GXCredits 5XluCky draw

GX MONTHLY FEATURING - CREATIvE sOUNdbLAsTER zXR, CREATIvE sOUNd bLAsTER RECON3d OMEGA WIRELEss & MORE

Creative soundblaster ZX Card or Creative soundblaster

taCtiC 3d raGe GiveawayPURCHAsE FROM GXCREdITs TOdAY

ANd GET FREE bONUs CREdITs

ENjOY THEsE PROMOTIONs AT...

* disclaimer: Promotion details are accurate at time of print.

.COM.sG

Soundcards. Possibly the most under-rated item in your PC

When building up a gaming rig or PC to the best of your budget, it is a common move to spend the most on a graphic card, that motherboard and CPU chip, while giving other components the frugal treatment.

For the longest time, most would want to believe that investing in a soundcard is not as important because it is readily available on the motherboard.

Gaming-specific motherboards also advertise software emulated technologies to give the idea that its on-board sound is of premium quality. Which they are, but nothing beats having a dedicated hardware to process sounds for you.

Besides money has been spent on getting a good set of speakers or a 7.1 headset for some. It is clear that gamers want to immerse themselves in good sound to get the best gaming experience. However, it is easy to forget that speakers only produce the end result. Why not also focus on enhancing the source?

I’m not here to advocate that one should set aside money for a soundcard as a mandatory thing. However, here are some reasons why you should consider getting one should you have the budget.

1. It takes processing load off your motherboard so it can concentrate on other things.

The motherboard already has to deal with hard disks, that CPU chip and other components. Wouldn’t it be nice to take sound processing off its burden?

2. You wont have to hear circuitry noise.

Ever noticed that occasional hissing coming from your speakers when you turn up the volume but no game or music is playing? That happens because while your motherboard is hard at work, the electrical currents the flow all over crosses with the on-board sound card. That is where the hissing comes from. This can be heard easier if you’re on earphones or headphones.

3. Cleaner sound, better immersion.

This is the core idea of why you should get a soundcard. It cleans up audio for you so that your ears enjoy those ambient sounds, effects and even music at better quality. For anything else better, you will need to spend more on a DAC(Digital analogue converter). That will surely cost more than a sound card.

4. Full audio control.

Now sound quality is a personal thing. Some like more bass, others prefer clarity and some could prefer a mix of both. Some soundcards provide a mixer to give you control over the type of sound you like. Be it for music or for a game of Battlefield 3, you have full control of the type of immersion you want, at the expense of a dedicated device.

5. Better surround sound with your virtual 5.1/7.1 headphones

Whether or not your headphones uses its own hardware or software to produce its own surround sound, a soundcard helps process those location specific footsteps with better clarity.

In essence, I think you’ll be able to see my point as to why a soundcard is probably worth your time. I will reiterate if you missed out my point. This is all in the name of getting the best gaming experience, and it does not stop with just a good graphics card or speakers.

Creative’s new line of soundcard proves to meet the needs of a variety of audiophiles, both demanding and casual. This comes in the Z, Zx and ZxR series. All three of them are based on the same Core 3D chip that’s proprietary to Creative but present multiple options for both gamers and studio audiophiles.

This Core 3D chip is a quad-core DSP with 1,200 MIPs. Unlike the Creative X-Fi which had 10,000MIPs, quad-core processors these days allow for much less processing power on a sound card and Creative made a good move just so that it saves on power consumption. Gone is the old way of benchmarkng sound cards. Technology has allowed for smaller footprints, while keeping up the quality.

Moving on the to the Zx, while it provides the same performance quality of 116dB sound to noise Ration, I cannot help but think that this is more suited for a good pair of speakers, a vast difference from the Z version that has the headphone jack.

Plugging it up to my AudioEngine A5+, sound and music from my computer felt like it was going from mono to full-on stereo. Playing Star Wars: The Old Republic with it felt like a whole new game with lightsabres being activated with so much sound clarity and lasers flying by everywhere(yes, I’m starting to sound like a sci-fi junkie, but no I’m really not).

The added SBx Pro Studio provided a lot of tools to tweak the surround sound processing, sound clarity, bass and other shenanigans. If there is a specific way you like your audio to sound, this is where you can fine tune it.

On a side note, if you really want sound that can blow minds, top a DAC above that soundcard and you’ll probably never ever want to leave the house again. Also, the Zx does not require a lot of space just like the Z version, and you have a nice volume knob instead of the aforementioned beam microphone.

