Creative Announces the Zen Hybrid Pro Headset Range with Bluetooth LE and ANC

[TheLostSwede]

Creative Technology today announced the release of the all-new Creative Zen Hybrid Pro wireless headphones and their accompanying bundles, the Creative Zen Hybrid ProClassic and Creative Zen Hybrid ProSXFI, all adorned with an alluringly sleek new finish. Equipped with nifty features such as Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Ambient Mode, a powerful 40 mm Neodymium driver, and an impressive battery life of up to 100 hours, these latest headphones are perfect for everyday adventures, from commuting to movie nights to gaming.

This pioneering launch also heralds a new era in wireless audio, as this latest range of Creative Zen Hybrid Pro headphones harness LE Audio to provide users with pristine sound quality, ultra-low latency streaming, and the versatility of multi-streaming for a truly elevated audio experience. Complementing this release are the all-new Creative BT-L3 and Creative BT-L4 audio transmitters, which serve as gateways to unlocking the core features of LE Audio and Super X-Fi technology as well as paving the way for an expanding LE Audio ecosystem.




Unlocking the Power of LE Audio
LE Audio technology is changing the game in the audio industry, aiming to transform how users experience wireless audio. This technology offers enhanced next-generation wireless audio performance with lower bitrates, beyond the classic Bluetooth technology users have become accustomed to over the years. In short, LE Audio not only elevates audio performance but also extends battery life, ensuring a seamless and uninterrupted listening experience.

With LE Audio, the power to share audio experiences takes on a new dimension. With support for both Unicast and Broadcast modes, users have the flexibility to enjoy their chosen audio streams privately or share them across multiple devices, bringing a new level of convenience and versatility.

Lastly, the Ultra-Low Latency (ULL) mode ensures impeccably smooth audio playback, boasting latency as low as ~ 20 ms. This feature not only promises seamless synchronization but also redefines the audio experience for both movie enthusiasts and avid gamers.

Headphones Fit for Every Adventure
The Creative Zen Hybrid Pro wireless headphones and their associated bundles, the Creative Zen Hybrid ProClassic and Creative Zen Hybrid ProSXFI have all the hallmarks of the perfect go-to pair of headphones fit for every audio adventure, from daily commutes to immersive gaming sessions. Each iteration of these cutting-edge headphones caters to varying audio preferences and needs.

Notably, the standalone Creative Zen Hybrid Pro is LE Audio READY, which serves as a cornerstone to unlock the world of LE Audio. To tap into this feature, users can easily activate it when paired with the Creative BT-L3 and Creative BT-L4 audio transmitters, which are thoughtfully bundled with the Creative Zen Hybrid ProClassic and Creative Zen Hybrid ProSXFI, respectively.

Alongside this, the latest Creative Zen Hybrid Pro boasts an array of core features, including Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation and Ambient Mode, giving users the flexibility to fully immerse themselves in their audio or stay attuned to their surroundings with modes that seamlessly adapt to any environment. It also comes equipped with custom-tuned 40 mm, powerful yet light Neodymium drivers, which ensure every note is reproduced with power and precision, delivering a rich and captivating sound experience.

Users can also enjoy crystal-clear call quality with the integration of the advanced AI-powered Deep Neural Network (DNN) noise cancellation technology that allows for conversations to be heard loud and clear, even in bustling environments.

Designed for seamless on-the-go use, the Creative Zen Hybrid Pro also boasts an impressive battery life of up to 100 hours, perfect for extended trips. Switching between devices is also made simple with Bluetooth 5.3 and multipoint connectivity. Additionally, its sleek and lightweight build also offers comfort while users embark on their audio adventures, making it easy to bring their favourite tunes wherever they go.

Adding a touch of personal flair, the customizable RGB LED lights enable users to tailor the headphones to match their unique style. Users can also further fine-tune their audio experience through the Creative App's customizable EQs and controls.

For users who are seeking an elevated audio experience, the bundled options open the doors to the world of LE audio and Super X-Fi. The Creative Zen Hybrid ProClassic offers an enhanced yet versatile audio solution that includes the Creative BT-L3 audio transmitter, which unlocks the power of LE Audio, as well as a detachable boom mic, creating an all-encompassing audio experience ideal for entertainment and seamless communication.

