Sound Blaster AE-9 hands ons vs ZXR

[hobib_ali]

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

oops upside down

Firstly my trusty ZXR, got the AE5 afterwards but turned back to the ZXR as its way better than the AE5

Now the Sound Blaster AE9

An excellent sound card, especially for £250

The sound quality if way clearer, hi res files i.e flacs sound exceptional, DSDs sound on a different level, the clarity is amazing, really, im no audiophile but Ive noticed a difference from the ZXR which is also a high end card which also is excellent

[/IMG]

A separate headphone Audio Control Module

Just like the ZXR but I can easily tell a difference in sound quality, I play a lot of Red Dragon WarGame, literally thousands of hours so I know when I hear a difference, and honestly Ive noticed sound effects that I simply have not heard on the ZXR, astonishing but true

No RGB by the way, just a subtle glow from the AE9 Sound blaster logo







I do prefer the bass on the ZXR though, seems more deep and thunderous, dont get me wrong the AE9 has very good bass, i feel i prefer the ZXR for applications with bass, ive only had it for 10 days or so

But the clarity on the AE9 with hi res and a decent pairs of cans is on another level




Connected my Beyerdynamic Amirons and my Sennhieser 660s and both headphones sound different, I prefer the 660s on gaming and the beyers on the movies

I also have a Apogee Groove DAC, this is also an amazing device, the AE9 beats the ZXR and the Apogee Groove by a mile, I reckon with a better headphones things can only improve, looking to get a 820s or a Audeze LCD2

At 250 quid its an absolute steal, sold my AE5, will sell my ZXRs, to subsidise the cost for the AE9

 

[R3X]

cheers for the review had a feeling creatives AE9 would be the top of the top soundcards