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Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 RGB 5.1 Discrete / 7.1 Virtual Surround Pro Gaming PCIe Sound Card
- Xamp Discrete Headphone Amplification: Each audio channel is individually amplified, allowing the AE-5 to deliver a whole new level of pristine audio fidelity in an unaltered lossless model to each earcup regardless of demand (The ultra-low 1O output impedance drives 16-600 ohm headphones perfectly)
- SABRE32 Ultra Class DAC: Perfect for hi-resolution audio for games, music, and movies (It delivers up to 32-bit 384 kHz playback with a 122dB DNR, ultra-low distortion and jitter)
- Aurora Reactive Lighting System: The AE-5 has customizable RGB LEDs on its body, and also features an included RGB LED strip (Program up to 16.8 million colors in different patterns with the free downloadable Sound Blaster Connect software for PC)
- BlasterX Acoustic Engine: BlasterX Acoustic Engine is a suite of fully customizable audio processing technologies that deliver new levels of audio immersion and precision for the ultimate competitive advantage
A great upgrade your motherboard audio, the Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 sound card delivers the ultimate audio performance with the full force of a 122dB 32-bit/384kHz ESS Sabre DAC, a kick-ass custom-designed 600O discrete headphone amp, top-notch audiophile-grade components and exclusive Sound Blaster audio enhancement technologies.
This sound card also upgrades your gaming rig with arresting light show, in addition to the premium, lossless sound. The world's first sound card with integrated RGB controller, the Sound BlasterX AE-5 gives you unique control over the lighting effects in your PC case so you have the ability to create and customize gaming gear that's as brilliant as your gaming prowess.
Xamp Discrete Headphone Amplification
The Sound BlasterX AE-5 is the first sound card to feature Xamp, Creative's custom-designed discrete headphone amplifier. Each audio channel is individually amplified, allowing the AE-5 to deliver a whole new level of pristine audio fidelity in an unaltered lossless model to each earcup regardless of demand. The ultra-low 1O output impedance drives 16-600O headphones perfectly.
SABRE32 Ultra Class DAC
The Sound BlasterX AE-5 is a SABRE32 Ultra Class PCIe DAC which is perfect for hi-resolution audio for games, music, and movies. It delivers up to 32-bit 384kHz playback with a 122dB DNR, ultra-low distortion and jitter.
Aurora Reactive Lighting System
Enjoy a symphony of lights and sound with the Aurora Reactive Lighting System! The AE-5 has customizable RGB LEDs on its body, and also features an included RGB LED strip. Program up to 16.8 million colors in different patterns with the free downloadable Sound Blaster Connect software for PC.
BlasterX Acoustic Engine
The Sound BlasterX AE-5 rides on Sound Blaster's long legacy of audio processing and enhancements. BlasterX Acoustic Engine is a suite of fully customizable audio processing technologies that deliver new levels of audio immersion and precision for the ultimate competitive advantage. These sound technologies create unprecedented levels of audio realism, including stunning 3D surround effects for your speakers and headsets.
Scout 2.0
Expand your horizon with the world's first smart gaming companion that enables you to visualize and see where enemies are on the radar through your mobile device for any First Person Shooter game. Scout mode has been given an updated feature that is sure to bring the pain to whoever you meet in the battlefield!
Warranty & Returns
Warranty, Returns, And Additional Information
Warranty
- Limited Warranty period (parts): 1 year
- Limited Warranty period (labor): 1 year
- Read full details
Return Policies
- Return for refund within: 30 days
- Return for replacement within: 30 days
- This item is covered by Newegg.com's Standard Return Policy
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.