Creative provide reviewers with copious notes on how to set up Rightmark's Audio Analyser to get the best results, specifying that Line Input 3 must be used, and explaining that this has been specifically isolated to avoid ground loop problems that will 'artificially distort the RMAA results'. Thus, using Line Inputs 1 and 2 will give poor test results, but in normal usage their performance should be the same as Line Input 3.
However, although you'd never normally want to connect your inputs to your outputs, many musicians will connect them both to an external mixer, so I'm not entirely convinced by this argument. Moreover, during my auditioning I could just hear a small amount of background hum and buzz from the Audigy 2 ZS through my speakers even with only Line Out 1 connected, which is indicative of a ground loop problem. The supplied RM remote control. The fact that Creative need to supply such detailed instructions on how to achieve best audio results by disabling the CMSS 3D, EAX, Karaoke, Equalizer, THX Setup and Speaker Calibration, plus muting and pulling the faders down to zero for all but one input in the mixer, and setting its fader to 58 percent 0dB rather confirms what I've said all along about the Soundblaster range — that all the extras sometimes get in the way of achieving the cleanest playback and recordings.
However, to their credit, Creative have made adjusting the input and output gain controls on their Surround Mixer much easier than ever before: clicking on them now provides a readout of the current value as both a percentage and in dB, which makes setting up far easier. As on the original, however, there were still characteristic ripples at the high end at all other sample rates, where ASRC Asynchronous Sample Rate Conversion had been employed, although once again the dynamic range was slightly better.
I was interested in ascertaining whether or not I could hear the improvements subjectively, and spent a long time auditioning the ZS against my own Echo Mia with a wide range of music — the Audigy 2 ZS CS D-A converters theoretically have a better spec than the Mia's AK, though this is not the only factor in play. Despite the ground loop problem I mentioned earlier, which limited its ultimate dynamic range, the ZS provided an extremely good overall sound with precise imaging, and proved to be very close to the Mia, with only a subtle thinning during The ZS is certainly the best-sounding Soundblaster soundcard to date, and anyone considering buying an Audigy should make sure that they get this model.
While the graphic equaliser is best kept 'out of circuit' for the cleanest sound, there's no denying its usefulness to those with multimedia speakers that need a little help to sound balanced, and for those with a surround setup, the new THX Console and support for 7. This is perhaps understandable given the Audigy's integral Soundfont sampler, but when most of the budget soundcards for musicians do now provide GSIF support, it's yet another limitation.
Overall, the Audigy is probably the most comprehensive soundcard you can buy for a budget surround system, as far as I know the only one you can currently use for DVD-Audio playback, and its DSP environments and Direct Sound streaming functions make it wonderful for games.
Its twin Firewire ports can also be extremely useful for those PCs don't have them. However, despite the huge leap forward provided by the ASIO drivers of the Audigy 2, many musicians have found these cards to be a source of confusion and frustration, and despite the new and improved sound quality of this latest ZS version, I see nothing that changes this situation. The Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro provides incremental improvements over its recent predecessor, including better sound quality, but fails to remove any of its fundamental limitations for musicians.
Overview Since the Audigy 2 ZS is so similar to its predecessor I'll concentrate on the differences only: if you want to find out about its inherited features I suggest you refer to my original review of the Audigy 2 in SOS April Improvements Over Audigy 2 Dynamic range is 2dB better. Seven-channel graphic equaliser. THX Console utility to aid speaker setup. Thanks for your feedback. The latest audio driver suggested is working in Windows 7 Pro on my computer, the same driver installed on Windows 10 Pro does not.
Note that the driver installed for this card was working in July Windows 10 version , something must have changed in Windows 10 November version.
I would suggest you to install the audio drivers in compatibility mode and check if it helps. Refer the steps to install a driver in compatibility mode:. Right click on the setup file of the driver and select Properties. Place a check mark next to Run this program in Compatibility mode and select the operating system accordingly from the drop down list.
Let the driver to install and then check the functionality. If you need any further assistance let us know and we would be glad to help you. I uninstalled the audio driver in safe mode and windows 10 reboots normally. Thanks, SK. This thread is locked. You can follow the question or vote as helpful, but you cannot reply to this thread. I have the same question Report abuse.
Details required :. Cancel Submit. Hi Shirish, Thank you for posting the query on Microsoft Community. Under Hardware and Sound , Click on Troubleshoot audio playback. How satisfied are you with this reply? Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site. In reply to A. User's post on December 16, I have driver detail in the link provided on one drive.
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