Finally. The RGB Sound Card Everyone Was Asking For

[Random Guy Esq.]

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

 

[Random Guy Esq.]

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?

 

[Random Guy Esq.]

Will you be gaming with it @Bluntwrapped ? I'm interested to hear what they've done with their implementation of virtual surround sound. That is, do they still use SBX or is it a better/worse replacement.

 

[Random Guy Esq.]

Nice one, and enjoy the new set-up!