Creative released the Sound Blaster Wireless for iTunes ($150) this week , which allows music to be wirelessly streamed from a computer to the wireless adapter, using only USB dongle. According to a press release from Creative, the system works with virtually any music source, not just iTunes, on both Macs and PCs.
Creative's Sound Blaster Wireless for iTunes promises to stream music from any computer to any speakers.
(Credit: Creative)The Sound Blaster Wireless looks similar to Logitech's discontinued Wireless Music System for PC in that it enables you to stream audio from your PC using a simple USB transmitter. The transmitter, which appears to be about the size of a thumb drive, promises to work with any music software and service, including iTunes, Windows Media Player, Rhapsody, Pandora, and Last.fm. You can then stream music to the included receiver, which comes bundled with the device, and has both a headphone and left/right speaker outputs. The transmitter is also compatible with the Creative's own GigaWorks T20W speakers with built-in wireless receivers.
Instead of Wi-Fi, the Sound Blaster Wireless utilizes Creative's proprietary 2.4 GHz technology. We've had some trouble before with non-Wi-Fi wireless systems, but Creative insists that the Sound Blaster Wireless will work up to 100 ft away. The system also comes equipped with Creative's X-Fi sound enhancement technology and software that "enables individual control of music in up to four specific rooms equipped with Creative Wireless Receivers," according to the press release.
This Creative Sound Blaster Wireless is similar to the Bose SoundLink system we wrote about earlier this week, promising to stream any audio source using the "USB audio output" as a workaround. We're not exactly sure how the remote will handle different software and streaming Web services, so we'll need a hands-on test to see how it works.
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Creative)
If you're finding that your notebook is pulling double duty as productivity machine and audio server in your home, Creative has a new tandem of products that may hold some appeal: the Sound Blaster X-Fi Notebook sound card and Wireless Receiver.
The $90 Sound Blaster X-Fi Notebook sound card fits into an ExpressCard slot and, on its own, promises to restore details to compressed audio files. It also delivers an approximation of surround sound to gamers using headphones.
Add the Creative Wireless Receiver to the mix, and you can broadcast your iTunes library or other audio files stored on or streamed from your laptop to other speakers in your house.
The receiver communicates wirelessly up to 100 feet to the X-Fi Notebook sound card and ships with a remote control. You can connect the receiver (via the included RCA cable) to a set of powered speakers or an audio receiver. You can use up to four Wireless Receivers with the sound card. The Creative Wireless Receiver will cost $70 when it starts shipping later this month.
If you already own a home theater receiver, speakers, and a laptop, the X-Fi Notebook sound card and Wireless Receiver(s) present a more affordable route to a multiroom wireless audio arrangement than the admittedly more complete Sonos product.
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Creative Technology)
Being obsessed with gadgets doesn't equate to hardware handiness. In fact, some of us at Crave are loath to remove the back of a computer for fear of the havoc we might wreak--a sorry state for upgrades.
Creative Technology has a solution in at least one category, sound cards. It has just released its "Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1," which allows dolts like us to upgrade audio quality by just plugging the device into a USB port. The small box, which goes for $60, could be a good solution for casual gamers and music lovers who don't want to mess with the innards of their desktop or laptop.
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