiester
R-T-BMight want to think about that a bit.
Why?
R-T-BI'm guessing you don't use high sensitivity headphones.
No, I use an actual HIFI stereo system for sound output. However, I do have a nice set of headphones and excellent hearing. There is no such thing a "noiseless" listening environment. Such a concept is a myth. What little EMFi that might be picked up(and not filtered out) by circuitry of a sound card would also be picked up by an external DAC, onboard or anything else within 1 meter of a PC and is so insignificant as to not be worthy of even a moments consideration.

The whole debate of sound cards VS DACs is a more or less rubbish argument as the science of EMFi clearly defines that all electronics are affected equally by EMF and therefore filtering circuitry must be included to account for such. Quality design equals quality output. Rubbish design equals rubbish output. It is exactly that simple.
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