Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 RGB 5.1 Discrete / 7.1 Virtual Surround Pro Gaming PCIe Sound Card

Pros: Once I got it installed and the driver set up (driver is from 25 Jun 2018), I dove into the Sound Blaster Connect 2 software to set the EQ to be flat (I do audio work, so I don't much care for bass heavy gaming EQ settings while working), and disabled many of the 'wizardry' features like “Crystalizer”, and the BlasterX acoustics engine, to see if the overall quality past software tweaks was worth the 150. I'm happy to report that there is a significant improvement in the overall sound quality. Bass is clear and not muddy, mids are easily discernible, and the highs are clear and bright, but not fatiguing. When I run it through my speakers, the overall sound stage is much greater than on my previous card, and WAY better than onboard (which has no sound stage). When I enabled Crystalizer and the BlasterX acoustics engine when I was gaming, the overall effect was awesome. In shooting games like Arma 3, the gun shots and explosions were deep and had some rumble to them. In more dialect heavy titles, like Mass Effect Andromeda, voices are very clear and distinct. Positional audio is also greatly improved from what I've used previously, which is a godsend for some games that I play.

Cons: Frankly, the software interface is pretty cr*ppy. When I try to access it through the start menu, it's a gamble as to how long it takes to launch, even when I have a very stripped down Windows 10 installation and have no other programs running in the background. Sometimes it launches right away, other times, I'm waiting 30+ seconds. Another gripe is with the actual UI. The dashboard takes me to EQ settings, which isn't something I use. Having the ability to change the dashboard to access whatever settings I want to access most is pretty standard fair these days, so it seems like a step back in its attempt to be a modern UI. A MAJOR pain in the *** is with trying to switch from my speakers to my headset without having to plug and unplug them in. That was easily done in their Sound Blaster software of old, as it was clearly labeled. This time, I had to dig for it, which is something I SHOULDN'T have to do. EDIT 5/30/2019: Software is extremely buggy, with frequent hangups and lockups. Happens when you manually check for updates, log into your online profile which saves your profiles. Because of the frequent problems, with the software, I've subtracteed a star. Once they get to updating their software to be more stable and responsive, I'll add it back. A noticeable glitch I ran into was with testing my headphones and speakers. The familiar test sounds played, but clipped out. Thank Gabe it's isolated to just when I do the test and not in any other instance. A final nail in the coffin with the software is its propensity to just quit out.

Overall Review: I upgraded from their Sound Blaster Recon3d Fata1ity Pro. I've used both that card and the onboard sound, which uses a Realtek ALC892 chip. My speaker setup is a Logitech Z506 5.1 surround speaker, hooked up through 3.5 mm jacks. I also use the HyperX Cloud II headset. Comparisons are made between these products, so your experience may not match mine. Hardware wise and performance, it's a good purchase for those who either game, or, like me game and do audio editing. Its software needs tuning, but luckily software can be fixed with updates, something that Creative Labs have a pretty decent track record of fixing, albeit not as quickly as many would like. Overall, I can heartily suggest the card to friends and family. Just be warned that the current software needs polish.

Pros: Worked very good with my avc400, music and games sounded wonderful, even worked great as an source with my jotunheim amp with my jbl 305's and r70x headphones. The bass was not muddy at all nor boomy, it went deep, the sound wasn't bright on my end,but it had an good amount of details,over all very enjoyable. virtual headphone 7.1 along with sbx headphones performances was also very good, which great positional awareness.Many bought life to my audio setup. Better then what i thought it would do. even movies with vr 7.1 and sbx sounded good. The X-amp headphone amp did an very good job with my avc400, but it really did an good job with my R70x's being 470ohms and all,even tho it wasn't on the same level as my headphone amp. I still found it to do an really great job. the lighting options while few, was easy to setup, while looking very good. The card it self works perfectly fine in my computer without any hardware issues. Edit: Creative has released new drivers that fixed issues as well as now letting you save the headphone gain settings.

