Creative's Audigy series is unrivalled. With each new iteration, Creative adds a little more goodness to an already tantilising package.
We didn't expect to be disappointed by the ZS - and we weren't. It features the same EMU10K2 as the Audigy 2, so has EAX 4.0/Advanced HD, Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital EX and DTS, as well as a new standard, DTS ES.
In stereo, the DAC pumps out 24-bit/192kHz sound, while multi-channel setups support 96kHz. The software defaults to 44kHz, so it's important to change this. Creative has also upped the SNR, bringing it to 108dB.
The package comes with plenty of kit. Along with the card, you'll find a jungle of cables, a remote, an external hub bristling with connectors, and a molex-to-floppy converter, which provides power to the hub. If this wasn't enough, there's also a quick start guide, manual and of course, driver and application software. To get the most out of the card, you'll need to install the provided applications, as they drive the EAX, sound clean-up and CMSS (Creative Multi-Speaker Surround Sound) capabilities of the ZS.
If you're not into high-quality surround sound for DVD or gaming, then the ZS is overkill. The crisp, clear sound the card produces will put any half-arse speaker setup to shame. As there's a lack of 7.1-compatible DVDs available, we only had a chance to test the 5.1 DVD capabilities of the ZS -- which were top-notch.
As for games, we ran through Elite Forces 2 (which supports 7.1 and EAX 3.0), and it's certainly a unique experience, especially with the combination of 7.1 and amazingly high-quality audio.
If there's anything to criticise, it's the fact that with all this newness, there's not enough to sway an Audigy/Audigy 2 owner to dip into their pockets again for the ZS. However, if you're in the market for the complete audio experience, the ZS is the way to go.
Issue: 137 | June, 2012