Sound Blaster Z / Zx / ZxR Modded Driver for Windows 10

[Regeneration]

In Windows 10 build 1803, Microsoft made some kernel changes related to hardware timers that broke a lot of device drivers and caused high latency on many systems. Ever since then, Sound Blaster Z / Zx / ZxR series are plagued with issues such as audio stuttering, crackling, popping, and sudden channel swapping.

It's been 2 years and Creative Labs hasn't done enough to fix these issues. And therefore, the old house of ngohq.com is proud to introduce a modified driver based on the official software release from September 2019 and and unofficial driver release from May 2020. This release is intended to solve issues and will not bring any new features.

Instructions:
Temporarily disable driver signature enforcement (hold down the SHIFT key while you click on the Restart button in the start menu, select Troubleshoot, Advanced options, Startup Settings, press on the Restart button, wait for the Startup Settings screen to appear and then press on 7), extract the SFX anywhere you want, and then run setup.exe as administrator.

Changes (v0.2):
* Updated driver to version 6.0.102.62.

Downloads:
Sound Blaster Z / Zx Modded Driver for Windows 10 | Mirror #1 | Mirror #2
Sound Blaster ZxR Modded Driver for Windows 10 | Mirror #1 | Mirror #2

*Update*
There is a new driver on Creative Labs website for Sound Blaster Z published on November 6th, 2020.

 

[silapakorn]

It said "Setup is unable to detect a supported product on your system.", but windows still sees the soundcard in Device Manager. I'm using ZxR by the way.

 

[Regeneration]

It said "Setup is unable to detect a supported product on your system.", but windows still sees the soundcard in Device Manager. I'm using ZxR by the way.

Did you use the link for ZxR?

 

[silapakorn]

You meant the daughter card? No I install just one card.

I finally got the driver to install by following the trick mentioned on this thread. https://www.overclock.net/forum/18-...e-sound-blaster-z-zx-zxr-series-club-220.html

The soundcard is working fine now. Let's hope there's no more problem in the future.

 

[Regeneration]

There are 2 links on the 1st post. One for Z / Zx, and another for ZxR.

 

[silapakorn]

The soundcard is working fine now. Let's hope there's no more problem in the future.

Scratch that, I turned off my PC and turned it on again few hours later, now the speakers produced hissing sound right from the start (even before entering windows), which is the problem that I have with the card before. When I clicked at SB Z series control panel icon in the tray this window showed up.

So I guess the modded driver couldn't permanently fix my problem. And yes, I used the ZXR link and it worked temporarily, until I restarted the computer.

 

[Regeneration]

Looks like you have a driver mess. Try these steps:

1. Disable automatic driver update in Windows 10 by importing this registry and then reboot.
2. Uninstall all Creative Labs software from the control panel and then reboot.
3. Open the device manager and ensure there is nothing related to Sound Blaster in both "Sound, video, and game controllers" and "System devices". If you see anything, uninstall and check box to delete driver software... and then reboot.
4. Download Display Driver Uninstaller, extract and run it, in 'select device type' pick audio, set device to Sound Blaster, and then clean and restart.
5. Download this driver, reboot with driver signature enforcement temporarily disabled, and then install it.

 

[silapakorn]

Thanks for the help but oddly the problem disappeared the next day without me doing anything. I guess it's because my card is rather old and it might be acting up occasionally. Although I still have no way of dealing with it for good, I have prepared a workaround. Since my speakers have optical input I bought a new optic cable so I could just switch to mainboard's optical out anytime whenever the ZXR decided to stop working. It will suck a little but at least I still have a working sound, until I can afford a new external DAC.

ZXR will be the last soundcard I ever buy. Thanks for seven years of service.

 

[munio1000]

@Regeneration

Hello. New user of this forum here. Yesterday i've installed Sound Blaster Z on my ryzen 3600/x570 based PC, new card fresh out of box, and since first start i've problem with sound pops / dropping dts signal on optic output after 5-10miutes of playback.
Previously i've had Xfi Titanium PCIE on my system, so modded drivers are nothing new to me.

I gonna test yours modded drivers and give feedback.

 

[INSTG8R]

@Regeneration

Hello. New user of this forum here. Yesterday i've installed Sound Blaster Z on my ryzen 3600/x570 based PC, new card fresh out of box, and since first start i've problem with sound pops / dropping dts signal on optic output after 5-10miutes of playback.
Previously i've had Xfi Titanium PCIE on my system, so modded drivers are nothing new to me.

