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Creative Labs Sound Blaster Play! 3 External USB Sound Adapter for Windows and Mac. Plug and Play (No Drivers Required). Upgrade to 24-Bit 96Khz Playback
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Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Creative |
Hardware Interface | USB |
Audio Output Mode | Stereo |
Platform | Windows |
Hardware Platform | Headphones, PC |
About this item
- power source type: Corded Electric
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This Item Creative Labs Sound Blaster Play! 3 External USB Sound Adapter for Windows and Mac. Plug and Play (No Drivers Required). Upgrade to 24-Bit 96Khz Playback | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | -29% $17.83$17.83 List: $24.99 | $19.99$19.99 | $10.90$10.90 | $9.99$9.99 | -9% $9.99$9.99 Typical: $10.99 | $19.99$19.99 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27 | — | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Sound quality | 4.4 | 3.7 | — | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.7 |
Volume control | 4.4 | 4.1 | — | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.5 |
For gaming | 4.2 | 4.1 | — | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.6 |
Value for money | 4.6 | 3.9 | — | 4.2 | 4.3 | — |
Sold By | Creative Labs, Inc. | 1MiiDirect | 4Evergreen - Creative Refurbished | Vention Official Store | JS Digital US | Tendak |
hardware interface | usb | usb | usb | usb2.0 | usb2.0 | usb |
audio output mode | Stereo | Stereo, Surround | Surround | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo |
surround channels | 5 1 | 7.1 | 5 1 | 5 1 | 5 1 | 5 1 |
hardware platform | Headphones, PC | PC, Gaming Consoles | Headphones | Laptops, Speakers, Headphones | Headphones | Smartphones, Speakers, Laptops, Headphones, PC |
96 KHz | 48 KHz | 192 KHz | 48 KHz | 48 KHz | 48 KHz | |
signal-to-noise ratio | 96 KHz | — | 110 decibels | — | 120 decibels | — |
platform | windows | windows | windows 10 | linux, playstation 4, windows 10 | playstation 4, linux | ios, android, linux |
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Product information
Product Dimensions | 5.43 x 0.87 x 0.37 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 2.1 ounces |
Manufacturer | Creative |
ASIN | B06XBZ38ZJ |
Item model number | 70SB173000000 |
Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #5 in External Sound Cards |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | March 2, 2017 |
Warranty & Support
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Product Description
Instantly Upgrade to High Resolution Audio
Once you upgrade from motherboard audio, you'll never go back to it again. The Sound Blaster PLAY! 3 provides such an upgrade, by giving you high resolution 24-bit 96kHz audio for your music, movies, and games.
Studio-Grade Listening
The Sound Blaster PLAY! 3 drives a wide range of headphones — from mobile phone earbuds and gaming headsets all the way to more expensive studio-grade headphones. The downloadable Control Panel software also includes optimized profiles for selected earphone brands.
Crisp Voice Communications and Recording
USB Connectivity greatly improves mic recording capabilities, giving you clean 24-bit 48kHZ quality for podcasts or in-game communications.
Great Connectivity
Simple, Fuss-Free, Plug-and-Play
Headphone Connectivity without Y-Splitter
Comes with Control Panel software for PC and Mac
Looking for specific info?
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the performance and ease of installation of the sound card. For example, they mention it works great, all normal Windows functions work correctly, and is perfectly serviceable. Some appreciate the clarity, quality, and sound quality. That said, opinions are mixed on volume control, connectivity, and mic quality.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the sound card. For example, they say it gives them the quality sound they were expecting, has actual bass for the sub, and boosts the microphone volume. The soundblaster removes noise and brings the speakers to life. They also mention that the improvement in music and movies took them by surprise. Additionally, customers say the voice recording has also improved, with no buzzing, humming, or static.
"Absolutely plug and play and there is no problem at all. The sound quality is also great. I can recommend it to other buyers with peace of mind." Read more
"...Mic and headphones work great ,and sound great. No buzzing ,no humming ,no static." Read more
"I just bought my 3rd this morning. Excellent sound on my old and new computers, just plug and play...." Read more
"Works well and boosts the microphone volume like i wanted, only issue is it was assembled wrong and the audio and mic symbols are switched...." Read more
Customers like the performance of the sound card. They say it works great, all normal Windows functions work correctly, and the mic and headphones work great. They also say it's perfectly serviceable, plug and play, and has no problems. Customers also say the software features make it a great value for its price.
