Creative’s Sound Blaster line of audio cards was a major player in the market during the ’90s and ’00s, and I first encountered the brand in 2008 when I built a gaming setup in college and integrated a dedicated audio card. Now, Creative is set to revamp the Sound Blaster series significantly: introducing the Sound Blaster Re:Imagine, a modular audio card tailored for contemporary use.
To begin with, this is far beyond a conventional sound card; Creative refers to it as an audio hub for linking all your devices. The aesthetics and modular design resemble creations from teenage engineering, capturing my immediate interest in the product.
Over the years, Creative has sold more than 400 million units of Sound Blaster cards, but for this launch, they are opting for crowdfunding. The Re:Imagine is currently available on Kickstarter, with Creative stating that this approach will help them engage with their user community to gauge their desires from an audio card. To acquire the sound card, one must invest $349, and at the time of this writing, the project has received $202,000 in pledges.
The Re:Imagine hub boasts a built-in 32-bit/384kHz DAC, and the amplifier effortlessly drives headsets ranging from 32Ω to 300Ω. It is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, PS5, Switch, and all Android devices, and notably, it can operate in standalone mode — powered by Linux, it features 8GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and an SD card slot.
The main attraction (for me, at least) is its modularity, featuring distinct components: a rotary knob, mixer-style slider, buttons, and a 3-inch display panel. The Horizon Cluster package from Creative includes a base unit along with one of each module, with the modules magnetically attaching to the base unit. Furthermore, the base unit houses all connectors, such as 3.5mm output, line in/out, optical, USB-C audio input, and connections to USB-C hosts.
The buttons are programmable, allowing for action customization or macro assignments when used with Windows. Creative is also providing a collection of entertaining tools accessible through the 3-inch panel, including an AI-driven music generator (naturally), nostalgic music visualizers, and even a DOS emulator.
Everything appears quite promising, and I am eager to try out the Sound Blaster Re:Imagine to evaluate its performance in practical application. Creative has announced that deliveries will commence by mid-2026, and with expected retail pricing at $500, you’ll want to participate if the modular audio card appeals to you.