I gonna test yours modded drivers and give feedback.

Make sure Spread Spectrum isn’t on in the BIOS That’s what fixed it for me.

 

[munio1000]

Make sure Spread Spectrum isn’t on in the BIOS That’s what fixed it for me.

thanks, i'll try that before something else

so:

spread spectrum disabling did not do trick for me.

trying modded drivers right now
----------------------

already feelin better
gonna test more and get back to you

my full specs:
r5 3600
msi x570 mpg gaming plus with newest bios v87 (agesa 1.0.0.2)
Crucial Ballistix Sport LT DDR4 16GB 3000 CL15 2x8gigs runing at stock
msi 1660ti gamingx
sound blaster z OFC connected via optic to logitech z-5500

win10 pro 1909 compilation 18363.900

ok so after few reboots and 2h continous playback i can say - great succes!
modded drivers solved all issues!

i was ready to return this card, but i'll test few more days.
I dropped xfi titanium because of poor driver compatibility with w10, but new card have issues too. If you want good support - must use modded drivers. Sad but true.

Thanks @Regeneration for very good job with drivers!

Please do not stop supporting this pack, 2004 update is coming, new problems probably

 

[Fonolax]

My man, thanks for this. Didn't had too much of the cutoff problem (buffer size) since 1 year ago, that i got the sound card. But this last 2 weeks it has been a living hell, on DTS, on DLive even on analog, every 15-20 minutes I had the big cutting/distortion sound problem .

Installed this great driver for my Sound Blaster Z and is all back to normal. Thanks a lot. God bless you ! i Can finally rehearse drums peacefully

 

[H4cziLLa]

Realtek Modded Audio Driver for Windows 10/11 - Only for HDAUDIO

Last driver DCH DRIVER VERSION UPDATED 6.0.8975.1 win10 1903 Gygabyte B450M DS3H Realtek® ALC887 codec all install and work fine, but i dont have realtek audio console or Realtek HD Audio Manager so i cant change my speaker settings !, i rollback to old driver, please fix, I appreciate your...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[gen_angry]

Thanks for this. May give it a try at some point on my Z, it's sad that we have to resort to unsigned drivers to use a product that's still currently being sold as new.

Will report back here when I do

 

[Eizen]

Hi @Regeneration is there anyway to use/modify this driver for sound blaster recon3d sb1350. I'm experiencing the same problems you describe occasionally and it's driving me insane. I've even disable the onboard sound codec on the bios but the issue still remains. I'm using windows 10 build 1909

 

[RRO]

@silapakorn : Had the same prob and solved it via the dropdown button in the app

 

[munio1000]

hi,

so today ive tried 2004.
no luck
same sound drops even on modded drivers - no drivers reinstallation

got back to 1909
no problems, sound ok

weird stuff

 

[Dephect]

Hi All,

Unfortunately I am also experiencing the same issue with the Creative Sound Blaster Z sound card. I'm using Windows 10 version 2004. I have uninstalled driver using Revo Uninstaller and deleted driver via Windows Device Manager.

When trying to install Modded Driver for Windows 10 supplied by Regeneration I receive the following message....

Setup is unable to detect a supported product on your system.

It really doesn't make sense that Creative are still selling these sound cards but do not provide an update driver for their customers to use!

Any help would be gratefully received.

 

[RRO]

Setup is unable to detect a supported product on your system.

Tried #16?

 

[Dephect]

Tried #16?

Sorry not sure what you mean?

 

[RRO]

Eh, sorry, I think I misunderstood. You get the error right away when trying to install not after the installation? (compare #6)

 

[Dephect]

Eh, sorry, I think I misunderstood. You get the error right away when trying to install not after the installation? (compare #6)

After messing around for a while I managed to get the modded driver supplied by Regeneration to install but have the same issue as silapakorn

 

[RRO]

And do you have an down-arrow in the righttop corner like here shown?

 

[Dephect]

And do you have an down-arrow in the left top corner like here shown?

View attachment 163201

Yes, Audio Device Selection just give me another error. This is total madness we should not have to result to installing modded drivers.....come on Creative pull your finger out!

 

[INSTG8R]

Yes, Audio Device Selection just give me another error. This is total madness we should not have to result to installing modded drivers.....come on Creative pull your finger out!

You disabled Driver Enforcement when you installed them? But yes sad we gotta jump through these hoops..