I have the Soundblaster X7 external DAC/amp hooked up via digital USB to my desktop PC, and a pair of Polk XT20. The software is set to flat with no sound extensions on. The sound is amazing on Spotify, RUclips, and PC games. Crystal clear sound, full midrange, and nice bass. I've had the unit for 6 years with no issues. I've heard $2000 setups that were the same, and my setup only cost me $650.
I have the Creative SoundBlaster G6 for many years now and its still great. I also use it to play my electric guitar with amp sims, because it has a ASIO driver as well. Creative is a good company. What I want to see Creative do though, is release a true 7.2 Dolby Atmos sound card, because only way for PC users/gamers to get Atmos is to buy a AV receiver with a bunch of features we don't need. There is a hole in the PC market for this for many years now, that no one is addressing, and Creative is the perfect company that could tackle this issue. Because the problem for us PC users/gamers is the very expensive cost and complexity of Dolby Atmos. AVR + Bookshelf spreakers +TV gets very expensive. But with a 7.2 Dolby Atmos sound card / processor and powered spreakers the cost will be way lower and simpler to get us into Atmos. I really wish we could have a affordable 7.2 or more sound card.
4:18 Great review but I wouldn't recommend deliberate cosmetic design changes. Often times we use these dacs directly in front of us in our workspace. The white text will just make it look more distracting than it needs to be (plus more cheap looking). Plus I'm willing to go through the learning curve of getting familiar with these functions without having to read. Especially given the price.
The brand is awful though. I also wonder why you did not use some harder to drive headphones. I worry that power would be an issue with this device, can it properly drive something with a high impedance and low-sensitivity, after all, you used low-impedance and easy to drive ‘phones, and you said the sound lacked punch and slam, so this thing could really struggle with harder to drive phone. I see this as a massive red flag in your review process.
Great review. Just wondering if you can power this device with USB straight to the power point (as you can with most mobile phones and tablets). Also, if I run my CD player through it, will it recognise SACD quality as outputted by my CD player? Thanks.
I am slightly confused by this review. Why do scientific measurements up to 600ohm and then conduct a listening test using very easy to drive headphones? It might have been a good idea to use something like the Beyerdynamic DT880 and see how that performed with this DAC / amplifier
Good stuff! This seems like a supercharged successor for the (rather portable) Creative G6 - Something I've used the last 5+ years. This could be something worth pursuing down the line; I dare say specifically on desktop applications for sure.
The biggest issue with this is that it fails to facilitate passive speakers... They discontinued the X7 without replacing it! Creative has no options for audiophiles. No op-amp rolling and restricted to active speakers only.
I believe this is because Creative has mostly focused around gaming & gaming has mostly relied on self-powered speakers. I think they experienced this when they created the X7 and it's lack of popularity.
That's the one set back that all USB dac/amps have is dynamics. Running amps/dacs off of USB C or even USB 3.2 will at most give you 7.5 watts. On average its usually around 5 watts total. I've owned creative labs sound cards in my gaming computers in the past and their processing and overall sound is actually pretty good. I own the Sennheiser HD 400 Pro Studio reference open back headphones which are very neutral with a slight roll off in the higher frequencies. I play them through the IFI Zen Dac/Amp version 2 which has very good processors in it also (Burr Brown). The issue is my Sennheisers are 120 ohm and with only around 5 watts on tap from the Zen Dac dynamics suffer from lack of power to really drive the 50mm speakers. I'm going to buy the Creative Labs Sound Blaster X5 because I really want to test the dac features it has as my Zen Dac V2 only has a bass boost and power boost button on it with no real EQ. Great video and I like that it was an honest review. By the way your Athem and Oppo player cost WAY more than this Creative Labs X5 and they should absolutely sound better...😉
That's not correct. I have the X7, which is a 45-watt amp, although I haven't needed to turn it up even 25 percent. Very dynamic sound with my Polk XT 20 speakers.
I have the Soundblaster X7 external DAC/amp hooked up via digital USB to my desktop PC, and a pair of Polk XT20. The software is set to flat with no sound extensions on. The sound is amazing on Spotify, RUclips, and PC games. Crystal clear sound, full midrange, and nice bass. I've had the unit for 6 years with no issues. I've heard $2000 setups that were the same, and my setup only cost me $650.
