Creative

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Play! 3 2.0channels USB

Name: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Play! 3 2.0channels USB
Brand: Creative
SKU: B073KTPNDR

Bottom line: The Creative Labs Sound Blaster Play! 3 2.0channels USB: USB DAC and amp upgrade over motherboard audio on PC and Mac.

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By Mike Perry, Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated 2026-10-20

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For retro PC hardware and period-correct parts, synthesises manufacturer documentation, community compatibility lists and marketplace listings rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. About the author →

Pros & Cons

Pros

✓ USB DAC and amp upgrade over motherboard audio on PC and Mac
✓ Drives everything from phone earbuds to studio-grade headphones
✓ Sound Blaster Control Panel adds effects and per-earphone profiles
✓ Plug-and-play USB form factor, no internal card slot needed

Cons

✗ Used and vintage listings vary by seller and condition — check the listing photos, description and return terms before buying

Manufacturer description

The Sound Blaster PLAY. 3 is a USB DAC and Amp that provides an instant audio upgrade from motherboard audio. It works with PC and Mac, and houses a powerful amplifier that will drive a whole range of headphones, from basic mobile phone earbuds to gaming and studio-grade headphones. The downloadable Sound Blaster Control Panel Software offers tremendous audio realism and immersive audio effects, and also comes with optimized profiles for selected earphone brands. Audio Performance Instantly Upgrade to High Resolution Audio Once you upgrade from motherboard audio, you'll never go back to it…

SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored Creative Labs Sound Blaster Play! 3 2.0channels USB using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the sound cards category. Creative's sound cards lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for sound cards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Key Features

The Sound Blaster PLAY
3 is a USB DAC and Amp that provides an instant audio upgrade from motherboard audio
It works with PC and Mac, and houses a powerful amplifier that will drive a whole range of headphones, from basic mobile phone earbuds to gaming and studio-grade headphones
The downloadable Sound Blaster Control Panel Software offers tremendous audio realism and immersive audio effects, and also comes with optimized profiles for selected earphone brands
Audio Performance Instantly Upgrade to High Resolution Audio Once you upgrade from motherboard audio, you'll never go back to it again

Full Specifications

Brand	Creative
Platform	Windows 10
Model Name	70SB173000000 10162219
Unit Count	1 Count
Connectivity	USB
Model Number	SB1730
Compatibility	PC, Mac
Built-In Media	Card
Mfr Part Number	70SB173000000
Number of Items	1
Audio Output Mode	Stereo
Hardware Platform	Personal Computer
Compatible Devices	Personal Computer, Laptop
Hardware Interface	USB
Maximum Sample Rate	96 KHz
Warranty Description	No Warranty
Hardware Connectivity	USB
Global Trade Identification Number	05390660191275
Surround Sound Channel Configuration	2

Ready to buy?

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Play! 3 2.0channels USB is vintage hardware; the used and vintage market on eBay carries most of the live inventory. Prices and condition vary by seller and move in real time, so we link the live listing rather than quote a cached price. It also has an Amazon listing — check it for current price and availability. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

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