Question 1

There are obviously two separate components to this soundcard plus the external module. I can only see one of those components having a connector at the bottom for which is used to connect into a PCI-E slot. What about the other one? The smaller one with the RCA input and Optical input/output features does not have a connector as far as I can see. How is that to be used? How does that piece connect to the computer?

Accepted Answer

The smaller one is connected to and powered buy what looks something like an SLI jumper strap. It plugs both units together. If you look at the pictures on the newegg site and go to the one that shows the box and all that comes in it you will see the strap directly below the box.

By the way I absolutely love my ZXR and it is every thing they say it is.

Maurice

Question 2

i know it say it supports Windows 7/8 but what if i use it on Windows 10?

Accepted Answer

If you go to the Creative website look for Support and search for this sound card.  They have a released Windows 10 driver there you can download.  You should be able to install the card with windows 10 on your computer, then download and run the windows 10 driver package.  For some reason they have not updated the Windows 7 driver in 2 years, hopefully that one will be updated soon.

Question 3

Since the daughter card is only connected by a strap, are there problems with it coming loose? Is there some way to secure it to my case? I don't like free-floating parts; I move my rig frequently and am concerned about physical damage and cables coming loose.

Accepted Answer

The daughter card attaches to the case like any other card, it just doesn't connect to the motherboard. I've moved the two around to different slots as I added new hardware and didnt have much of an issue. With Windows 7 though I did have an iss with the daughter not being seen after Windows restarted because of updates, but haven't had that issue with Windows 10. My only recommendation for this card set is to try to keep the mother and daughter no more than one slot apart, right next to eachother is best.

Question 4

I do not know much about sound cards at all other than they can make a big difference, I own an asus z87 pro motherboard and it has the Realtek ALC1150, and wanted to ask if this sound blaster z series was a big difference in sound then the realtek on my motherboard? I also wanted to know if there is a more affordable sound card that will still be a nice improvement that what is on my  motherboard? please if any of you know of a more affordable but good sound card please let me know.

Accepted Answer

I use it with the Bose qc20 earbuds and I have to say with the settings I use it's very natural sounding.  It used to be where I noticed PC sound can't get better than digital form where it over emphasizes areas and deadens areas where it shouldn't.  Like hearing loud sounds usually sounds the same as other sounds.

My settings are crystallizer max.  Surround and bass off.  Smart Volume and Dialog plus off.  High gain in headphones mode.  Equalizer set to v shape so its 24 18 12 6 0 0 6 12 18 24 from left to right.

If you use surround it doesn't make the really loud sounds as loud as they should be in real life.  With bass on it distorts at times.  With smart volume it makes all sound intensity the same.  With low gain it doesn't sound as loud.

I have used lots of sound blaster cards and a couple Auzentechs.  When going to upgraded sound cards I notice I have to lower the volume because it's so loud.  I'm currently as 7 and it's pretty loud to be too loud.  With the SB Recon3D I had it to 11 and it was as loud but a little bit less loud.  Anymore would be too loud and distorting.  I have to adjust some video audios to half or less because it's kind of blarring loud but clear but loud.

The natural sounds coming from this setup sets it to another world of audio from what I've heard and had before.  I had other expensive earbuds but they don't make it as clear as this.  20mm drive from Bose with active noise cancelling and built-in DSP is unbeatable.  It really makes the sound card to full potential unless 21mm or higher exist later.  I've used the netbook with the SB mb3 audio software with same settings but it doesn't get as clear, deep, loud, and tight as this.

Nothing can compare in all honesty I believe for the say $530 price tag for both there is no need for expensive surround sound speakers like I used to use.  The electric bill and disturbances using that instead of the Bose qc20 is a lot of savings.

Question 5

I am just curious if this card will run and is compatible with the Asus z-87 deluxe motherboard?

It appears as it would, but better safe than sorry...thanks

Accepted Answer

The card should have no problem with your motherboard.  I'm personally using the ZxR with an Asus Z68 Deluxe, but really, this card should work fine with any board that has an available PCIE x1 slot.

I do recommend disabling the onboard sound card in the bios settings to minimize conflicts, and make sure to download the newest driver from creative instead of using the disc in the box.

Also, I don't recommend this card if you plan to mainly use it with the digital optical output.  That is simply because doing so bypasses all of the high end parts that make this card more expensive than the Zx.

Question 6

Can the main card(mother card) be used and fully utilized without the daughter card?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there are benefits to the daughter card though, for example Optical output / Input is not on the main card, so if you have any devices that connect via these, you'd need the daughter card connected.

Question 7

I know the sound blaster z had a red led, do one or both of these boards have the same? or a different kind of glow?

Accepted Answer

Because the two cards are practically next to each other with not much gap on my motherboard, it has hard to tell if the second card even have a red LED, but if it did, they will both be red because only red is emitted from that entire area. There are no options to change the LED light in the software. Hope that helps!

Question 8

I'm trying to set up my home theater receiver as the sound output for my PC using the Toslink/SPDIF (optical audio) cable.  From what I've read on other sites, my motherboard (ASUS Maximus VII Hero) can't produce the 7.1 digital format for audio despite there being an on-board toslink connector in the back panel.

So I'm considering getting the ZxR from Sound blaster.

My question is, will this sound card provide the 7.1 audio I want?

Accepted Answer

That depends on SO many things.  Which 7.1 format are you talking about?  S/PDIF is capable of carrying compressed surround, but cannot handle lossless formats like TrueHD and the like.  So you're stuck with DVD, surround DVD rips, or re-encoding to compressed format. The video player you're using on the PC must also be able to output the correct signal as well, which is often difficult to achieve.  Games generally will not output compressed surround sound because the encoding process is too slow to be done on the fly.

What I ended up doing, was buying a cheap 7.1 card and connecting that to the Multi-Channel direct analog input on my Receiver.  That way the PC handles all of the surround encoding on its own.

I wish, CreativeLabs would do a better job at supporting this setup.

It's been great for recording though.

Question 9

Is there a way to hook this card up to speakers that only have the yellow,black,green hookups? I plan on getting better speakers later but still want to use my old speakers for now. They are Creative 6600 speakers.

Accepted Answer

Of course there is, it is after all a computer sound card and those three audio jacks are the PC default standard.

There is an adapter if you look at the package pictures that joins the L and R channels in to a 3.5mm jack for your Green connector to plug in to and the other two, Sub/Center, and Surrounds just plug right in to the card.

Question 10

Power Requirements?

Accepted Answer

It is powered directly from the PCI Express slot.  No additional power cables needed/required.  The daughter board has an older style ribbon cable it uses to connect to the main sound board, thus requiring only 1 PCI Express slot as stated in system requirements.

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