The most affordable SB Z gives a nice 116dB Sound to noise Ratio and also comes with a beam-forming microphone and headphone ports, as well as a large volume knob and microphone array. It is also small enough to fit nicely into your machine and I’ve managed to squeeze it in between my Crossfire set up of ATI 7970 Radeons.

As I’ve mentioned earlier in the joys of having a soundcard, the SB Z cleans up audio significantly and those who are headphone users will love the 600 Ohm impedance on the headphone jack.

On to the ZXR, this is Creative’s flagship soundcard of the series and with a 124 Signal to Noise Ratio, it is meant for audiophiles and whoever works in a studio. While I would not actually recommend it to most casual gamers, this is one soundcard not to underestimate.

The difference between 116dB and 124dB can be described as miles apart and you’ll quickly understand why anyone would pay top dollar for it.

The only drawback is how it needs two slots in your PC and that means the possibility of foregoing that dual graphic card set up. This is of course arguable if you have the dollars to dish out a mainboard with that many PCI-E slots and a casing to hold everything in. For the more discerning buyer, prepare to make some space for this one just for that coveted 124sB SNR.

This card allows for Studio-grade content to be developed and great for video editors, sound recorders, singers, youtubers and all of the other media people. The secondary card allows for ADCs with RCAs to connect into and so on. Think of it as a professional line card. SBX Pro Studio is also available in software for all your sound tweaking needs and that volume knob as well.

So this is as layman as it gets for a description of Creative soundcards, all of which have been specifically designed for particular needs, ranging from casual gamer to hardcore audiophiles.

Personally, the Zx is more than enough for most gaming needs and if you’d like to win one, head on over to the end of this magazine for details!

Check out our Creative headphone

review next

Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Omega Wireless Review

Specifications

HeadphoneDriver Units: 50mm Neodymium magnet

Frequency Response: 20Hz ~ 20kHz

Impedance: 32ohms

Sensitivity: 102dB/mW

MicrophoneMicrophone Type: Noise Canceling Condenser

Frequency Response: 100Hz ~ 6.5kHz

Impedance: <2.2kohms

Sensitivity: -40dBV/Pa

Sound Blaster Recon3DPlayback: 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion (up to 48 kHz to stereo output)

Audio Inputs: One 3.50 mm (1/8-inch) stereo jack for Microphone In One 3.50 mm (1/8-inch) stereo jack for Aux In/Optical In

Audio Output: One 3.50 mm (1/8-inch) stereo jack for Analog Line Out or Headphones Playback

Interface: USB powered

Tactic Link Wireless InterfaceWireless Technology: Uncompressed 2.4GHz

Introduction

Wireless headsets had always been at the cross hares of criticism from audiophiles claiming that they do not perform as well as their wired counterpart. And that the added inconveniences of charging the batteries when they are low and risk of connection lost makes a wireless headset unworthy of your moneyWhile it may be true in the past, wireless headsets have now advanced to a point that breaks out of that mold and should not be viewed with such a stigma.

The Sound Blaster series is created by Singapore’s very own Creative Technology. They have utilized years of experience in the sound card business to bring about a successful range of wired and wireless gaming headsets.

And the cream of the (wireless) crop is the subject of this review, the Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Omega Wireless.

Design and Build Quality

HeadsetIn terms of its design, there is nothing particularly loud or eye catching – apart from the blue lit rings at each of the ear cups – with the rest of the headset being mostly matte black.

The headset may be heavy, but there is adequate cushioning on the ear cups and headband to negate some of its weight. Users will experience some form of discomfort when using this headset, which tends to squeeze your head. And the oddly small ear cups – despite its 50mm drivers – do not help in this matter too.One good reason for this weight and stiffness is steel! Built around a sturdy steel core, which can be seen when one uses its adjustable hinges, durability is a plus for this headset.

And when compared to some other headsets that I have used, the Sound Blaster Recon3D Omega Wireless will still pass in my books, though it is border line at best. It is worth a mention that comfort is a subjective thing and

dependent on the size of your head and ears as well as your preference.

Most interaction with the headset is found on the left ear cup, where the power button, volume control button, microphone port (where the conveniently detachable microphone of this headset can be inserted) and microphone mute button. This is great for right handers, but not so much for left handers, for whom there is no left handed version.

External audio processorYou may be initially confused between the different between the Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Omega Wireless and the Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Omega Wireless. The answer lies in what comes with the headset. Buying the Recon3D Omega Wireless will get you a Tactic3D Omega Wireless, but along with it is the Sound Blaster Recon 3D sound card.

