Sound Blaster G8 – Hi-Res Gaming USB DAC with dual USB audio mixing, Dolby Digital, Acoustic Engine, 10-band equalizer, HDMI ARC, RCA in/-out, Optical in/-out, Mic-in, Headset-in for Gamers

This is the second Soundblaster I've owned and I love it! It has plenty of power to drive high resistance headphones and multiple USB-C audio inputs which is a very unique feature and allows me to play games on my PC and plug my tablet in and listen to the baby monitor at the same time. I was going to mark it down slightly for the fact that the LED in the "Soundblaster" logo couldn't be turned off, however, they released a software update that added the option - I really appreciated that because it shows that Creative listen to customer feedback. It has a small footprint for the power it can output and is really easy to set up. The creative software is easy to use and it also links with my Creative PC speakers meaning I can adjust all my audio settings in one place. Overall, I highly recommend this product, it's built well and is decent value for money. The software has lots of customization options for sound preferences but also has easier presets to allow you to just plug and play if you need to.

Excellent sound, slightly expensive

I've been looking for an option to merge TV and PC sound signal into 1 output, so I can listen to both simultaneously. My old Sony Hi-Fi tower was able to mix RCA channels reliably, but it broke down and has been switching between TV and PC channels, but not anymore! The G8 will mix your digital inputs together and offer you a lot more! You can even set every input and output volume, signal bandwidth etc. If you want to be in charge of your multimedia setup and listen to your devices simultaneously, BUY THE G8! I have discovered some flaws as well though: the volume control knob does reduce master volume in Windows, but the device still forwards the signal to other devices such as AVR, so it won't have any effect. Not a deal braker as I can just turn the volume on the AVR instead which is right next to me on the desk, but I think Creative should really address this as not all customers may have another device with volume control for external speakers. The other issue is poor manual instructions and lack of English description (the one language that should be really there).

Neat and tidy!

Terrible sent back within 30 mins of use the controls are spread all over the place to alter the bass certain things must be switched on frequently navigating across different windows within the app to control the sound it is very poorly laid out the sound itself was awful it was not as good as my onboard sound which sounds bright and open in comparison the bass was all-over place very disappointed

G8 is more of a sidegrade to G6, rather than full on upgrade. There’s still latency with sidetone when using microphone processing, no way to adjust any settings without a PC. In comparison, G3 (a £30 dac) has built-in Bluetooth and a phone app to tweak any setting via your smartphone. There’s no way to toggle sidetone on and off if you are a console user. G6 had this option. The bug that G6 has had for 6 years where upon turning on the device, it automatically defaults to SBX without the LED being lit up is still there. Frankly, for console users, G6 might still be a better pick, hell, even G3 or GC7 could be a better choice since these devices let you tweak settings without having to connect the device to PC. The only consolation is the 2 usb C ports which let you connect 2 devices simultaneously, which is kinda cool since I can play a chill game on PS5 and also plug in my iPad and watch a video on YT and have both audio feeds combined into 1 stream of audio. Until Creative gives me more options as a console user, this dac is mid at best. Especially for the price

After making my first purchase of a high fidelity pair of studio headphones, I then started looking for a dac to power their high impedance. After watching some reviews I stumbled upon the SoundBlaster G8 and placed my order. Upon arrival, I was presented with a neatly packed box, quick start guide and the cables needed for power/audio (both are type C so make sure you have available ports). The sound quality is crystal clear and consistent with what is promised. The software provides the means to customise your audio experience with both manual and preset EQ profiles precise volume control and mixer options. Scout mode is incredible for gaming and makes hearing audio cues easier. Unfortunately I did have a bad time setting the software up due to what seemed like a driver or compatibility issue. However after getting in contact with Creative sound support, it was quickly resolved. Overall the G8 provides great sound quality at an ok price while delivering on features. Sound level can be a bit lacking depending on preference and your headphones.

Ordered at 10.45pm, arrived less than 10 hours later the following morning. Amazingly fast delivery. Really pleased with the product. Upgraded from a G6, which had issues with a background buzz (no matter what fixes I tried). Two minor issues do I have with the product are, !)) ... there's no on off switch 2) ... the power cord supplied requires a USB c which I didn't realize. Thankfully my latest MoBo had a couple of USB c's, but I was surprised.