If you are sharp enough there is a typo, 'keayboard'.
Creative currently does not have a CEO, only acting. They are actively looking for one.
Those who were largely responsible for the past poor PR have either RIP or left the company.
I have zero confidence this new whatever-it-is will turn the company around. Creative Labs is bleeding out and will be out of cash in only a few years. The current kickstarter has barely raked in $200k after the first 9 days.
Trying to milk the Sound Blaster brand and nostalgia just seems desperate at this point. It's also about 10 years too late.
soundblasterx wrote on 2025-11-06, 11:09:Creative currently does not have a CEO, only acting. They are actively looking for one.
Those who were largely responsible for the past poor PR have either RIP or left the company.
In that case I'll definitely spend hundreds of dollars on this product that makes no sense.
Life? Don't talk to me about life.
Retro PC Gaming via a DOS emulator running on-device
For desktops I think DOSBox-X can already do well enough for all my retro gaming needs on modern OSes.
Perhaps this is to use it as a standalone Linux handheld?
Dr. Sbaitso reborn, now powered by AI
Considering the NPU is just 6 TOPS, I wonder if it'll be efficient enough to interact with the language model it's going to use...
Regardless, my knowledge with modern-day USB audio devices is too limited. Even for the current available ones, they seem to do much more than what ordinary sound cards do in the past...
By the way, I searched the page and did not find a single mention of "MIDI" or "synth". I wonder if there will ever be some kind of modules that enables it to act as a hardware MIDI synth (Soundfont or VSTi), offloading some work from the host, or it was never meant for this purpose to begin with...
"They have a working prototype. They wanted you to build the platform together with them."
Translation: we want to use your money not ours.
This doesn't really seem like a cooperative project. I have never seen anyone ask for this product. Plenty of support does still exist for Creative but for things like soundcards, speakers, headphones.
"They have difficulty going past $349. They need your help to get past $379."
Translation: We want more of your money.
"Plush collectors should be interested in the limited edition bird."
Great idea! Waste some of the investment money on something no one wants
"They have something special for you if it goes past 1 mil."
Translation: We want even more of your money.
The last "surprise" (this product) was a disappointment, I think I'm good not knowing what the surprise is
"With enough orders, it is easier to convince Singapore govt to give them grants (~mil) for possibly export from Singapore to US and AI development."
Translation: We want money from the government as well.
"And it will in turn attract greater interest."
few news articles maybe, but no ongoing sales of products that no one wants.
"Then it can help turn the company around."
very short term maybe but again no products of interest means back in the same boat in no time
LSS10999 wrote on 2025-11-07, 03:24:For desktops I think DOSBox-X can already do well enough for all my retro gaming needs on modern OSes.
Perhaps this is to use it as a standalone Linux handheld?
The DOS retrogaming part of this is the most nonsensical inclusion. Besides the screen being the wrong format for 4:3 DOS gaming, how are these games intended to be controlled?
DOS games are typically designed to be controlled via keyboard + mouse. Maybe the touch screen could sub for the mouse control, but what about keyboard? Is the intent to re-purpose switches and buttons designed for an audio interface to play games?
Plus, anyone who wants to play DOS games on a standalone or portable device can already emulate DOS on smartphones, tablets, laptops, handheld gaming devices...
Other than as a marketing gimmick, there is zero practical reason to include DOSBox / retrogaming on an audio interface device. It's just dumb.
You can connect a keayboard and mouse to it (via USB hub) or BT.
I have a haswell setup just for retro dos/win games with keayboard and mouse. But some SB emulation audio is poorly done.
soundblasterx wrote on 2025-11-08, 03:54:You can connect a keayboard and mouse to it (via USB hub) or BT.
That's a fair point I suppose. But it still raises the question as to why do that in the first place. If the intent is to use this thing as a Linux computer, why not just use an actual computer? Presumably the computer this thing is designed to connect to directly.
This thread has 171 replies and 8645 views on just the vogons forum. I doubt just another computer would as got much of a response.
With 8.2 Billion people in the world you'll always be able to find some percentage to make money off of especially if you add "A.I .".
Dolby Atmos and “Sound with Vision”.
More people, especially the younger generation, likes to have those large (adjustable) table setup - one PC (or console), one work laptop, one large monitor or even dual setup, phone, ipad, a pair of speakers say Pebble Nova, wireless earpiece or headset, etc.
A clean compact device as an audio hub can fit nicely. 610 from kickstarters think so.
They made mistake with the pricing, 299 is sweet spot, 349/379 is hard sell.
Other concerns include why not 600 ohm headphone (maybe the add on cost is too high and very few are using it? or those few users can connect a DAC to it?) and HDMI earc (can USB C replace? optical can't) and possibly slow software development (due to lack of funds? need govt support?)
They may need to update the slighty dated soc 12 months later, if this goes mainstream.
Linux because it can be a standalone compact, low power consuming media device for streaming music and movie using wifi or even ethernet.
