---
product_id: 42196198
title: "Sound Blaster PLAY! 3"
brand: "creative"
price: "$40.05"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
category: "Creative"
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/42196198-sound-blaster-play-3
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# Universal Analog Headphone Compatibility 24-bit/96kHz Hi-Res Audio USB Plug & Play, No Drivers Needed Sound Blaster PLAY! 3

**Brand:** creative
**Price:** $40.05
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🎶 Upgrade your audio game—because your ears deserve the best!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Sound Blaster PLAY! 3 by creative
- **How much does it cost?** $40.05 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/42196198-sound-blaster-play-3)

## Best For

- creative enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted creative brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Audiophile-Grade Clarity:** Experience pristine 24-bit/96kHz sound resolution that elevates every note and detail.
- • **Customizable Sound Profiles:** Unlock powerful Creative software for tailored audio enhancements and brand-optimized presets.
- • **Effortless USB Connectivity:** Plug & play USB interface means zero setup hassle—just instant premium audio.
- • **Universal Headphone Support:** Seamlessly connect any analog headset, from earbuds to pro studio headphones, no splitter required.
- • **Compact & Lightweight Design:** Sleek, portable form factor fits perfectly into your mobile or desktop setup without bulk.

## Overview

The Sound Blaster Play! 3 is a compact USB audio adapter delivering high-resolution 24-bit/96kHz sound with plug-and-play ease. Compatible with all analog headphones, it enhances your audio experience instantly and offers advanced customization through Creative’s downloadable software. Perfect for professionals and audiophiles seeking superior sound quality without complicated setups.

## Description

desertcart.com: Sound Blaster Play! 3, USB Audio Adapter, 24-bit 96kHz Plug & Play | USB DAC, 24-bit/96kHz, Plug-and-Play, PC, Mac, Portable, Audio Upgrade, USB Audio : Electronics

Review: Download/installation of Creative's drivers/software is a MUST. - I've been a believer in Soundblaster stuff for a VERY long time, but the last time I got/used one was an Audigy notebook card that had to be inserted in a PCMCIA slot, and tended to be very glitchy interacting with the OE audio card/drivers. Once it was working though ... fabulous. Now I've moved on to a laptop with a PCIe/NVMe-based SSD boot drive running Windows 10, and as always, quickly realized its onboard sound card (Realtek) is junk for driving anything other than the teeny onboard speakers, so I went back to the Creative well to see what they've been up to these days. 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 needed/used in my old card, so I bought it. I primarily use this device for listening to music from my MP3 collection at my workstation, which is equipped with a pair of bookshelf Infinitys, an Infinity powered subwoofer, dedicated rack amp and 15-band stereo equalizer. The Realtek output from the laptop headphone jack is "ok," but just doesn't deliver a signal with the gain/quality I'm used to hearing from MY rig … like putting kerosene into the gas tank of a Ferrari. So I plugged this thing in; it really is "plug and play" easy; overrode the Realtek audio card with no trouble of any kind, and, without doing anything more than that, I noticed a big improvement in both sound quality and signal gain. However, I still wasn't totally blown away like I was with my original Soundblaster card, and just figured, e.g., "oh well, whaddya expect for $20?" Then I remembered Creative has its own, custom drivers and software for this device, and figured I'd try that and see if it made any difference. The answer to that question is a RESOUNDING yes. Another boost in gain, but more importantly, I now heard the same crystalline frequency separation/response that I loved about my old Soundblaster card. All that 24-bit Soundblaster "mojo" is still in this little gizmo, but you can't stop/settle at just "plug and play" on generic audio drivers ... you really have to download and install Creative's custom drivers/software to get the best performance out of their device. Anyway, hope the review helps ... I feel that, when used with Creative's drivers/software, this device delivers everything it's supposed to, and is WELL worth the cost.
Review: Fantastic Great Sounding product thats priced right! - I'm very impressed with this product as the sound is so much better than I expected! I had a customer with a high end streaming PC that failed and was changed out with a replacement PC but the new PC had no on board audio out so I decided to try this unit based on price, reviews and the fact I could get it quick with desertcart Prime and get my customer back online ASAP! And the fact I have had good luck with this brand over the years with PC speakers and such so I tried it. I'm blown away how much better the sound is vs me using the old built in 3.5mm PC's audio out! Its a huge better sound improvement! I only need the audio out so I have not tried the microphone input but is nice to have if I ever need it. I'm a pro sound tech on my day job and a audiophile at night so I know great sound! this is GREAT SOUND! Was plug -n-play no drivers or software needed and even though I did not buy this unit looking for great sound that is exactly what I now have ! Fantastic Great Sounding product thats priced right!

