Creative SB1660 User manual

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:
lSound Blaster FRee Bluetooth speaker
l0.4m Micro-USB cable
lQuick Start leaflet
lWarranty leaflet
lSafety &Regulatory leaflet
System Requirements
For Windows®OS
lIntel® Core™2 Duo or AMD equivalent processor, 2.8 GHz or faster recommended
lMicrosoft®Windows 8.1 64-bit or 32-bit, Windows 8 64-bit or 32-bit, Windows 7 64-bit or 32-bit
l1 GBRAM
l600 MB of free hard disk space
lPowered USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 port
For Mac®OS
lIntel® Core™2 Duo, 2.8 GHz or faster recommended
lMac OS X® 10.7.5 or higher
l1 GB RAM
l600 MB of free hard disk space
lPowered USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 port
For iOS device
liPhone® / iPad® running iOS 5.1.1 or higher for Bluetooth
For Android device
lPhone / tablet running Android 2.3 or higher for Bluetooth
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
1Bluetooth
LEDindicator
Indicates the Bluetooth pairing and connection status.
Blue (slow blink):Bluetooth standby mode
Blue (fast blink):Bluetooth discovery mode
Blue:Bluetooth is paired
2Phone/
Bluetooth
button
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.
3Volume +
button
Press to increase volume.
Press and hold to increase volume to maximum.
4Power button Press to power on/off.
5Battery status
indicator
Indicates the device's battery level.
Full
Med
Product Overview 3

Item Description
Low
Critical Low
(3 blinks):Minimum/maximum volume
6Volume -
button
Press to decrease volume.
Press and hold to decrease volume to minimum.
7Microphone Built-in microphone for voice pickup.
Music Player
Item Description
8LOUD 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.
9Play/Pause
button
Press to play or pause a track.
10 Shuffle/Repeat
All button
Press to select random play or repeat all tracks.
Green:Shuffle
Off:Repeat all
11 Next/Previous
button
Press to skip track.
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
Item Description
13 Micro-USB
port
Connects to the USB port of a computer for audio
streaming and battery charging.
14 Aux-in jack Connects to line-level sources (smartphones, tablets,
MP3 players) with a 3.50 mm (1/8-inch) plug.
15 MicroSD slot Supports up to 32GB microSD card for audio playback.
16 Rear passive
radiator
For enhanced bass.
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.
Blue (fast blink) Bluetooth discovery mode.
Ready to be paired with new device.
2 Turn on Bluetooth on your device.
Search and select "Sound Blaster FRee".
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