Creative Technology is releasing a refreshed version of the Sound Blaster Z sound card, a model called Sound Blaster Z SE. It is a sound card built on the basis of the popular six-channel Sound Blaster Z sound card. The parameters of the new SB Z SE sound card are essentially the same as its predecessors SB Z, from the sound parameters to the software itself, which has been updated to Sound Blaster Command version. One of the main changes to the sound card, however, is the use of the new generation Sound Core3D sound processor, which is responsible for Creative’s proprietary technologies, such as SBX profiles, Crystal Voice, Scout Mode, Surround Virtualization, Creative ALchemy.

Creative is releasing a refreshed version of the Sound Blaster Z sound card, a model called Sound Blaster Z SE. One of the major changes to the sound card, however, is the adoption of the next generation Sound Core3D sound processor, including support for 7.1 sets.

Test Creative Sound BlasterX Katana – soundbar with sound card

The card occupies one PCI-Ex1 slot. It is equipped with a metal housing / EMI shield, which is designed to protect the electronics of the sound card against interference from electromagnetic waves emanating from other components. The mentioned Sound Core3D sound processor and DAC built on the Cirrus Logic chip are responsible for the sound; 24 bit / 192 kHz and SNR 120 dB. Two two-channel operational amplifiers are responsible for the amplification of the headphone paths and the sound quality. The headphone amplifier is able to drive high-quality headphones with an impedance of 600 ohms. Front panel users can use the 10 – pin connector located on the PCB. This time the sound card does not have LED illumination, which is red in the SB Z version.

Creative Outlier Gold test – Golden headphones, also in figurative

On the rear panel has connectors such as (from left):

• Line / Mic In
• Headphone Out
• Output to Stereo Speakers / Front Speakers
• Rear output
• Center and Subwoofer Out
• Optical Out
• Optical Input

Test Creative Sound Blaster AE-7. How it sounds!

Sound Blaster Z SE is complemented by Creative’s proprietary software called Sound Blaster Command, which includes solutions such as ready-made sound profiles for headphones, speakers and even a microphone . We can use the built-in Equalizer to better control our sound equipment. We cannot forget about the available “Scout mode” technology, which is designed to help players in faster and better positioning of enemies on the battlefield. The software gives us the ability to quickly and conveniently switch between speakers and headphones. Previous SB Z users can also take advantage of the new Sound Blaster Command software that replaces the older version of Sound Blaster Control Panel Pro Studio. The Sound BlasterZ SE sound card is priced at 449 and is available at creative.com.

Creative Sound Blaster AE-9 test – the best PC sound card

Creative Sound Blaster Z SE specification:

• Signal ratio to noise: 116 dB
• 24 – bit analog-to-digital conversion of audio from analog inputs with maximum sampling rate 96 kHz
• 24 – bit digital-to-analog conversion of digital sources with sampling rate to 192 kHz to analog outputs
• Recording sampling rates from 16 to 24 bits: 16, 24, 44, 1, 48 and 96 kHz
• Playback sampling rates from 16 to 24 bits: 16, 24, 44, 1, 48, 96 and 192 kHz
• PCI-express connector

Source: Creative