Buy Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook Clamshell Sound Card (53SB053000003)Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook Clamshell Sound Card (53SB053000003) Product Description:
- Audio card for notebook computers
- 24-bit audio
- EAX ADVANCED HD Music Tools
- Built-in Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES decoding
- Easy to install and use
Product Description
Creative Labs (53SB053000003) PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful.
Same great card for less $$$
By G. Camano-Garcia
If you have searched Amazon for an Audigy 2 ZS notebook sound card you may have noticed that the Amazon search engine returns three different results for this product. Two of them (item model # 70sb053000012 and SB0530) priced over $20 than this model. If you are wondering what the difference is between those two and this one, you may be surprised to know that there is none other than the packaging. The two high priced versions come one in a colorful box and the other in a clamshell. This one comes in a plain cardboard box. The contents of the box are exactly the same and so are the technical specifications for the card.Package contents:- PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook audio card,- Speaker docking cable,- Clear carrying case,- Creative earphones,- Quick start leaflet,- Creative DVD-Audio sampler disc,- Sounds best on SOUND BLASTER CD installation,- Applications CD containing: drivers for Windows XP & Windows 2000, Creative software suite, and user's guide.The one that I bought did not have the latest version of the drivers. However, you can easily download them from the Creative web site together with several upgrades for the applications that come with the card.So, if you want to save yourself at least $20 to use them towards buying yourself, say, a good speakers system, and you do not care about fancy packaging you may seriously consider buying this one.I did not experience any problems with my card, like pops/click sounds as those problems are more related to the laptop where you will install the card (e.g. insufficient PCMCIA bandwidth that depends on your system's cardbus controller) than to the card itself. Also, the volume buttons of my laptop (Compaq) do control the card volume.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
ENE Controller Problems
By R. MIDDLETON
It turns out anyone that has a notebook that uses the ENE cardbuss controller will have some issues with this card - and that's a lot of people!Before you buy it - check your device manager to see what's on your PC. The problems vary somewhat but crackling and popping to some degree is pretty common. You may be able get rid of it by trying various workarounds including operating it in "standard mode" but you'll lose some features and audio performance. A lot of smart people have spent a lot of time trying to get this card to work on their PCs with the ENE controllers and there's still no definite/universal fix. At this time there's 19 pages on the subject at the Creative forum. Creative for their part isn't supporting the problem by coming up with a fix, they've had lots of time now. Bottom line - if you have the ENE controller and still decide to purchase be prepared to return it and waste some valuable time like me.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful.Best Creative Product Ever!
By The Information
The state of affairs regarding laptop audio quality is awful. Laptop manufacturers cut corners in every way they can to reduce cost. They assume customers will be satisfied with average or below-average audio performance. Buying a laptop that has high quality audio "out-of-the-box" is near impossible. Even if you have a high-end laptop, the audio output is usually plagued by system noise, poor volume levels, and poor frequency response.By installing a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook Sound Card you will be entering the playing field of decent laptop audio. I was immediately impressed with the audio quality after the simple installation process. Creative has finally streamlined the software portion of the installation so system clutter is minimal. I chose a "custom" installation so I could avoid certain software components.Plugging in headphones proved to be a delightful experience. This card produces a depth and volume output level that is rich and satisfying. In terms of audio output it outperforms any portable MP3 player I have ever used. It blows away Creative's very own Zen Nano Plus, and also outperforms Apple's iPod by leaps and bounds. This little card has major "ooomph!". The low low bass frequencies are strong and punchy. Your average laptop or portable MP3 player would require a separate headphone amp to have the audio depth and power this product has all by itself. Wiring this card into my main stereo was just as impressive.I think laptops should already have this level of audio quality, but until they do I consider this product a "must".
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