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SB1500 / SB1502 SB1506
User’s Guide
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Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of Creative's latest audio revolution, Sound Blaster Z-Series! With cutting edge technology from the leaders in PC audio, Sound Blaster Z-Series will give you years of ® reliable entertainment on your PCI Express (PCIe ) enabled personal computer. This User Guide contains software installation and usage information for your audio card. System Requirements Minimum Requirements ® ® l Intel Core™2 Duo or AMD processor equivalent (Core™2 2.0 GHz, AMD pro
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More Help For the latest news and products for Sound Blaster, visit www.soundblaster.com. The site also includes information on making purchases, technical help, and the latest driver updates. Using Creative Software AutoUpdate Locating, downloading, and installing updates for your Creative products is now simpler and faster with the web-based Creative Software AutoUpdate system. When you connect to Creative Software AutoUpdate via the Internet, the web site will analyze your computer system to
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About Your Hardware For instructions on installing your Sound Blaster Z-Series, and any additional accessories, consult the Quick Start leaflet. To learn more about your product, consult the following sections: l Your Sound Blaster Z-Series Audio card l Audio Control Module Notes Actual products may differ slightly from those shown in this chapter. Your Sound Blaster Z-Series Audio card Your Sound Blaster Z-Series audio card has the jacks and connectors below to enable the attachment of a wide v
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Jack or Connector Description 1. Line In/Microphone In Connects to line-level sources (for example, MP3 jack players) or microphones with a 3.5mm (1/8-inch) plug. 2. Headphone jack Connects to stereo headphones with a 3.5mm (1/8- inch) plug. 3. Line Out 1 jack Connects to the Front Left and Front Right inputs on (Front L/R) powered analog speakers or an A/V receiver. 4. Line Out 2 jack Connects to the Rear Left and Rear Right inputs on (Rear L/R) powered analog speakers or an A/V receiver. 5. Li
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Audio Control Module An external ACM (Audio Control Module) provides a built-in beamforming microphone and microphone/headphone I/O connections. Note: The ACM accessory is bundled with Sound Blaster Zx only. 1 2 3 5 4 6 Jack, Connector or Component Description 1. Volume Control Knob Controls the playback volume of the sound card. 2. Beamforming Microphone Built-in Sound Blaster Beamforming Microphone 3. 6.3mm Microphone In jack Connects to line-level sources (for example, MP3 players) or microph
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The Volume Control knob on the ACM controls the volume output to your headphones, giving you quick control over the audio level from your games or music. Note: The ACM Volume Control Knob allows you to adjust headphone levels conveniently based on the maximum level set by your computer's master volume control. We recommend that you determine the desired maximum volume on your computer before using the ACM. A b o u t Y o u r H a r d w a r e 6
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Connecting Speakers and Headphones The connectors and associated components shown here may be different from that of your speaker system. Consult the documentation of your speaker system to identify similar input connectors. You can upmix your stereo sources (for example, CD Audio, MP3, WMA, MIDI and Wave) to enjoy multi-channel sound on your speakers or headphones. To learn how to connect different types of speaker systems to your audio card, consult the following sections: l Connecting Analog
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Positioning Your Speakers Good speaker placement is crucial to getting optimal performance from your audio system and achieving an enhanced listening experience. Below are our recommendation for 5.1 channel speakers. For detailed speaker placement tips, consult the documentation of your speaker system. For 5.1 channel speakers: 1 3 2 4 6 5 Speaker Component 1. Subwoofer 2. Front left 3. Front Center 4. Front Right 5. Rear Right 6. Rear Left C o n n e c t i n g S p e a k e r s a n d H e a d p h o
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Connecting Analog Speaker Systems Your audio card supports analog speaker systems of up to 5.1 channels. To learn more about connecting different channel speaker systems, consult the following sections: l 2.1 channel analog speakers l 5.1 channel analog speakers 2.1 channel analog speakers 2 1 3 audio inputs audio inputs speakers Jack, Connector or Cable 1. Line Out 1 jack (Front L/R) 2. 2 channel audio cable (available separately) 3. Audio Input jack C o n n e c t i n g S p e a k e r s a n d H
