Creative G3 Portable Gaming DAC AMP Review

How Much Does it Cost?

The Creative SoundBlaster G3 USB-C Gaming USB DAC and AMP is available now from Amazon UK for just £54.99 and Amazon US for just $59.99. That’s amazing value for the quality of hardware included, especially given it works on just about every major device and it’s very portable.

Overview

I’m a huge fan of Creative, always have been and if they keep up the good work, I always will be. While I’m not about to throw out my Creative Super X-Fi AMP for the SoundBlaster G3. However, they’re quite different beasts, and for gaming on consoles particularly, the G3 is perfect for the job. Just plug, play and go.

Software

While it is plug and play, you will want the app or even the desktop software to configure it. The default profile gives you an excellent “wow” EQ to the sound that’ll suit most, but it’s still worth having a tinker. I actually think the software is better than the dials on the controller. While I do love that they have profiles for Call of Duty, Overwatch and loads of others, I still recommend making your own profile. Get it tuned how you want it and you’ll likely only need the volume wheel once in a while, easy.

Hardware

For a tiny amp, it’s no slouch, being able to push out 300 Ohm of amplification, while the DAC will run PCM 16-bit, 48.0, 96.0 kHz, PCM 24-bit, 48.0, 96.0 kHz. The addition of a powerful dynamic range of 100dB, CrystalVoice tech, and that optical input, and you’ve got one heck of a setup. I love being able to plug it into the Switch too, it really amps things up and doesn’t chew up much battery life either.

Gaming and Beyond

If you’ve got a good set of headphones, even something that’s £40-100, mid-range, from the likes of Corsair, Turtle Beach, SteelSeries, this little amp will really give them a shot in the arm. If you’ve got great headphones that cost a small fortune, they’ll ensure you’re able to get the most out of them. I’ll admit, not everyone needs a good amp, some just don’t care. However, if you want to spark life into your movies, music and games, this is a pretty affordable way to do it!