This is great value…$230 is terrific…I also like DAC/amps from IFI just because the all aluminum build. But this one’s a damn good product
I have the Creative SoundBlaster G6 for many years now and its still great. I also use it to play my electric guitar with amp sims, because it has a ASIO driver as well. Creative is a good company. What I want to see Creative do though, is release a true 7.2 Dolby Atmos sound card, because only way for PC users/gamers to get Atmos is to buy a AV receiver with a bunch of features we don't need. There is a hole in the PC market for this for many years now, that no one is addressing, and Creative is the perfect company that could tackle this issue.
Because the problem for us PC users/gamers is the very expensive cost and complexity of Dolby Atmos. AVR + Bookshelf spreakers +TV gets very expensive. But with a 7.2 Dolby Atmos sound card / processor and powered spreakers the cost will be way lower and simpler to get us into Atmos.
I really wish we could have a affordable 7.2 or more sound card.
Based on cost and features will probably get one. Thanks for the review.
4:18 Great review but I wouldn't recommend deliberate cosmetic design changes. Often times we use these dacs directly in front of us in our workspace. The white text will just make it look more distracting than it needs to be (plus more cheap looking). Plus I'm willing to go through the learning curve of getting familiar with these functions without having to read. Especially given the price.
i got the little Xfi a few years ago its given stellar performance . but its time to upgrade :)
It might be nice as a PC interface but as a dedicated headphone dac/amp it seems lackluster.
The brand is awful though. I also wonder why you did not use some harder to drive headphones. I worry that power would be an issue with this device, can it properly drive something with a high impedance and low-sensitivity, after all, you used low-impedance and easy to drive ‘phones, and you said the sound lacked punch and slam, so this thing could really struggle with harder to drive phone. I see this as a massive red flag in your review process.
soundblaster is the reason audio engines in gaming stagnated for almost 20 years.
Greetings from Greece! Nice review!
Great review. Just wondering if you can power this device with USB straight to the power point (as you can with most mobile phones and tablets). Also, if I run my CD player through it, will it recognise SACD quality as outputted by my CD player? Thanks.
I am slightly confused by this review. Why do scientific measurements up to 600ohm and then conduct a listening test using very easy to drive headphones? It might have been a good idea to use something like the Beyerdynamic DT880 and see how that performed with this DAC / amplifier
Good stuff! This seems like a supercharged successor for the (rather portable) Creative G6 - Something I've used the last 5+ years. This could be something worth pursuing down the line; I dare say specifically on desktop applications for sure.
Give me a hifi name: Nickolas
Give me 5x that: Nicolakis⚡️
The biggest issue with this is that it fails to facilitate passive speakers... They discontinued the X7 without replacing it! Creative has no options for audiophiles. No op-amp rolling and restricted to active speakers only.
I believe this is because Creative has mostly focused around gaming & gaming has mostly relied on self-powered speakers. I think they experienced this when they created the X7 and it's lack of popularity.
I'd like to see this compared to the Fiio K7.
That's the one set back that all USB dac/amps have is dynamics. Running amps/dacs off of USB C or even USB 3.2 will at most give you 7.5 watts. On average its usually around 5 watts total. I've owned creative labs sound cards in my gaming computers in the past and their processing and overall sound is actually pretty good. I own the Sennheiser HD 400 Pro Studio reference open back headphones which are very neutral with a slight roll off in the higher frequencies. I play them through the IFI Zen Dac/Amp version 2 which has very good processors in it also (Burr Brown). The issue is my Sennheisers are 120 ohm and with only around 5 watts on tap from the Zen Dac dynamics suffer from lack of power to really drive the 50mm speakers. I'm going to buy the Creative Labs Sound Blaster X5 because I really want to test the dac features it has as my Zen Dac V2 only has a bass boost and power boost button on it with no real EQ. Great video and I like that it was an honest review. By the way your Athem and Oppo player cost WAY more than this Creative Labs X5 and they should absolutely sound better...😉
That's not correct. I have the X7, which is a 45-watt amp, although I haven't needed to turn it up even 25 percent. Very dynamic sound with my Polk XT 20 speakers.
Soundblaster Sucks.
For game super but any thing els yes :( to bad gen of gamers dont care about sound