Sound Blaster SB1660 User Guide

User’s Guide

Model No: SB1660

Introduction

Thank you for choosing the Creative Sound Blaster FRee (SB1660) Bluetooth®speaker. With its high
performance speaker drivers, the splash-proof portable speaker delivers powerful 360° sound and
enhanced bass for your audio playback.

Play your favourite tunes wirelessly through Bluetooth or directly from a microSD card with the
integrated music player. It even supports digital USB audio streaming from a PC or Mac with added SBX
Pro Studio™ enhancements. It can be used as a Bluetooth speakerphone too!

Package Checklist

Your Sound Blaster FRee package comes with the following:

l Sound Blaster FRee Bluetooth speaker
l 0.4m Micro-USB cable
l Quick Start leaflet
l Warranty leaflet
l Safety &Regulatory leaflet

System Requirements

For Windows®OS

l Intel® Core™2 Duo or AMD equivalent processor, 2.8 GHz or faster recommended
l Microsoft
l 1 GBRAM
l 600 MB of free hard disk space
l Powered USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 port

For Mac®OS

l Intel® Core™2 Duo, 2.8 GHz or faster recommended
l Mac OS X® 10.7.5 or higher
l 1 GB RAM
l 600 MB of free hard disk space
l Powered USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 port

For iOS device

l iPhone® / iPad® running iOS 5.1.1 or higher for Bluetooth

For Android device

l Phone / tablet running Android 2.3 or higher for Bluetooth

®

Windows 8.1 64-bit or 32-bit, Windows 8 64-bit or 32-bit, Windows 7 64-bit or 32-bit

Registering Your Product

Registering your product ensures you receive the most appropriate service and product support
available. You can register your product during installation or at register.creative.com. Please note that
your warranty rights are not dependent on registration.

Introduction 1

More Help

For the latest news and products for the Sound Blaster, please visit www.soundblaster.com. The site
also includes information on making purchases, technical help and the latest software updates.

Using Creative Software AutoUpdate

Locating, downloading and installing updates for your Creative products is now simpler and faster with
the web-based Creative Software AutoUpdate system.

When you connect to Creative Software AutoUpdate via the Internet, the website will analyze your
computer system to determine your operating system, language and which Creative products are
connected to your system.

When this analysis is completed, you will then be given a list of only the most relevant software updates
for your connected products. The files can then be retrieved and installed.

To learn more about the Creative Software AutoUpdate, please visit support.soundblaster.com.

Note:

First-time users of Creative Software AutoUpdate may be prompted to authorize the download of a
browser component required for system analysis. Check to ensure that this content is signed by
Creative Labs, Inc., then click the Yes button.

Please ensure that all your Creative products are connected and installed on the same computer
running Creative Software AutoUpdate.

Introduction 2

Product Overview

The buttons located at the top and rear of Sound Blaster FRee gives you basic control over the system's
functions. The rear of the speaker has jacks for USB and 3.5 mm analog audio in, as well as a
microSDslot for audio playback.

Top

Item Description

1

2

3

4

5

Bluetooth

LEDindicator

Phone/

Bluetooth

button

Volume +
button

Power button Press to power on/off.

Battery status
indicator

Indicates the Bluetooth pairing and connection status.

Blue (slow blink):Bluetooth standby mode
Blue (fast blink):Bluetooth discovery mode
Blue:Bluetooth is paired

Press to answer a call or enter Bluetooth discovery
mode.
Answer/end call:Press once to answer a call. Press
again to end it.
Bluetooth:Press and hold 2 seconds until a beep is
heard. The speaker will then enter Bluetooth discovery
mode.

Press to increase volume.
Press and hold to increase volume to maximum.

Indicates the device's battery level.

Full

Med

Product Overview 3

Item Description

Low

Critical Low

(3 blinks):Minimum/maximum volume

6

7

Volume ­button

Press to decrease volume.
Press and hold to decrease volume to minimum.

Microphone Built-in microphone for voice pickup.

Music Player

8

9

10

11

Item Description

LOUD button Press to boost volume and spaciousness.

LOUDmode will be automatically turned off when the
battery is critically low.
Caution:More power will be consumed in this mode.
Playtime will be reduced.

Play/Pause

Press to play or pause a track.

button

Shuffle/Repeat
All button

Press to select random play or repeat all tracks.

Green:Shuffle
Off:Repeat all

Next/Previous

Press to skip track.

button

Product Overview 4

Item Description

Press and hold to skip folder.

12

Mic Mute
button

Press to mute or unmute internal microphone.

Red:Mic mute
Off:Mic unmute

Input / Output Interface

13

14

15

16

Item Description

Micro-USB
port

Connects to the USB port of a computer for audio
streaming and battery charging.

Aux-in jack Connects to line-level sources (smartphones, tablets,

MP3 players) with a 3.50 mm (1/8-inch) plug.

MicroSD slot Supports up to 32GB microSD card for audio playback.

Rear passive

For enhanced bass.

radiator

Product Overview 5

Setting Up Your Audio Device

Step 1:Charging Your Sound Blaster FRee

Sound Blaster FRee comes with a built-in rechargeable battery that provides up to 10 hours of playtime
when fully charged. Charge the speaker before its first use by connecting it to a USBport on your
computer or to a 5V USBpower adapter (not included). Each subsequent charge cycle takes around 3 to
4 hours.

Auto Power Off

To save power, the speaker automatically powers down after 15 minutes of inactivity.

Note:

Lithium-ion battery life may suffer when it is constantly fully depleted or overexerted at low voltage.
It is a good practice to keep the battery well charged.

Step 2: Turning On Sound Blaster FRee

Press the Power button to turn Sound Blaster FRee on. Press again to power it off.

