Creatives new Sound blasterX AE-9

R3X

R3X

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https://www.pcworld.com/article/332...igh-end-sound-blasterx-ae-9-breaks-cover.html

This is creatives high end soundcard @ $300, replaceable opamps, ditches the on chip analog converter or DAC for an external DAC. Using the ESS sabre 32 bit analog converter, a step up to the AE5s ES9016 Dac. Some lighting features but no more RGB. Will ship with some opamps.

Xamp to amp each stereo channel for headphones also, 6 pin pcie power connector for 75 watts of power to make the power cleaner and run the external break out box. Phantom power for high end microphones.

Unknown if it supports creative 'super xfi', the creative guy seems to smile and give no reply to it.

(scroll to 52 minutes into video)


Creative guy did say its releasing end of december, but guess its due out any week now, maybe ocuk can confirm availability for us?
 
I think I was one of the first in the UK to get the AE-5 as it arrived before the official launch date. That was after pre-ordering directly from Creative. Retailers got their stock weeks later.

Keep an eye on the Creative website as they appear to update it quite regularly.

If anything like the AE-5 it’ll appear there weeks before anywhere else.
 
I hope at that price it isn't shipping with the NE5xxx and JRC2xxx series opamps - not that they are bad but these days you can do much better.

With the xamp stuff I was kind of hoping they'd have some form of balanced output - from a quick look I can't see support for it - on stuff like the Sennheiser HD series balanced can have some advantages.
 
I don't fully know about balanced outputs but I did hear from the engineer discussing the EVGA Nu card he mentioned something about tweaks to it including a balanced output I believe, he said its a soundcard that can be tweaked in many different directions, something audio guys will love and if anything takes off its easier to expand on.

Cheers will keep an eye out of these, but will wait for more detailed reviews and comparisons am guessing we will see EVGA nu vs AE9 non stop for 2019.
 
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