The Creative Zen Hybrid ProSXFI, on the other hand, is tailored for gamers and offers the best of both worlds, allowing users to experience both LE Audio and Super X-Fi magic with the Creative BT-L4 audio transmitter. The Super X-Fi UltraDSP chip fitted in the audio transmitter is a powerhouse that fuels the SXFI BATTLE Mode, which is specifically designed to give users a competitive edge in virtual battlegrounds. The bundle also includes a detachable boom mic for improved voice pickup and clarity for clearer in-game chat.

LE Audio Ecosystem
At the heart of this expanding LE Audio ecosystem are the Creative BT-L3 and Creative BT-L4 audio transmitters, designed to unlock the full potential of LE Audio and Super X-Fi technology while paving the way for an array of forthcoming products. These include soundbars and True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds, all of which will seamlessly integrate with the LE Audio ecosystem. The introduction of the Creative Zen Hybrid Pro headphones and audio transmitters lays the foundation for a future audio experience that is seamless and integrated across devices.

"The launch of the Creative Zen Hybrid Pro headphones and the LE Audio Ecosystem represents an unparalleled revolution in the world of wireless audio. We're proud to offer users a gateway to the future of sound, redefining their audio experiences and paving the way for a new era of connectivity and entertainment," said Song Siow Hui, CEO of Creative Technology.

Pricing and Availability
Step into the future of wireless audio and place your pre-order now to enjoy the launch promotion on the newest line-up of Creative Zen Hybrid Pro headphones available at Creative.com.

• Creative Zen Hybrid Pro is priced at SS$119 and is available at Creative.com.
• Creative Zen Hybrid ProClassic is priced at SS$159 and is available at Creative.com.
• Creative Zen Hybrid ProSXFI is priced at SS$189 and is available at Creative.com.

[Editor's note: Note that the pricing is in Singapore Dollars]

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[ToTTenTranz]

Finally we're seeing companies launching LE Audio products.

Those new Sony headsets using a proprietary connection are going to look pretty weird when all the new headsets using LE Audio LC3 and LC3+ have identical quality and latency control.

It's even weirder now that they bought Audeze and the Audeze Maxwell are among the first being compatible with LE Audio.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Finally we're seeing companies launching LE Audio products.

Those new Sony headsets using a proprietary connection are going to look pretty weird when all the new headsets using LE Audio LC3 and LC3+ have identical quality and latency control.

It's even weirder now that they bought Audeze and the Audeze Maxwell are among the first being compatible with LE Audio.

Actually, there are more third party LDAC headphone announcements than BLE.
Besides, anyone can license LDAC, just like BLE LC3. LC3+ doesn't seem to be supported natively by anything to date, so it's pretty useless, whereas Android has native support for LDAC.
Also, Sony appears to be supporting BLE LC3 on most of its new headphones/headsets.

 

[ToTTenTranz]

Actually, there are more third party LDAC headphone announcements than BLE.

That's to be expected, since bluetooth chipsets supporting LE Audio have just entered the market, whereas LDAC has been out there for decades.
However, we should expect LE Audio adoption to ramp up pretty fast, within the next couple of years.

 

[TheLostSwede]

That's to be expected, since bluetooth chipsets supporting LE Audio have just entered the market, whereas LDAC has been out there for decades.
However, we should expect LE Audio adoption to ramp up pretty fast, within the next couple of years.

That's not true at all, since last gen hardware are getting firmware updates for LE support.
LDAC is not decades old either and has only been supported by Android for six years. I think you're mixing it up with aptX that launched ca 2009.

Sadly I doubt LE will be as popular as you hope, simply because the LC3 codec requires a license to use. You can thanks Fraunhofer for that, again...

LC3/LC3plus

The LC3 and LC3plus audio codecs solve essential shortcomings present in today’s wireless communication platforms such as Bluetooth and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT). The codecs’ operation modes range from medium bit rates for optimal voice transmission up to high bit rates...

www.iis.fraunhofer.de

 

[ToTTenTranz]

That's not true at all, since last gen hardware are getting firmware updates for LE support.

Never heard of that.