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5.1 channel analog speakers 4 1 2 3 6 5 7 audio inputs front rear center/ subwoofer front speakers center audio speaker inputs front rear sub center/ woofer rear speakers Jack, Connector or Cable 1. Line Out 1 jack (Front L/R) 2. Line Out 2 jack (Rear L/R) 3. Line Out 3 jack (Center/Subwoofer) 4. 5.1 channel audio cable (available separately) 5. Front (Audio Input) jack 6. Rear (Audio Input) jack 7. Center/Subwoofer (Audio Input) jack C o n n e c t i n g S p e a k e r s a n d H e a d p h o n e s
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Connecting Digital Speaker Systems Your Sound Blaster Z-Series comes with an Optical S/PDIF Out jack which allows you to connect your digital speaker system. Most digital speakers systems connect the audio card to the subwoofer or an external unit. For more information on your digital speaker connections, consult the documentation of your digital speaker system. Connecting your digital speakers to the Sound Blaster Z-Series AUDIO INPUTS ANALOG 1 2 2 3 3 LEFT RIGHT AUDIO COAXIAL OUTPUTS 1 FRONT O
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Connecting Home Theater Systems Your Sound Blaster Z-Series comes with an Optical S/PDIF jack which allows you to connect your home theatre system. Most home theater systems connect the audio card to an A/V receiver. For more information on your A/V receiver's speaker connections, consult the documentation of your A/V receiver. Connecting your A/V receiver to the Sound Blaster Z-Series 3 2 VOL INPUT SELECTOR POWER 1 INPUT MODE PROGRAM EFFECT PHONE BASS TREBLE BALANCE VIDEO L R Jack, Connector or
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Connecting your A/V Receiver using Line Level inputs If your A/V receiver supports multi-channel line-level inputs, you can connect them directly to your audio card's Line Out jacks instead of the Optical S/PDIF Out jack as shown below. Connect to Line Out 1 (Front L/R) 2 3 1 4 Jack, Connector or Cable Description 1. Line Out 1 jack (Front L/R) Connects to the Front left and Front Right jacks on your A/V receiver, using a 3.5mm (1/8-inch) stereo-to-RCA cable (available separately). 2. 3.5mm (1/8
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Connect Line Out 2 (Rear L/R) 2 3 1 4 Jack, Connector or Cable Description 1. Line Out 2 jack (Rear L/R) Connects to the Rear Left and Rear Right jacks on your A/V receiver, using a 3.5mm (1/8-inch) stereo-to-RCA cable (available separately 2. 3.5mm (1/8-inch) stereo-to- Connects your audio card and A/V receiver. RCA cable (available separately) 3. Rear Right jack Connects to the Line Out 2 jack on your audio card, using a 3.5mm (1/8-inch) stereo-to-RCA cable (available separately). 4. Rear Left
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Connect Line Out 3 (Center/Subwoofer) 2 3 1 4 Jack, Connector or Cable Description 1. Line Out 3 jack (Center/Subwoofer) Connects to the Center and Subwoofer jacks on your A/V receiver, using a 3.5mm (1/8-inch) stereo-to-RCA cable (available separately 2. 3.5mm (1/8-inch) stereo-to- Connects your audio card and A/V receiver. RCA cable (available separately) 3. Subwoofer jack Connects to the Line Out 3 jack on your audio card, using a 3.5mm (1/8-inch) stereo-to-RCA cable (available separately). 4
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Connecting Headphones and Headsets Do not listen to audio on your headphones or headsets at high volumes for prolonged periods of time as hearing loss may result. Connecting your headphones and headsets to the Sound Blaster Z-Series For headphones: 1 Jack, Connector or Cable Description 1. Headphone jack Connects to stereo headphones with a 3.5mm (1/8-inch) plug. For headsets: 1 2 Jack, Connector or Cable Description 1. Line In/Microphone In jack Connects to the 3.5mm (1/8-inch) micro- phone plu
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Connecting Audio Control Module The ACM accessory is bundled with Sound Blaster Zx only. Connecting your ACM to the Sound Blaster Z-Series 1 2 Jack, Connector or Cable Description 1. Line In/Microphone In jack Connects to the 3.5mm (1/8-inch) microphone plug of your ACM. 2. Headphone jack Connects to your ACM with a 3.5mm (1/8-inch) plug. C o n n e c t i n g S p e a k e r s a n d H e a d p h o n e s 1 7
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Connecting your headphones and headsets to the ACM 2 OR 1 Jack, Connector or Cable Description 1. 3.5mm Headphone jack Connects to stereo headphones or headsets with a 3.5mm (1/8-inch) plug. 2. 3.5mm Microphone In jack Connects to line-level sources (for example, MP3 players) or microphones with a 3.5mm (1/8-inch) plug. Note: When two headphones are being connected to the 6.3mm and 3.5mm Headphone jacks simultaneously, you will be able to hear both headphones with the same output. However, the M
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Installing and Uninstalling Software To take full advantage of your Sound Blaster Z-Series audio card, you need to install device drivers and applications. At times, you may also need to uninstall some or all of the device drivers and applications to correct problems, change configurations, or upgrade outdated drivers or applications. To learn how to do so in all supported Windows operating systems, consult the following sections: l Uninstalling Drivers and Applications l Installing Drivers and
