Finally. The RGB Sound Card Everyone Was Asking For

Random Guy Esq. · 18 Jun 2017 at 00:04

Creative's Sound Blaster X AE-5. The colours will make everything sound more vivid and lifelike!

Official Creative product page.

Specs;

• Audio/DSP processor : Sound Core3D
• Channels : 5.1 discrete speaker out, 7.1 virtual headphone surround
• Interface : PCIe
• DAC : ESS ES9016K2M SABRE32 Ultra DAC

o Max playback resolution : 32-bit/384kHz
o DNR : 122 dB
o THD + N : 0.00032%

• ADC : Sound Core3D

o Max recording resolution : 24-bit/96kHz

• Headphone amp (600 Ω) : Custom-designed discrete headphone amp (Xamp)

o SNR : 116 dB
o THD + N : 0.0009%
o Output impedance : 1 Ω
o Headphone impedance range : 16 - 600 Ω

• Connectivity

3 x 3.5mm line out (front, rear, center/sub)
1 x TOSLINK optical out
1 x 3.5mm headphone out
1 x 3.5mm microphone/line in
1 x Intel HD audio front panel

But most importantly..........it's RGB

Kelt · 18 Jun 2017 at 00:36

It's just like Abraham Lincoln said, "Son, you can NEVER have too much RGB!"

himen256 · 18 Jun 2017 at 15:24

Is it better than Asus Xonar Essence?

ToTheMax · 19 Jun 2017 at 13:52

Very positive review here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CioDzMqAxqU

Certainly sounds interesting, apart from the LED strip...

Coolasmoo · 19 Jun 2017 at 18:30

No Dolby or DTS ?

Zhuni · 19 Jun 2017 at 20:14

eeeeeeeew powered by molex?

Random Guy Esq. · 24 Jun 2017 at 02:55

ToTheMax said:
Very positive review here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CioDzMqAxqU

Certainly sounds interesting, apart from the LED strip...

I'd have preferred to hear (no pun intended) more about the surround emulation. It's marketed as a gaming sound card, but he spends very little time talking about how it did in games.

Has anyone seen any other reviews for it?

EsaT · 24 Jun 2017 at 10:36

Zhuni said:
eeeeeeeew powered by molex?

Both PCI-e power cables can be reserved by graphics card.

And there's nothing really needing power in device not meant to drive speakers.
(heck, once sound cards powered those small passive speakers with power from ISA slot)
Even whole extra power connector is unneeded.
In power up power draw limit for PCI-e x1 card is 10W and after that 25W.

But Asus invented that extra power BS and Creative had to follow.

Just like ESS Sabre being clearly now that correct name in "audiophile" psychopathy circles.

rids57 · 24 Jun 2017 at 16:48

ESS Sabre is yesterday's darling, it's now the AK4490

FredFlint · 25 Jun 2017 at 11:38

The Molex powers 4*LED strips (>10W) and is not needed for the sound card if not using the LED's. The ESS Sabre on the C6H sounds very good.

llamadal · 25 Jun 2017 at 23:58

1 year warranty? lol expect better on a £100 + soundcard

JasonM · 26 Jun 2017 at 02:03

32-bit/384kHz is totally pointless, otherwise it might be a good card.

EsaT · 26 Jun 2017 at 10:04

llamadal said:
1 year warranty? lol expect better on a £100 + soundcard

While sure containing bling bling extra at least overal it has components/performance for that price class.

For comparison still lot more expensive Sennheiser GSX uses cheap basic level Conexant DAC/output buffer chip meant for phones/tablets and which is at level of Audigy Fx...
And that card can be bought for 30€!

llamadal · 26 Jun 2017 at 12:13

No issue with price, if you want top end you often have to pay.... Just it's not unreasonable to want more protection should it go wrong.

JasonM · 26 Jun 2017 at 14:41

Someone asked if it was better then the Asus Essence ST, someone else mentioned about quality DAC's and what you pay for.

I don't own this new Creative card, however I do own the Soundblaster Titanium HD card, and also 2 Asus Essence ST PCI cards.

All the following i'm going to say is in relation to 2.0 stereo sound, so music and film playback, not games or any special features such as Dolby surround, i'm talking about plane old 2.0 sound.

Firstly the Titanium HD and Asus Essence ST cards are really high end for consumer sound cards, especially the Asus Essence ST card it's really honest and true to it's source, I actually think the Essence ST is better then than the X-Fi HD.

However and here's the real dirty truth. I have some old Pioneer DAC amps that date back to 1991, they only go to 24 bit/48Hz. For just listening to stereo music these old Pioneer DAC/Amps give a better sound then either of the sound cards mentioned above. Those cards might have superior specs on paper, but whats better to my ears is the old Pionneer DAC/Amps.

darael · 26 Jun 2017 at 18:01

For me, the Creative X-fi Titanium beats the Creative Z series hands down. I speak from personal experience.

If this soundcard has the Creative Z chipset and software, it certainly won't appeal to me even slightly.

SCOLANATOR · 2 Jul 2017 at 18:33

Do we really need dedicated sound cards anymore? Had an X-Fi Elite Pro way back but haven't bothered with them since then. From what I've read the S1220 is all I really need.

Also does this card have any Dolby Atmos or DTS-X output?

Dicehunter · 3 Jul 2017 at 12:35

himen256 said:
Is it better than Asus Xonar Essence?

I'd say it's a step below the Essence, More in the gamery type of sound section with the Essence line being very much in the "pure sound" category, Not an audiophile but it's the best way I can describe it

Scougar · 4 Jul 2017 at 13:33

These are great for no hassle cards. Whilst they are unlikely to be better than a dedicated DAC, these will work well for most people that just don't want the fuss of extra equipment.

ljop · 7 Jul 2017 at 08:42

Nowhere near enough RGBs for my liking ...