LDAC is not decades old either and has only been supported by Android for six years. I think you're mixing it up with aptX that launched ca 2009.

Sadly I doubt LE will be as popular as you hope, simply because the LC3 codec requires a license to use. You can thanks Fraunhofer for that, again...

LC3/LC3plus

The LC3 and LC3plus audio codecs solve essential shortcomings present in today’s wireless communication platforms such as Bluetooth and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT). The codecs’ operation modes range from medium bit rates for optimal voice transmission up to high bit rates...

www.iis.fraunhofer.de

LC3 (16bit/48KHz) doesn't require license, only LC3+ (24bit/96KHz).
LC3 is effectively the replacement of SBC.

Though you're right that LDAC is relatively new, I mistook it for ATRAC. LDAC has terrible latency above 200ms, though. It was never going to be the primary codec in a wireless gaming headset.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Never heard of that.

Sony, Samsung and others have done it.
For example https://thewalkmanblog.blogspot.com/2023/05/sony-linkbuds-s-le-audio-firmware-released.html

LC3 (16bit/48KHz) doesn't require license, only LC3+ (24bit/96KHz).
LC3 is effectively the replacement of SBC.

Though you're right that LDAC is relatively new, I mistook it for ATRAC. LDAC has terrible latency above 200ms, though. It was never going to be the primary codec in a wireless gaming headset.

Fraunhofer seems to disagree on that if you read the link I sent.
I'm aware that LC3 was supposed to be the SBC replacement, but keep in mind that a lot of the Bluetooth ICs these days are now made by more or less unknown xinese companies, it's likely all the sub $50 Bluetooth earphones/headphones will use SBC/AAC for years to come, as those companies often don't bother to add new features unless it's needed.

Not sure if you've seen this xinese site, they tear down a lot of earphones/headphones and it's really insane how many different Bluetooth chip makers there are.

我爱音频网

我们只谈音频，丰富的TWS真无线蓝牙耳机拆解报告

www.52audio.com

Typical example, brand new Bluetooth 5.4 chip form Bluetrum with a RISC-V based processor core, only AAC and mSBC (no idea what the m stands for) support.

LDAC is about audio quality over latency though. The biggest issue is that it's very prone to interference if there are a lot of Bluetooth devices nearby, as it's using "too much" bandwidth in the narrow spectrum Bluetooth is allowed to operate in. Hopefully the 5 GHz upgrade to Bluetooth will solve this, as range isn't an issue in most instances when we're talking audio over Blueooth.

 

[Clever Seen]

According to Fraunhofer:

LC3plus High-Resolution can not only provide a much better THD+N than any other solution, but it provides the same THD+N as the LDAC codec while using only 1/3 of LDAC’s bitrate. Further increase of the bitrate for LC3plus High-Resolution beyond 250 kbit/s per channel shows marginal improvements of the THD+N.

I hesitate to post links due to this being a new account. However, you can search that quote to find the document in question.

LC3+ provides imperceptible latency, general transparency, and at 1/3 the bandwidth of LDAC. As someone that has tested both LDAC headphones and these new Creative Zen Hybrid Pro headphones with the included transmitter, the codec sounds transparent to me with no notable latency. LDAC, by comparison, seems like a dated and inefficient codec, which is much less efficient than other codecs at its lowest bitrate of 330 Kbps, and marginally better at higher bitrates of 990 Kbps, with high power consumption and noticeable signal degradation, clicks, and pops. That is to say nothing of the high latency.

By all aspects, the LC3 and LC3+ codecs seem to be the most cutting edge on the market. Perhaps second only to AptX Adaptive and AptX Lossless, but I cannot say for sure.

It should also be noted that unlike previous Bluetooth versions, you can transmit and receive audio over simultaneously LC3 or LC3+ without notable audio quality degradation. This means that using a microphone no longer ruins audio quality over Bluetooth. VoNR and VoWiFi calls will have a significant quality increase with these new gen BT LE audio products. Creative implemented this feature well here. That is why this new Bluetooth headset is essentially a gaming headset too. This space was previously dominated by proprietary 2.4G audio transmitters. Although in that case, wireless gaming headsets have compressed their microphone quality since their inception, while this headset has much clearer voice transmission thanks to the codec.