So let me summarise... What was the SB16 Value? Well, there were many cards that got this less-than-spectacular bit of branding, but I will focus on this specific one - the CT2770. Arriving around two years after the first Sound Blaster 16, and coinciding with the introduction of their new flagship AWE32, Creative were keen to continue selling into the budget end of the sound card market. This meant cost-reducing the SB16 to make a card that was still up-to-date (16-bit) but without the frills.

The Sound Blaster 16 succeeded the Sound Blaster Pro which itself had introduced stereo FM synthesis, but only had 8-bit digital audio. SB16 took it one step further with its 16-bit digital audio (CD quality) capability. Unfortunately, all SB16s have a flawed Sound Blaster Pro emulation mode which means it only plays back in mono, thus causing it to really just be like a basic Sound Blaster when run in this mode.

The card is tested, working.