The Recon 3D sound card is a small palm sized device – which may also be bought separately like the Tactic3D Omega Wireless headset. Its design is very much similar to the headset, with its aesthetics a combination of matte black, 2 blue lit rings and a dash of glossy black plastic. Like its companion, its build feels very sturdy, however not as heavy.It is a control station all on its own. It packs in its small package volume control, microphone volume toggle, mute button, THX TruStudio Pro mode and scout mode activation buttons, platform (PC, PS3, Xbox) toggle, 3.5mm audio and microphone jacks.The Recon 3D sound card features four independent digital signal processors of the Sound Core3D Chip and brings about a high quality HD audio decoder, 24-bit 102dB digital-to analog converters and 101dB analog to digital converter. All these core capabilities are designed to improve your audio listening experience, such as giving you the 3D audio sensation.Being an “external” sound card, the Recon 3D sound card will be a great addition to laptops because of the inability to upgrade sound cards within such laptops. However, not to be ignored by those who make their own CPUs, the Recon 3D also brings about features such as decoding capabilities for Dolby Digital 5.1 and THX

TruStudio Pro as well as scout mode, which will be discussed below.

Features and Performance

Thx modeDelivery of high quality audio is certain with the THX TruStudio mode, which when activated, makes the Sound Blaster Recon3D Omega Wireless your go-to wireless headset for not just gaming, but also for music and movies.

When activated, the soundstage morphs and develops a stronger central channel at the expense of directionality. Thus while the peripheral sounds may be weaker, dialogues are crisps and precise, a great boost while watching your favourite TV series.

The 50mm drivers of this headset are large enough to provide good bass. And with the THX mode activated, lower frequencies are given a boost, thus making action-packed movies are a joy to watch and listen.

Scout modeNow this mode justifies the Recon in the long-winded name of this headset. Activate this mode, and you can literally listen to those cowards sneaking behind you. This “hyper sensitivity” gives you the advantage of greater awareness of your surroundings in the battlefield. And also if you just enjoy the subtle sounds of footsteps and gun reload – like me – this mode could be an addiction. You have been warned.

Control center interfaceWhat is great about the Sound Blaster series is the software that comes with it. While the headset already works great without tinkering with the effects, some will in fact appreciate the amount of control that Creative has given to the user in replicating the type of sound that is desired.

Check out the screen shots below to see what you can do with it!

ConclusionThe Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Omega Wireless is an awesome headset! Its addition into the ever growing army of wireless headsets is a blessing in the fight against the staple of their wired counterparts!

The audio quality delivered has been covered sustainably above. Thus some may say well you still need to charge the headset. While that may be true, when fully charged, this headset will last for 8 hours. During that period of time, you will be able to enjoy complete freedom. No more taking your headset off when going to your bathroom or getting a drink, bring that audio with you! When needed to be charged, just plug it up to its cable, and you will still be able to use it. Therefore, there really isn’t any advantage that a wired headset can brag about.

So, whether you are already a believer or still waiting for the right product to try out, then give the Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Omega Wireless that opportunity. Once you use it, you will never go back!

Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Rage Wireless Headset Review

Creative Sound Blaster has been a pioneer for PC audio, and the creation of the Tactic 3D range is one testament of their experience.

Like the other Tactic 3D Headsets, the design has remained constant throughout the entire series. Its leather covering for ear cushions (thank god its not cloth, I sweat sometimes), the head cushion, adjustable length of the cans gives that comfort fit no matter what headshape one has.

Although this headset is not supported by Dolby Surround, the icluded SBX Pro Studio, allows for some great surround sound effects and does pull through for gaming and music. What makes this headset interesting is that the SBX Pro Studio, also comes with a voice altering program for a trolling good time while gaming on the PC, making a petite girl sound like a pompous brute or vice versa.

That brings me to the mic. Having a noise cancelling condenser shuts out most of the noisy environment so you can shout orders to your team mates. It literally picks up only your voice.

Other options include having a volume control on the headset so you can make the change on volume on the fly with no issues as well as having the ability to change the colour of your headset to suit your mood.

For me the best feature would be having to have the ability to use this headset for up to 16 hrs in 1 go and not having to charge (Because I am that lazy), also having the ability to listen to whatever I am listening to on the PC and walk to the kitchen from my living room and not having to worry about people tripping on my wires, gives me one of the greatest joys.

Win a Creative Soundblaster Zx card or

Creative Soundblaster Tactic 3D Rage

1. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gx.com.sg

2. Answer the question found on our wall.

3. Share the question on your wall.