Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum

CNET editors' review

• Reviewed by: Nathaniel Wilkins and Rich Brown
• Reviewed on: 03/17/2004
• Released on: 09/03/2003

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum isn't quite as versatile as Creative's top-level card, the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro, but it's enough sound card for most. (For more in-depth coverage of the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS line, please see our full review of the aforementioned Platinum Pro.) With 7.1-channel speaker support, high-resolution 24-bit/96kHz output, and a PC-drive-bay accessory that brings almost all of the audio inputs and outputs you could ever want right to the front of your system, the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum is perfect for computer-savvy users who demand high-quality sound in their games and movies and who also desire the convenience of front-panel audio ports.

The Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum features the same audio-processing technology as the Platinum Pro; the only differences between them, other than the price (the Platinum card costs $200, the Platinum $250), are their form factors and their selection of inputs and outputs. Where the Platinum Pro includes an external I/O hub that connects to the sound card's FireWire port, the Platinum uses an internal I/O hub that resides in one of your system's 5.25-inch drive bays, involves a more complicated installation process, and serves up fewer connections.

The backplane of the card itself is the same across the Audigy 2 ZS line and features outputs for up to 7.1-channel speakers, coaxial digital-out, line-out, and microphone-in jacks. The Platinum card's internal I/O hub has a 0.25-inch stereo headphone jack with a minijack adapter; only one line-in (that doubles as the 0.25-inch microphone in) with gain control, compared to the Platinum Pro's three line-in jacks; two RCA audio-in jacks; both optical and coaxial digital input and output ports; a 5.1-channel digital-audio out; a single FireWire port (the Platinum Pro has two); MIDI in and out jacks; and an IR receiver for the remote control. While none of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS line is on a par with professional audio production hardware, the more serious hobbyist will prefer the Platinum Pro card to the Platinum version for the more extensive array of ports found on the former.

See more CNET content tagged:

Sound Blaster,

I/O,

Creative Labs Inc.,

hub,

card

User opinions

WRITE YOUR OWN REVIEW How would you rate this product?

• 3/10 Poor October 23, 2005

  by MtnFishMan (see profile)

  "It Works, BUT...... Keep yer money 'fer now" Read more >>

• 2/10 Terrible August 2, 2005

  by Wizard9212 (see profile)

  "Good card lack of support" Read more >>

• 9/10 Spectacular November 19, 2005

  by ddg4005 (see profile)

  "One the best sound cards money can buy." Read more >>

• WRITE YOUR OWN REVIEWSee all 12 user opinions >>

Similar products

• Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Series
  • Editors' rating: 8.5 out of 10
  • Users' rating: 6.3 out of 10
• Creative Labs Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum eX
  • Editors' rating: 9.0 out of 10
  • Users' rating: 6.0 out of 10
  • Price: $159.99
• Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook sound card
  • Editors' rating: 8.7 out of 10
  • Users' rating: 7.2 out of 10
• Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro
  • Editors' rating: 7.4 out of 10
  • Users' rating: 7.0 out of 10
• Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio PCI Express - sound card
  • Price: $49.99 - $52.32

Where to buy

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum

This product is currently not in stock at any of our online merchants.

Find Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum from our auction partner, eBay

Email me when this product is available