## Features

- Power source type: Corded Electric
- Easy Headphone connectivity -- Compatible with all analog headsets, from standard mobile phone earbuds to gaming and studio-grade headphones; Connect your headsets with single or split stereo/mic connector easily without the use of a Y-splitter cable
- Powerful downloadable software -- control panel software gives powerful Audio Enhancements and unprecedented control; Also includes optimized profiles for multiple earphone brands
- No drivers needed -- works straight out of the box

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B06XBZ38ZJ |
| Audio Output Mode | Stereo |
| Best Sellers Rank | #3 in External Sound Cards |
| Brand | Creative |
| Compatible Devices | mac |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,684 Reviews |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00054651191273 |
| Hardware Connectivity | USB |
| Hardware Interface | USB |
| Hardware Platform | Headphones, PC |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 5.43"L x 0.87"W x 0.37"H |
| Item Weight | 2.1 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Creative |
| Maximum Sample Rate | 96 KHz |
| Mfr Part Number | 70SB173000000 |
| Model Name | sound blaster play 3 |
| Model Number | SB1730 |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Platform | Windows |
| Surround Sound Channel Configuration | 5 1 |
| UPC | 054651191273 |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |

## Product Details

- **Audio Output Mode:** Stereo
- **Brand:** Creative
- **Compatible Devices:** mac
- **Hardware Interface:** USB
- **Platform:** Windows

## Images

![Sound Blaster PLAY! 3 - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61UUwDw42BL.jpg)
![Sound Blaster PLAY! 3 - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61d1Dt6sX8L.jpg)
![Sound Blaster PLAY! 3 - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/718ClOn3jGL.jpg)
![Sound Blaster PLAY! 3 - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61F2Zjpx6XL.jpg)
![Sound Blaster PLAY! 3 - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/618bfNdsnCL.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Color, Size** options.

## Questions & Answers

**Q: difference between play 2 and play 3?**
A: The Sound Blaster Play 2 has a Bit-depth/sampling frequency (playback) of Up to 16-bit/48KHz.

Sound Blaster Play 3 has a Bit-depth/sampling frequency of 16-bit/44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0kHz and 24-bit/44.1, 48.0, 96.0kHz"

As for the Signal-to-Noise Ratio, the Sound Blaster Play 2 has 90dB (playback), while the Sound Blaster Play 3 has 93dB.

Also, the Sound Blaster Play 2 has a single jack for Headphone / Speaker out cum Mic In 1 x 3.5mm jack

While the Sound Blaster Play 3 has a separate jack for Headphone-out and Mic-in. 

- One 3.5mm (1/8-inch) 4-pole Headphone-out with Mic jack 
- One 3.5mm (1/8-inch) Microphone-in jack (Mono)

**Q: Does it make a popping sound if there's a USB power spike?**
A: Under normal working conditions, when using the Sound Blaster Play! 3, there are no reported issues regarding popping sounds deriving from power spikes. For more detailed information, please contact Creative Customer Support.

**Q: Would there be any issues with using 2 of these? One for my headphones, and one for my desktop speakers?**
A: I use the built-in sound card for speakers, and the SB Play!3 for headphones and microphone, so there is no problem with using two sound cards at the same time. As long as your OS and your music application recognizes the two devices as distinct, there should be no issues.

**Q: Will this make my Modmic 4.0 sound louder? I currently use my Realtek onboard audio and the volume on my mic is extremely low even with boost up.**
A: Yes, this is a known problem with the Realtek audio. Also avoid dongles which use the Realtek ADC. I'm guessing that this DAC/ADC does not use the Realtek chipset, although given its price maybe it does but Creative Labs has addressed the issues (which I am told are with the drivers, not the hardware).