Cons: People who use an single pair of headphone will find the HP gain safety to annoy them when it resets on boot. The speaker configuration box for Headphones(7.1) should be more clearer what it does. As you would think it was just for the VR headphone 7.1 settings. Each mode doesn't save the volume slider location,you will need to change the volume every time you switch from stereo to headphones, so you don't blow your self out your chair from loud volumes.

Overall Review: Since Creative released brand new drivers today which lets you save the headphone gain settings on reboot and boot up and other fixes. I now fully suggest this card due to that issue being addressed.

Pros: Astounding audio quality. You need Windows 10 or newer to be able to fully utilize the card's properties. Earlier OS won't support the full range. Solid build quality. Supports up to 600ohm headphones. LED strip for making your pc into a 90s rave if you want to Software is good for Creative.

Cons: Does not include software CD. Need to download from Creative website. Not a fan of LED lighting craze, but can choose not to apply it.

Overall Review: Would recommend for others and buy it again. Would included software CD instead of relying on download only.

Pros: -Incredible audio creation. -Easily the best internal sound card Creative has made. (Alongside with AE7/9) -Music is exceptional. -Built-in headphone amp.

Cons: -As usual, Creative software is finnicky. -Mid to high end headphones required to truly experience it at its full potential.

Overall Review: I've always been a proponent of internal sound cards. I've had 4 total in nearly 20 years of PC building. 3 of them Creative Labs. This is easily the best in terms of hardware. Games are precise. Music is out of this world. I really like the features Creative Labs offers for both hardware and software.

Pros: it is good for my needs and now my headphones can get very loud i even can not handle the voice when it is over 50% which is good the mobo sound level was not enough even at 100% ( my headphones is beyerdaynamics dt 990 prem 250 ohm version). also the equalizer is epic i like it.

Cons: at first i did not know how to enable the sound effects because off my lack of knowledge (i should have choosen 7.1 headphones in the options instead of direct headphones ) so i thought that there is problem with the drivers and i kept reinstalling it until the point where i could not get any sound but luckily i the support team where nice and told me in details how to fix this issue :) .

Overall Review: i wish they included a good manual with the card because this card is aimed for gamers not audiophile also until now i do not know how to enable the 32bit 384 KHz sound the highest i can get with windows 10 is 32bit 96KHz i do not now if iam using the whole potentials of this card. but 5 stars because of the support team

Pros: Easy to set up for my place in 5.1 Quite involved settings When you get it set it sounds great

Cons: Could not find the light strip that was indicated in the description Delivery service was not very punctual. They claimed Tuesday but did not get it until Thursday afternoon Might blow my speakers ;o)

Overall Review: If you need an affordable and great sound system this should be on your list.

Pros: Work totally fine with my (250Ohm) DT 990 pro The driver or the application is very easy to use you can adjust everything the connected to the card in the application (Driver) mic, headphone, speakers and the RGB Very good noise reduction for my microphone shipping fast The RGB on the card looks cool and works fine when you download the driver

Cons: The RGB STRIP only:: that comes with the product doesn't work on the SoundBlaster application and I Couldn't use it, still not broken it lights up on external RGB connector BUT can't adjust it or change modes, colors

Overall Review: NOTE: I never used any sound card or DAC or Amp before so I don't really know if other Sounds card are better or worst than this one Although I couldn't install the RGB Strip right. I'm very satisfied with this one in gaming and music IMPORTANT NOTE: DONT FORGET TO DOWNLOAD THE DRIVER FROM SOUND BLASTER SITE TO USE THE CARD

Pros: Easy install and the color goes good with my other peripherals. The software is easy to use and has a lot of functions to play with to dial in the audio the way you want it to sound.

Cons: The RGB strip that comes with it was DOA. Why are we still using 4 pin Molex power connectors in 2020?

Overall Review: I bought it for better sound than what is integrated onto my MB and it is such an improvement.