"Absolutely plug and play and there is no problem at all. The sound quality is also great. I can recommend it to other buyers with peace of mind." Read more
"...Mic and headphones work great ,and sound great. No buzzing ,no humming ,no static." Read more
"...A really good product and very affordable." Read more
"Works well and boosts the microphone volume like i wanted, only issue is it was assembled wrong and the audio and mic symbols are switched...." Read more
Customers find the installation process of the sound card to be easy. They mention that it's plug-and-play for Windows and provides excellent sound quality. The latest Raspbian OS makes the setup super simple, and the device is recognized and ready in seconds for use. Customers also say that the audio device is very convenient, and has a decent level of pre-amplification for minimal distortion playback of video.
"Absolutely plug and play and there is no problem at all. The sound quality is also great. I can recommend it to other buyers with peace of mind." Read more
"Plugged into my windows 11 computer and it was recognized and ready in seconds for use. Mic and headphones work great ,and sound great...." Read more
"...Excellent sound on my old and new computers, just plug and play. I did not have any problem with it on my old Linux systems or Windows...." Read more
"...PURCHASED THIS LITTLE COMPONENT ALONG WITH A 3 INTO 1 AUDIO CABLE. SIMPLE SET UP OF JUST PLUGGING IN...." Read more
Customers like the quality of the sound card. They say it's an excellent piece of work, well-made, and solid performer. Some customers also say that they have no issues with headphone output quality or microphone input quality. Overall, most are satisfied with the performance and functionality of the product.
"...this is a bit of a lifesaver and also a step up in audio quality...." Read more
"...Its compact and portable design, high-quality DAC and built-in amplifier, and customizable software features make it a great value for its price." Read more
"I got the Creative Sound Blaster PLAY! 4.It is very buggy. It has a mind of its own. Sometimes it just disconnects itself...." Read more
"Very nice, with a decent software package.." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the clarity of the sound card. They mention that it has higher highs and lower lows, making the music sound wider. They also say that the highs are very crisp and the lows are much better. Overall, customers are happy with the sound quality and performance of the product.
"...It is totally transparent as far as controls go. All normal windows functions work correctly." Read more
"...additional power to your headphones or speakers, resulting in a clearer and more detailed sound...." Read more
"...an improvement, in the bass volume and tightness as well as general clarity and fidelity...." Read more
"...heard an improvement over the computer's stock sound card, better clarity, more solid bass, wider soundstage...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the mic quality of the sound card. Some mention that it's nice to have separate mic and speaker inputs vs a shared/combo port on the laptop, the mic input is mono, and that is good for gamers who want to have big audio. However, others say that it is not acceptable for live audio, has terrible stereo crosstalk, and is not good for podcasting or audio production.
"...I previously tried an off-brand adapter and the mic quality was pretty bad. The Creative is much better." Read more
"...It also has a built-in amplifier, which can provide additional power to your headphones or speakers, resulting in a clearer and more detailed sound...." Read more
"...the port built into my computer was noisy and offered a pretty poor wired audio experience...." Read more
"...However, everyone should realize that a USB dongle doesn't have an effective headphone amp (maybe for earbuds, it would work)...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the volume control of the sound card. Some mention that it works to bring a proper audio input to their otherwise lacking MacBook, while others say that it has no volume control. Some say that the smart volume seems to work but takes some getting used to, while other say that there is extreme gain on all voice input at all slider levels.
"...me to solve microphone issues on the motherboard, so it works well as an external sound card...." Read more
"...When I use my analog headset with this adapter, the microphone quality is not quite as good as a Plantronics or Microsoft USB headset would be, but..." Read more
"...It works for a basic mic, and then I'm back to using onboard audio for the actual audio out...." Read more
"...playback is limited to 24-bit / 96 kHz- no physical mute button or volume control..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the connectivity of the sound card. Some mention that it has a USB connection, is perfect for using with a usb hub, and plugs into ausb input. However, others say that it disconnects frequently, and any slight movement leads to disconnection.
"...It is very buggy. It has a mind of its own. Sometimes it just disconnects itself. Have to unplug it and move it to a different port...." Read more
"...is a compact and portable sound card that can be easily plugged into your computer's USB port...." Read more
"...When I plugged it back to PS4, it was acting weird by disconnecting itself and blinking. I surely thought I BRICKED it...." Read more
"...I was very happy to find this inexpensive, USB-based, "plug and play" Soundblaster card that seemed like it had all the same basic functionality I..." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Somehow need specific windows driver to operate properly, a bit disappointed it is not universal.
