EMI Shielding and Selecting a soundcard

N0Spin

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May 6, 2011
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Hi All, I am currently looking at purchasing a soundcard for my system. The system is currently still running Windows 7 Pro 64bit, but I do plan to go to Windows 10.

I was looking for a soundcard for gaming and general PC use including some video editing etc.

I am considering the Creative SoundBlaster Z line as I have had Creative soundcards before and up until recently (Windows 10 upgrade on an older machine), they generally worked rather well even though the bloat and some of the specific bundled software could be problematic at times.

My specific question here is whether anyone can speak to the differences between the OEM version? # 30SB150200000 and the standard version # 70SB150000000 aside from the beam-forming microphone, the bright red LEDs and the EMI? shield.

And on that shield. Can anyone attest to whether such shielding or even this specific model's shielding would actually have any perceivable benefit in sound quality as opposed to bling factor.

Many thanks in advance..

 
Solution


If your system has hum or other noise in audio, then you need better shielding. If not, you don't. You won't get better sound just because a card is better shielded than another.

N0Spin

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May 6, 2011
52
1
18,540
Can anyone speak to the differences (if any) between the 'brown box version' # 30SB150200000 and the retail kit # 70SB150000000 aside from the beam-forming microphone, the bright red LEDs and the EMI shield?

Can anyone attest to the impact EMI shields (on a soundcard) might have on audio quality?
 


If your system has hum or other noise in audio, then you need better shielding. If not, you don't. You won't get better sound just because a card is better shielded than another.
 
Solution

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