Like x5, there will be people who will connect BT-w6 since the included BT is junk to them.
soundblasterx wrote on 2025-11-09, 03:19:More people, especially the younger generation, likes to have those large (adjustable) table setup - one PC (or console), one work laptop, one large monitor or even dual setup, phone, ipad, a pair of speakers say Pebble Nova, wireless earpiece or headset, etc.
A clean compact device as an audio hub can fit nicely.
I have literally all of the above, but I have no idea how or why I would require an "audio hub" to try to integrate everything.
It's not clear what the practical use cases are here that can't already be achieved via audio switches or mixers that cost far less.
610 from kickstarters think so.
Which really isn't that many. They are going to need a serious push for this thing to gain any sort of traction the way it's currently going.
Shponglefan wrote on 2025-11-09, 03:43:I have literally all of the above, but I have no idea how or why I would require an "audio hub" to try to integrate everything. […]
soundblasterx wrote on 2025-11-09, 03:19:More people, especially the younger generation, likes to have those large (adjustable) table setup - one PC (or console), one work laptop, one large monitor or even dual setup, phone, ipad, a pair of speakers say Pebble Nova, wireless earpiece or headset, etc.
A clean compact device as an audio hub can fit nicely.
I have literally all of the above, but I have no idea how or why I would require an "audio hub" to try to integrate everything.
It's not clear what the practical use cases are here that can't already be achieved via audio switches or mixers that cost far less.
610 from kickstarters think so.
Which really isn't that many. They are going to need a serious push for this thing to gain any sort of traction the way it's currently going.
Decent USB audio interfaces that accept multiple USB c inputs don't come cheap.
And people may want a moddable/hackable audio hub, this is where the magnetic lego, touch screen and linux comes in.
Linux users can help grow the community faster. They need thousands at least from kickstarter.
But they screw up with the kickstarter pricing which is too risky to change now.
Unless they can show some kind of real software or demo.
soundblasterx wrote on 2025-11-09, 04:22:Decent USB audio interfaces that accept multiple USB c inputs don't come cheap.
Is that really filling a need though? I have multiple devices that use USB-c and just connect them directly to my PC.
And people may want a moddable/hackable audio hub, this is where the magnetic lego, touch screen and linux comes in.
Is there really something people want? I can understand the desire for a customizable control surface, especially for production type work (music production, video editing, etc.).
But things like this already exist, and in a less expensive and more compact form than what Creative Labs is offering.
Can accept multiple USB c (audio) input, like G8. Amazon is helping them sell hundreds of G8 a month.
Moldable/hackable includes root access for Linux. There is a huge community of coding experts to get on board. Just that the current wrong pricing plus lead time of 8 months will not get many on board.
It can be a standalone device for audio and video and more.
They are also considering adding dsp effects in. It will be cool: I am still using xmod. It does not need to install any drivers, cmss and crystalizer still works and there is also 5 channel virtual headphone surround in win 11. It can even power some passive speakers that even high end mobo (maximus xi/aorus x470) audio struggle to. Same for the more recent sxfi amp/x1.
They have to be careful about adding dsp. It can cause the same problems some people complain about their sound cards. Or some smart people can port it over to other devices.
If you remove the severance charges, they only lose 2.3mil the past 6 months (partly due to trade tariffs). They have more than 40 mil liquid assets and have some niche investments to be realized soon.
Plus Trump lower china tarrifs by 10% so the worst is over for them. Some of their new products are well received.
So they won't close shop anytime soon. The real risk is privatisation.
I found this in Khim Tan's Instagram. He is one of the few talents left in the company after multiple restructuring these few years.
Maybe some of you can spot something of interest.
soundblasterx wrote on 2025-11-10, 07:47:If you remove the severance charges, they only lose 2.3mil the past 6 months (partly due to trade tariffs). They have more than 40 mil liquid assets and have some niche investments to be realized soon.
Plus Trump lower china tarrifs by 10% so the worst is over for them. Some of their new products are well received.
So they won't close shop anytime soon. The real risk is privatisation.
What financial statements are you looking at?
I'm looking at their most recent available financials here: https://sg.creative.com/corporate/investor/re … eases?year=2025
The important thing to pay attention to is cash flow.
Their cash and cash equivalents at the end of FY2025 is $29.8M. The last couple years they've burned through about $14M in cash each year. And this trend has been ongoing for years now.
They do have long-term investments of about $10M, but beyond that, there is nothing on their books to suggest they won't be out of cash within a couple years. Unless they can raise cash some other way, this company is headed for bankruptcy in only a few years.
Dated 22 Aug 2025. Not true. They only used 12.2 mil cash but investments increased by 3.5 mil. They have likely invested in SGX index stocks and they got a good bull run until now and also something else, potentially big.
Don't just look at numbers. Read the paragraphs too.
They have fewer headcount, fewer directors so their expenses will only go down. Their revenue is still maintaining.
Don't expect big turnaround anytime soon. Sometimes a little profit, sometimes a little loss.
