Creative X3 and Theater Headphones with X-fi

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Creative released some pictures of its upcoming products supporting their hyped 'Super X-fi' tech

https://www.audioxpress.com/news/cr...-blaster-x3-and-super-x-fi-theater-headphones


X3 looks nice its a dac+headphone amp and its at least supporting Super X-fi tech so do the wireless headphones, was looking into Nu soundcard and even AE-9 but apparently there still similar to AE5.

Speaking of AE-9 one reviewer here said he preferred the sound quality from his Fiio £85 quid amp here:
https://mspoweruser.com/review-creatives-sound-blaster-ae-9-is-an-attractive-expensive-sound-card/

Some interesting tech for this fall at least

 

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More info came out on the X3 product and it appears to have launched and on sale for £115 on creative website

https://uk.creative.com/p/sound-cards/sound-blaster-x3#specs

https://www.techpowerup.com/259609/...per-x-fi-upgrade-promotion-for-existing-users

15% code if you have registered your previous creative product here:
https://uk.creative.com/upgrade/

 

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Perhaps early review of the X-fi posted here:

MegaFalloutFan
Senior Member

Posts: 625
Joined: 2015-06-27

#5715522 Posted on: 09/29/2019 09:42 PM
This is literally THE FUTURE OF SOUND, I cant wait to get one of these.
Right now I have the smaller sibling the SXFI AMP, the SB X3 is a better option with tons more options and better DAC, SXFI AMP DAC is 24Bit/96Hz maximum, even in surround.
The main deal here is that its not "another" headphone virtual surround, but Holographic Sound, they trying to emulate actual surround speaker setup.
IT works by scanning all the popular headphones for their characteristics and human ears and face.
So you download an app, choose a headphones from a list , then you do ears and face photography, very easy and automatic, no need to press button, just give your phone to someone all he has to do is look at ear outline and match it with yours and it automatically takes a picture.
After all is done, its uploaded online and attached to your account, the moment you connect SXFI device to your phone it downloads all of this to the device firmware.
SO far in under a month I had 3 firmware updates for the AMP, so they still working on it and tweaking everything everything up, this is new project.
SXFI amp, works with everything, PC, consoles, mobile phone, the biggest Minus is that unlike PC sound card it has One input for headphones and microphone, so connecting PC headset like Game One, you need an adapter that joins two cables into one.
The surround effect is amazing, ima headphone guy due to situation and never used speakers, but i been using expensive virtual surround solutions all my lifem I usually used Console virtual surround headphones with SPDIF cable from PC and Creative SB Dolby Live Encoders, Tritton AX Pro 5.1, Sony MDR-HW700DS , Turtle Beach Elite 800, Different stereo headphones with Creative virtual surround on their Sound Blaster cards , my latest setup is Sennheiser GSX1200 External DAC + Sennheiser Game One
Im telling all of this just to show that I used many different virtual headphone setups from simple Headphone Dolby Surround to latest DTS headphone X to propriety like Creative surround and Sennheiser virtual surround to Windows 10 Sonic and ATMOS for Headphones.
This Creative SXFI Holographic sound beats all of it, its INSANE
They already sell these in USA on creative.com, sadly im not from USA and cant buy one right now, i need them to sell it on amazon or newegg these ship INT, but based on the past, all SXFI devices including the SXFI AMP and two pairs of SXFI headphones, they only sell on their web site, i had to buy second hand from a guy in Germany on ebay

P.S. If anyone worried about drivers, the SXFI AMP is like USB DAC, has no drivers

https://www.guru3d.com/news-story/sound-blaster-x3-with-super-x-fi-support-released,2.html


He describes similar to why Creatives x-fi holographic sound scooped all the ces awards up saying its next level audio listening.

Probably written by a creative employee

I am tempted to buy one considering the price and because I sold my AE5 off but want to see the reviews.

 

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Am tempted but want someone first to fork out the money and see if the X3 is worth it !

15% off code though currently on there site or check 2nd post above makes it more tempting

 

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I've bit the bullet and ordered a X3 this morning.

Hope you used the 15% off code, I want to also but not sure if it has the right amp or power for high end headphones (claims 600ohm) but nearly all creative products claim they have support but my AE5 and Z did feel like it lacked the power but could just be me.

If you see in that one review I linked on top, the guy said his 85 quid Fiio amp sounded better then his AE-9 @ £300 so it really scratches my head sometimes if its not just sales talk and hype. Whats more shocking is they did not include X-fi technology to the AE9 their flag ship soundcard really.

Left further wondering why Creative would release a product that cost 2x less then their AE9 flagship and offer better sound quality in X-fi tech with the X3 !

