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Small black USB sound adapter with headphone and microphone ports

Creative Sound Blaster Play! 3 USB Sound Card 70SB173000000

SKU CH-494A-AVBNY

External USB sound adapter delivering 24-bit 96kHz playback and 24-bit 48kHz recording for Windows and Mac with no drivers required

  • Interface typeUSB
  • Part type or number70SB173000000
  • Audio chipFor Windows and Mac
  • Audio channels5 1
  • Sample rate96 kHz
  • EncodeFor Windows and Mac
  • Plug-and-play USB audio with no drivers required
  • 24-bit 96 kHz playback upgrades onboard sound
  • Works with Windows 10, 8.1, 7 and Mac OS X 10.9+
  • Drives earbuds to studio-grade headphones without a splitter
  • Downloadable control panel adds audio enhancements and earphone profiles

Instant 24-bit 96 kHz audio upgrade

The Sound Blaster Play! 3 is a USB sound card that upgrades built-in computer audio to 24-bit 96 kHz playback. It connects through a USB port and requires no driver installation on Windows 10, 8.1, 7 or Mac OS X 10.9 and later. The device supports 5.1 channel output and provides 24-bit 48 kHz microphone recording quality.

Suits users wanting driver-free stereo

This adapter suits anyone who wants an immediate audio improvement on a PC or Mac without installing drivers. It works with almost any analog headset, including single-plug mobile earbuds and dual-plug gaming headsets, and downloadable software adds brand-specific EQ profiles. Buyers who need hardware-controlled surround processing or dedicated line-level outputs for external speakers should consider other options.

USB interface dictates plug-and-play convenience

The single USB connection carries both power and audio data, so no external power supply is required. This interface also limits the device to systems with an available USB port and means audio quality is bounded by the USB audio class implementation rather than an internal PCIe or optical link.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Internal & USB Sound Cards, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $25.99
Cheaper than about 64% of the 185 comparable items (median $29.99).

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Specifications

Product
Brand nameCreative
Model name70SB173000000
Part number70SB173000000
Part type or number70SB173000000
Audio & video
Audio chipFor Windows and Mac
Audio channels5 1
Ports & slots
Interface typeUSB
Size & build
Product dimensions13.8 in × 2.2 in × 0.94 in
Product weight0.059 kg
Compatibility
Supported operating systemsWindows
More details
Sample rate96 kHz
EncodeFor Windows and Mac

Questions about this item

How do I install the Sound Blaster Play! 3 and what step is often missed?

Plug the USB connector into a Windows or Mac port; the device works immediately without drivers, but you must download the Control Panel software to access audio enhancements and earphone profiles.

What maintenance or replacement will the Play! 3 need over time?

The unit has no user-serviceable parts or consumables; keep the USB connector and headphone jacks clean, and replace the adapter only if physical damage or a port failure occurs.

What limit appears first during sustained high-resolution playback?

Playback is capped at 24-bit 96 kHz; recording tops out at 24-bit 48 kHz, so extended capture sessions hit the lower sample-rate ceiling first.

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