Note:

If the speaker has not been paired with any devices previously, it will go into Bluetooth standby
mode. Otherwise, it will be automatically paired to previously paired devices.

Setting Up Your Audio Device 6

Step 3: Connecting to an Audio Source

Bluetooth Pairing

To activate Bluetooth, press and hold the Phone/Bluetooth button for 2 seconds.

Action LEDStatus Status

1 Press and hold the Phone/Bluetooth

button for 2 seconds.

2 Turn on Bluetooth on your device.

Search and select "Sound Blaster FRee".

Blue (fast blink) Bluetooth discovery mode.

Ready to be paired with new device.

Blue Ready to stream music.

Note:

If no device is paired within 1 minute, it will exit from Bluetooth discovery mode.

Bluetooth pairing between these devices may vary depending upon the model type. Consult your
device’s manual on how to pair.

The Sound Blaster FRee supports dual connections, which means you can connect it to two Bluetooth
devices at the same time. If you wish to connect it with a third device, you should disconnect the
existing two devices first before connecting it to the other device.

Setting Up Your Audio Device 7

USB Connection

Connect your Sound Blaster FRee to a computer using the Micro-USB cable provided.

Setting Sound Blaster FRee as the default audio device:

For Windows

i. Go to Control Panel and click Sound.

ii. Click the Playback tab, select Sound Blaster FRee, then click the Set Default button.

For Mac

i. Go to System Preferences and click Sound.

ii. Click the Output tab, then select Sound Blaster FRee.

Analog Connection

The Sound Blaster FRee also lets you connect devices using the 3.5mm mini stereo cable (not included).

Setting Up Your Audio Device 8

MicroSDcard via integrated MP3 player

The Sound Blaster FRee can play audio files from a microSD card with the built-in MP3 player.

It supports microSD, microSDHC and microSDXC cards (not included)of up to 32GB in FAT16 or FAT32
format. You can play MP3, WAV or FLACformat files.

MP3

8 kHz - 48 kHz
8 kbps - 320 kbps

WAV(PCM) 8 kHz - 48 kHz, 16 bits

FLAC 8 kHz - 48 kHz, 16 bits

Setting Up Your Audio Device 9

Using Your Audio Device

Your Sound Blaster FRee works seamlessly with many external devices to perform different tasks.

Playing music

Connect your favourite music sources to the speaker in four simple ways.

l USBconnection
l Analog connection
l MicroSDcard
l Bluetooth connection

Play/pause music: Press Play/Pause button

Boost volume and spaciousness:Press LOUDbutton

Skip tracks/folders

l Skip tracks: Press Next/Previous button
l Skip folders: Press and hold Next/Previous button

Shuffle/repeat all:Press Shuffle/Repeat All button*

Adjust speaker volume:

l Increase volume: Press Volume + button
l Decrease volume: Press Volume - button

Note:

*The Shuffle/Repeat All function is only available for microSD card playback.

When an microSD card is inserted while Bluetooth is connected, the built-in MP3 player browses and
plays music from the microSD card.

Using Your Audio Device 10

Answering calls

When there's an incoming call, the call takes precedence over audio playback – playback stops and the
ringtone will be heard.

Press the Phone/Bluetooth button once to answer the call. Press again to end the call.

The music will resume after the call has ended.

Answer/end call: Press Phone/Bluetooth button

Mute/unmute mic: Press Mic Mute button

Adjust speaker volume:

l Increase volume: Press Volume + button
l Decrease volume: Press Volume - button

Using Your Audio Device 11

Installing and Uninstalling Software

To take full advantage of your Sound Blaster FRee audio device, you need to install device drivers and
applications. At times, you may also need to uninstall some or all of the device drivers and applications
to correct problems, change configurations, or upgrade outdated drivers or applications. To learn how to
do so in all supported Windows and Mac operating systems, consult the following sections:

l Installing Drivers and Applications
l Uninstalling Drivers and Applications

Installing Drivers and Applications

Ensure that your audio device is connected before proceeding. For instructions on
connecting your audio device, consult your Quick Start leaflet.

After you have connected your audio device, turn on your computer. Windows automatically detects
your audio device and searches for device drivers.

For Windows OS

1. Using a standard web browser, visit support.creative.com.

2. Locate Sound Blaster FRee and the software package for your Windows operating system.

3. Download this package into your local hard disk.

4. Locate and launch the software package.

5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

6. When prompted, restart your computer.

7. Launch the application by locating and clicking Sound Blaster FRee Control Panel.

For Mac OS

1. Using a standard web browser, visit support.creative.com.

2. Locate Sound Blaster FRee and the software package for your Mac OS.

3. Download this package into your local hard disk.

4. Double-click the downloaded file to uncompress it.

5. Double-click the uncompressed DMG file.

6. Double-click the Install icon and follow the subsequent on-screen instructions to complete the
installation.

7. Launch the Sound Blaster FRee Control Panel from the Applications > Creative folder.

Note:

Depending on your operating system, model and software version, the user interface or color theme
may differ.

Installing and Uninstalling Software 12

Uninstalling Drivers and Applications

In the event that an uninstallation is required (such as for upgrades), please follow the following
procedure.

Before you begin, close all running audio applications. Applications that are still running
during uninstallation will not be removed.

For Windows OS

1. From the Control Panel, click Uninstall a program.

2. Select your audio device's entry.

3. Click the Uninstall button or option.
If the User Account Control dialog box appears, click the Continue button.

4. Click the Yes button.

5. When prompted, restart your computer.

For Mac OS

1. Click Applications > Creative > Creative Uninstaller.

2. Select the Creative product to be uninstalled.

3. Click the Uninstall button.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Installing and Uninstalling Software 13