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Download/installation of Creative's drivers/software is a MUST.
*by M***K on August 22, 2019*

I've been a believer in Soundblaster stuff for a VERY long time, but the last time I got/used one was an Audigy notebook card that had to be inserted in a PCMCIA slot, and tended to be very glitchy interacting with the OE audio card/drivers. Once it was working though ... fabulous. Now I've moved on to a laptop with a PCIe/NVMe-based SSD boot drive running Windows 10, and as always, quickly realized its onboard sound card (Realtek) is junk for driving anything other than the teeny onboard speakers, so I went back to the Creative well to see what they've been up to these days. 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 needed/used in my old card, so I bought it. I primarily use this device for listening to music from my MP3 collection at my workstation, which is equipped with a pair of bookshelf Infinitys, an Infinity powered subwoofer, dedicated rack amp and 15-band stereo equalizer. The Realtek output from the laptop headphone jack is "ok," but just doesn't deliver a signal with the gain/quality I'm used to hearing from MY rig … like putting kerosene into the gas tank of a Ferrari. So I plugged this thing in; it really is "plug and play" easy; overrode the Realtek audio card with no trouble of any kind, and, without doing anything more than that, I noticed a big improvement in both sound quality and signal gain. However, I still wasn't totally blown away like I was with my original Soundblaster card, and just figured, e.g., "oh well, whaddya expect for $20?" Then I remembered Creative has its own, custom drivers and software for this device, and figured I'd try that and see if it made any difference. The answer to that question is a RESOUNDING yes. Another boost in gain, but more importantly, I now heard the same crystalline frequency separation/response that I loved about my old Soundblaster card. All that 24-bit Soundblaster "mojo" is still in this little gizmo, but you can't stop/settle at just "plug and play" on generic audio drivers ... you really have to download and install Creative's custom drivers/software to get the best performance out of their device. Anyway, hope the review helps ... I feel that, when used with Creative's drivers/software, this device delivers everything it's supposed to, and is WELL worth the cost.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic Great Sounding product thats priced right!
*by I***D on February 26, 2025*

I'm very impressed with this product as the sound is so much better than I expected! I had a customer with a high end streaming PC that failed and was changed out with a replacement PC but the new PC had no on board audio out so I decided to try this unit based on price, reviews and the fact I could get it quick with Amazon Prime and get my customer back online ASAP! And the fact I have had good luck with this brand over the years with PC speakers and such so I tried it. I'm blown away how much better the sound is vs me using the old built in 3.5mm PC's audio out! Its a huge better sound improvement! I only need the audio out so I have not tried the microphone input but is nice to have if I ever need it. I'm a pro sound tech on my day job and a audiophile at night so I know great sound! this is GREAT SOUND! Was plug -n-play no drivers or software needed and even though I did not buy this unit looking for great sound that is exactly what I now have ! Fantastic Great Sounding product thats priced right!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great value for money
*by S***E on February 15, 2023*

The Sound Blaster Play! is a compact and portable sound card that can be easily plugged into your computer's USB port. It has a sleek and stylish design, and its small form factor makes it easy to carry around with you wherever you go. The sound card is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems, and can be used with a variety of devices including headphones, speakers, and microphones. One of the main features of the Sound Blaster Play! is its high-quality digital-to-analog converter (DAC), which helps to improve the overall sound quality of your audio. 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. Users have reported that the sound quality is noticeably better when using the Sound Blaster Play! compared to their computer's built-in audio. The Sound Blaster Play! also includes a variety of software features, such as the Sound Blaster Command software, which allows you to customize the audio settings to your liking. The software also includes a range of audio effects and enhancements, such as virtual surround sound, EQ adjustments, and noise reduction. In summary, the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Play! is a great option for anyone looking to improve the audio quality of their computer or laptop. Its compact and portable design, high-quality DAC and built-in amplifier, and customizable software features make it a great value for its price.

## Frequently Bought Together

- 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
- SABRENT USB External Stereo Sound Adapter for Windows and Mac. Plug and Play No Drivers Needed. (AU-MMSA)
- 2 Pack AUX Cable, (6.6ft/2m, Hi-Fi Sound) 3.5mm TRS Auxiliary Audio Cable Nylon Braided Cord Compatible with Car,Home Stereos,Speaker,iPod iPad,Headphones,Sony,Echo Dot,Beats (Grey)

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*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-08-23*