[Blotto80]

I'm in the market for a new sound card for gaming/music playback over optical to a DAC, I want to maintain the same level quality for two channel playback that I currently get over USB but add good quality virtual surround for gaming. I've been eyeballing the SB Z but as I don't need the better analog output would I lose anything going with a cheaper model like the Recon3D or one of the USB models?

 

[Evshrug]

Blotto,
Since you're outputting optical to another DAC, I would recommend whichever is cheaper between the SoundBlaster Z or the Omni 5.1. I personally went for the Omni.

The Omni has a slightly lower sample rate (96kHz max instead of 128 kHz), but otherwise the sound quality to an optical DAC will be identical. Plus, it's external and thus isolated from noisy power supplies and other internal PC components, plus it's transportable and laptop/Mac compatible (might not matter to you), plus I found the beam forming microphone to be better, and you get a physical volume knob on your desk to control PC system volume. And the convenience of access to all the ports.

The convenience and compatibility is what had me return the Z for the Omni, but pick based on your needs and research.

 

[gug42]

Hello,
 
I have a dumb question :
  can I use the same op amp between xonar STX and creative ZxR (1 more needed) at the same position (buffers and I/IV) without problems ?
 
Thank you in advance !

 

[igytech]

  Hello,
 
I have a dumb question :
  can I use the same op amp between xonar STX and creative ZxR (1 more needed) at the same position (buffers and I/IV) without problems ?
 
Thank you in advance !

Yes and no.
 
ZxR use 2 single channel opamps for buffers, and STX use one dual channel for buffer.
Both use dual channel for I/V.
So you can use same dual channel opamps in I/V such are muses8920, 01, 02 or LME49720... but you need to use single channel opamps for ZxR buffers.

 

[gug42]

Thx for your reply. 
 
lol I have bought same ship for ZxR and STX so i must  buy some new one 
 
Have you got some references for single channel  please ?
- LME49990MA
- AD797XX
 
- Something like the muses8920 in single channel ?

 

[igytech]

  Thx for your reply. 
 
lol I have bought same ship for ZxR and STX so i must  buy some new one 
 
Have you got some references for single channel  please ?
- I see the :  LME49990MA  but well difficult to find them
- Something like the muses8920 single channel ?

Member Raymond (which tested much opamps) said that Signetics NE5534N sound very good on ZxR in combination with AD827SQ for I/Vs.
I use OPA627AP which sound very good for me but they are much expensive (maybe not much better) then NE5534N.
I don't know will LME49990 benefit over ZxR's LME49710 in buffer section.
 
Muses8920 are dual channel opamps you can use it in both I/V's and in STX's buffer.
I used muses8920 in ZxRs I/V but have to say that AD827SQ sound much better.
 
See experience others in ZxR vs STX thread.

 

[gug42]

Thank you for your answer !
Well sorry, I realize my cross-post
 
By the way, i haven't buy any muses8920, so well it's still  the time to choose between them (same price AD827SQ or muses8920)
Moreover NE5534N are really cheap, good news
 
thx again

 

[igytech]

Thank you for your answer !
Well sorry, I realize my cross-post

By the way, i haven't buy any muses8920, so well it's still  the time to choose between them (same price AD827SQ or muses8920)
Moreover NE5534N are really cheap, good news

thx again

Changing opamps on blind is expensive sport. I bought AD827SQ for 80$ for each and OPA627AP for 40$ each. That's about whole ZxR. Muses8920 bought for 16$ each.

 

[gug42]

Totaly agree !
 
Well AD827SQ really sound much better than muses8920 ?  double the price at least
 
Regards,

 

[igytech]

  Totaly agree !
 
Well AD827SQ really sound much better than muses8920 ?  double the price at least
 
Regards,

More like a triple...
Yes AD827SQ sound much much better....

 

[gug42]

Ok thx.
Spending time and money, i take them at Mouser Electronics (hope for the best)
I have take TI NE5534P from Mouser and Signetics NE5534N  on ebay.  producer really matter ?
 
 
Regards,

 

[igytech]

Ok thx.
Spending time and money, i take them at Mouser Electronics (hope for the best)
I have take TI NE5534P from Mouser and Signetics NE5534N  on ebay.  producer really matter ?


Regards,

Why NE5534P? According Raymond Signetics NE5534N produced before 1990 sound better then new ones. But it is good start with NE5534N for buffers. Then maybe invest in AD827SQ for I/V's... You didn't say how much money you want to spend because there is Sparkos and Burson option also. That are the best opamps for ZxR according many ZxR users here...

 

[gug42]

I have ordered NE5534p (buffers ) and AD827SQ (I/V) from mouser electronics. And really chip NE5534N from ebay.
I ve take p version because only this version is available at mouser electronics ... and well for the price i want to be sure to have a pair of them with the AD827SQ

I have seen burson and Sparkos but well, really expensive , out of my price scope, and cant get iem shield in place.

Thx again

 

[NCSUZoSo]

Check out my detailed review of Burson Audio's V5 series op-amps including oscilloscope raw output comparison!
 
I plan to have a video review up by the end of the month once I get replacement parts in.

http://www.head-fi.org/products/burson-audio-supreme-sound-opamp-v5/reviews/17827
 
or on my website here: https://zosoncsu.com/reviews/​


 
 
 
Also here is my illustration of the ZXR's signal path since I never saw a decent diagram from Creative. Not to say this is the most professional way to show it, haha.
 
 

 
This is the video I am trying to expand on to create a video review. I would welcome any ideas on ways to use the written review + this type of analysis to make a full-length video review of an op-amp series.

 

(All of the images/videos were taken & edited by me, please do not remove watermarks) 

 

[randir14]

I've tried Googling the answer to my question but I found conflicting information. In order to retain the SBX features when connecting my Sound Blaster Z to an external amp with headphones, am I required to also have an external DAC connected to the card with an optical cable? Or can I simply use something like this to connect the SBZ to the amp: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015PZ7QO2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1