I was looking for internal cards, and really didn't feel like spending a ton for internal cards with magical features...I just wanted basic sound like you'd get in a headset. I found this USB widget and was skeptical, but I'd been using SoundBlaster products for decades (at least when they were required for homebrew PCs).
I plugged in the USB device, plugged in an external powered speaker, and in 30 seconds I had sound coming from a server. Kicked off Spotify, YT, and everything sounded great.
I'm not a fan of "dongles" when it comes to laptops, but it'd be odd if you have a laptop that doesn't already have sound. I'm not sure why this product even exists, because it seems to be a niche solution, but I'm certainly happy it was available for so cheap. Highly recommended.
It is very buggy. It has a mind of its own. Sometimes it just disconnects itself. Have to unplug it and move it to a different port. Was running it at the max 24-Bit 192KHz for a while, but now, anything beyond 48Khz sounds garbled and just unbearable. It is good for a bit of a nice boost to sound but do not expect this to give you a leg up in gaming or anything. The sound quality is just a bit better than the stock Realtek HD Audio.
And yes I have tried disabling the inputs. Tried modifying everything else. But cannot get the max sound I am supposed to.
Of course this is not a replacement for a real sound card or an actual DAC.
I would honestly skip it, save more money and maybe consider the FiiO K3 Type-C USB DAC. The FiiO has optical out and my desktop speakers have optical in so it should provide better quality sound. I will be purchasing that and keeping this for maybe using it on my iPad Pro or maybe give it to my nephews so he can use it on his PS4.
** Update 13 August, 2022 **
I think I finally managed to get it work the way it should.
For whatever reason, "Mode 2" is the mode that is required for Windows and Mac devices. Even though it states it in the manual that "Mode 2" is the default, mine was not working as it should. For mobile devices and gaming consoles, "Mode 1" is required. If you try to use Mode 2 on your gaming console or mobile device it may not be detected or might not work as expected..
These are my settings on a Windows 10 machine and iMac 5K in order to get the popping and random disconnections to stop.
1. Install the "Creative App" software. That is what it is called. Honestly.
2. Update the firmware and drivers.
3. Enter "Mode 2" on your device. You do this by holding down the "Volume Down" (has a CIRCLE) button for about 2-3 seconds. Once it is enabled, you will see a blinking white light. It will blink 5 times in white.
4. Mute the microphone on the device by pressing the mute button one time. A red light will appear above the button.
5. In Windows 10, go to Control Panel > Sound > "Recording" tab > Right click on "Microphone - Sound Blaster Play! 4" and select "Disable".
6. In Windows 10, go to Control Panel > Device Manager > Expand "Sound, video and game controllers" > Disable the following if you have it and will not be using it:
"Intel Smart Sound Technology for USB Audio"; <--- Thunderbolt Dock Audio. I think.
"Intel Smart Sound Technology for Bluetooth Audio"; <--- Thunderbolt Dock Audio. I think.
"HD Audio Driver for Display Audio". <--- Audio Speakers on my Phillips monitor. Not required.
7. In the "Creative App" and make sure that you lower down the microphone volume for the "Play! 4" device.
8. In the "Creative App" > Select Playback > Audio Quality > Headphones > Select "24 bit, 192000 Hz".
Top reviews from other countries
The creative labs application and windows driver boosts the quality and allows me to EQ properly for certain headphones, depending on what i am using.
Feeling extremely satisfied!
The sound quality is as impressive as other premium desktop sound cards I used. It comes with a USB-C to USB type A (traditional rectangle port) adapter and can be used on a USB 2.0 port.
This is a plug&play device for Windows, meaning there is no headache with software installation and configuration (other than the possible switching the sound devices on Windows Options). There is an app for this device, but I have not bothered to use it because it works without any issues whatsoever.
I am currently using Samsung's earphones with mic and control buttons; I can pause & play music and change the volume on Windows 10 using my earphones through this excellent gadget.
Using this on my Samsung Galaxy S9 works excellent and the buttons do work, albeit with lower volume than the original headphone jack, but still can be increased enough for me to enjoy.
If you do not plan to use surround sound, then this is an excellent upgrade that is easily transferrable to other computers and smartphones.
It comes with a usb-c to "typical big" usb adapter, but its metal cover unglued itself on second use (which does not affect its function).