Creative Soundblaster G3 Review
Creative Soundblaster G3
Publisher: Creative
Developer: Creative
Genre:
PEGI:
Comments:
As a rule, I am often skeptical of third-party accessories that claim to offer a boost in audio quality, especially when these accessories are reasonably priced. More often than not, accessories of this type will indeed created an amplified audio experience, but at the cost of heavy distortion. Other times you receive what is, in essence, no more than an advanced audio EQ – not something worth dropping any significant money on in my opinion. With these things in mind, I set my expectations fairly low for the Creative Soundblaster G3. How did it compare? Let’s take a look!
At first glance, the Creative Soundblaster G3 looks a little clunky, especially for an accessory that is designed to work with the Nintendo Switch. The cable length can make for a slightly awkward connection to the bottom of the switch, and adds a little bit of weight/sway if used on-the-go. This, of course, will not matter nearly as much for PC and PS4 users, as those systems are usually static in nature.
Aside from the slightly awkward look with the Switch, the Soundblaster G3’s design is otherwise extremely sleek. The dials, switches, button and jacks are all well-positioned and function intuitively. This is an accessory almost anyone could pick up and understand with little to no explanation. This is no small feat, as the more compact an accessory is, the greater the opening for misunderstanding its functions or utilization.
Oh, and did we mention it works? Like, it really works. This little gadget can make even my earbuds sound like a 7.1 virtual surround-sound headset. While it can’t upgrade your actual speaker-drivers, it certainly works to make the most of what it is given, providing a surprisingly noticeable increase in audio fidelity across the board. Despite my initial skepticism, this is a legitimate product that will truly offer you an enhanced audio gaming experience at a reasonable price-point.
On top of that, the features they have managed to pack into such a small accessory are also very impressive and practical. Combining use of the dial and switch on the right-hand side of the Creative Soundblaster G3 allows you to change both the relative and absolute volume for your in-game and voice-chat sound. The left-hand side offers a microphone volume dial as well as a mic mute toggle. All of these are extraordinarily useful in creating the perfect audio balance, and it is nice to them featured on such an accessory. The versatility of the G3 cannot be overstated. With USB-A and USB-C inputs and 3.5mm & optical outputs, the G3 can be utilized in almost any gaming setup where an audio boost is needed.
Perhaps the most niche addition to the G3 is the Footsteps Enhancer mode. This is designed for use in any PvP games where players can use the sound from their opponents’ footsteps to locate their position. Many popular shooters use this, like CoD, CSGO, Escape from Tarkov and so many more. While you might be thinking to yourself ‘if there are so many games that use footsteps and this button allows me to hear footsteps better, why is it considered niche?’.
A fair thought, to be certain, but the answer is quite simple. The fact of the matter is that all other sounds are atrocious while the Footsteps Enhancer is active, and I doubt anyone would consider player their entire match with those settings. So imagine yourself in the middle of a PvP combat scenario where you are quickly trying to locate your opponent through footsteps. Now imagine that in order to do this, you must move your hand to an audio accessory and quickly press the button on it before returning focus to the game. Those precious few seconds are worth far more than the benefit provided by the clearer footsteps. I am certain this will be useful for some, but I personally cannot recommend it.
Overall, the Creative Soundblaster G3 is a product that offers great value to anyone who plays on the PC, PS4 or Nintendo Switch and is looking to get an audio boost without dropping over $100 on a new headset. Its versatility makes it great to pair with a mobile Nintendo Switch unit, allowing you to use whichever pair of headphones you have on hand – very helpful for keeping your entertainment handy without interrupting others nearby!
To learn more about the Creative Soundblaster G3, visit: https://sg.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-g3