 

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Still Mik3 would appreciate a heads up if its any good and if this holographic star trek 3d sound Xfi business is any good

 

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Exactly as it sound too good to be true, the AE-9 is basically a Soundard that isn't a soundcard its mainly about that external module and Headphones use in which case any decent USB DAC would be cheaper and do the basically the same

I really would like to get a change for my ZxR.

Ahh did feel a bit of a slapped on product with a few updates and tweaks tbh, I have never used dolby digital or hdmi but hopefully the above answer is good for you.

Yeah it did knock me back for six especially if a reviewer is saying an amp a fraction of the cost sounds better then the AE9 !

 

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I will post back when it arrives, post plenty pics and my thoughts and I'll take it apart post the list of components if it doesn't have a warranty sticker.

oh nice, really the early thoughts is good enough, don't want to damage the precious.

 

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Can also trade in any old Creative cards AFAIK.

there is a trade old creative cards offer ?

I can't see that on their site do you have the link please ?

 

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SB Z has average level headphone output with ~2V max voltage and mediocre output current/power.
So that's not good for demanding headphones.
SBX AE-5 again has proper headphone output, with fair 5V max voltage and 200mW level power output.
(that's twice the max power rating of Beyer DT770-990 drivers)
SB X3 seems like it might fall in between.
Would expect current handling to be better than in old SB Z, but max output voltage is specced for 2.9V.


Without actual measurements wouldn't put much value for those claims of something being better than other.
Because Fiio could be for example changing frequency response and boosting bass, which is all what's needed to fool results.
Human ear is just lousy for measuring signal for any kind accuracy.
Binaural cues is the only thing our hearing system can actually analyze properly. Anything else is total crapshoot and further very easily biased.
(hence any actual sound quality testing should be done as blind testing)

As an example once had chance to test Turd Beach Z60 gaming headphones.
Didn't expect much, but when starting with music they were better than I expected giving "agressive front row feeling" with rock.
But then binaural sound with game recordings and movies... (insert facepalm smilie here)
That sounded figuratively like having head in bucket under water!

Good to know, I could definatly hear a nice difference between my Z and AE5 with pure direct mode, X3 is tempting but it does feel something with more power and size is needed and hopefully they add X-fi support.

 

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I cant seem to find it, I am sure I did not dream it and know Logitech did it recently but it is possible I misread or read misinformation about the existing customers 15% discount (after providing existing products serial number).



I cant seem to find it, I am sure I did not dream it and know Logitech did it recently but it is possible I misread or read misinformation about the existing customers 15% discount (after providing existing products serial number).

There is a premium membership club with the ability to trade your creative products but you need to order first to be premium club member, could have been that one I did a bit of faq and reading on their site but nothing as easy.

Think ill eventually have to bite down and order an X3, should do me fine till the next big thing arrives which is probably 5 minutes after.

 

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I did some digging into this X-fi tech some reviews on ytube but it wasn't positive reviews, some said it has so much reverb could not tell what was going on in films and music others said it made gaming worse even. Some others said it was fantastic though and gave them a new listening experience.

Anyhow its still a new technology and a few reviews on ytube may not mean the full thing, but am intrigued with both you guys thoughts if creative ever get it too you !

 

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Box looks great, nice to see with headphone amp written on front.

Mik must be chasing down the postman at this point, what did you select on creatives checkout page, biased shipping option

 

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Cheers Mik, I did have a feeling the xfi maybe bit raw its still early days I guess. Sounds like they put high quality caps in them and the power is more then enough.

Actually speaking of power does it power off usb and power cable I take it ?

Is there a button or option to give that pure direct mode also ? The one that bypasses all the equalizer and sound profiles and just high quality clean sound mode that is, you may that performs the best I found it did with my AE5 for music and films at least.

 

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Just to confirm it is USB powered only ? Or it needs a seperate power plug to wall and usb cable ?

Good to hear its got Direct Stereo mode also, I can't live without it, bit odd though the device does not power off completly once the pc is off its not that usb mobile charging port is it by chance ?

 

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Yes it's powered by USB only (X3 USB to PC USB port) no external power supply needed.

When i had a sennheiser GSX1000 i'm sure that was the same, only powered off when pc was shutdown and switched off.

cheers that is good news, less wiring to deal with does your X3 power off fully once the pc is switched off ? I wonder why miks does not

 

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oh from the wall switch also, something new to me I just thought energy waste wise it would fully switch off once the pc was shut down via start menu.

 

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Manual here:

https://fccid.io/2AJIV-SB1810/User-Manual/User-Manual-4402886

 

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software and quick starter guide(top right) here also:

https://support.creative.com/Produc...+Cards&prodID=23401&prodName=Sound+Blaster+X3

 

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Found a USB cable with on/off switch of the bay for £2.50, maybe a simple fix to switch the unit off rather then going to the ps or wall switch for the X3.