THOSE OF YOU who’ve been using PCs long enough will no doubt recognize the name Creative. The company’s dedicated sound cards were a common addition to many a PC, back before it was a feature integrated into your motherboard. My first PC had one 25 years ago, and honestly it was quite a surprise to hear that the company was still going when I got the call to review its latest PC headphones.
Thankfully, it was a pleasant surprise, given how good the company's latest lineup is. The key detail is the pricing— this Zen Hybrid Pro SXFI model goes for $150, and includes ever y feature any gamer, office worker, or mobile user would ever want from a headset. That includes wireless capability, active noise cancellation, 80+ hour batter y life, a detachable microphone, virtual surround sound, and a bunch of gaming presets to enhance popular titles. It’s comprehensive, to say the least.
The look of the headphones closely resembles that of lifestyle models from the likes of Sony and Bose—they’re clearly designed to be worn on the bus or plane. Adding to that aesthetic is the fact that they fold up to be stored in a bag, although sadly no carry case is included in the box. They also charge via USB-C, and weigh just 282g, much like other popular cans.