Creative to Launch Audiophile-grade Sound Card: Sound BlasterX AE-9

[Bansaku]

" At $300 a pop, these will pack serious hardware for audiophiles. "

At $300 a pop true audiophiles will only laugh at the lunacy Creative put forth! Speaking of which: Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...cough...hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...

 

[bubbly1724]

Creative opted for an external DAC

Uhhh so how does this work exactly then? The pic of the PCIE card shows OP-AMPs and something that is labeled as "DAC", and the external card only has that proprietary cord along with RCA (out?). So audio goes from computer to the PCIE card, which then goes to the external DAC, then back into the PCIE card for amping, then back to external unit for headphone out? I mean either ways you still have a PCIE card which audio goes through one way or another so the external part seems moot.

 

[Totally]

For me the question is, for those who have good headsets with a good onboard audio solution (120dB SNR plus), do you pick up the coil whine from your graphics card in your audio? Or any other electronical noise?

For me, I haven't experienced noise from only boards where the audio circuit is isolated from the rest of the board I thought it was gimmicky at first since it still has to connect with the rest of the board but it seems to work. But my experience is with two boards fwiw.

 

[Prima.Vera]

No analog 7.1 or even 5.1 ??

 

[lexluthermiester]

Creative lost his way long time ago it's pitty really.

The whole industry has changed. Creative is doing just fine.

For me the question is, for those who have good headsets with a good onboard audio solution (120dB SNR plus), do you pick up the coil whine from your graphics card in your audio? Or any other electronical noise?

Simple answer is yes. Most aren't bothered by it though.

Always prefer an extrernal DAC connected to an AMP...

My system is setup with direct line outs to a receiver and full size, full range speakers. I know this setup is in the minority but it's a beautiful thing to behold.

 

[PLAfiller]

Creative's news feed generates as much turmoil as Nvidia's Always so harsh on these guys. Personally, I've always used a soundcard. Accident or not, all my soundcards have been from Creative. Never really had issues with drivers and stuff, but I don't consider myself an audiophile. May be a very smallish one. Definitely not the target for this product though.

 

[_UV_]

Do they still have bad practice releasing drivers for older OS versions or old products 5+ years later? (Elite pro, Titanium HD and Audigy 1-2 user, EMU 0404 USB and 1616m also).
Do they still have poor design causing firmware to be overwritten in certain conditions either by PCI or just by static electricity bricking your sound card? (elite pro and emu 1010 pci base board - 2 pieces each, restored, thanks to hardware repair forums with soldering iron, reflashing and reworking some elements placed or not placed or having improper values)

blame Microsoft killing off hardware accelerated sound. Not to mention the lack of competition and innovation in that part of the market and a majority of the public not going out of their way to jump on the surround sound train.
Rise in headphone usage prompting the boom in external DACs/Amp purchase and usage. there is very little reason for someone to upgrade their soundcard these days if they have a good one.
If they are into audio recording/production there are better options available but Audigy 2 ZS Platinum with or the ZXR should cover those areas just fine.
Same thing more or less happened to Asus. They came out to compete with Creative but once DirectSound/Hardware acceleration died and Creative went into a coma. They stopped pushing the market.
At least Creative have tried to keep up with the way people set up their audio by releasing their own external amps and dacs though. Asus also tried with their Xonar Essence One but those fell out of production years ago.
hardware accelerated sound was such a big thing for gaming.
How Creative nearly brought back great PC audio, and then f**k*d it all up.

Microsoft dealing with copyright holders, what is why they killed direct hardware access and you need to blame them. The rest is just BS they telling about driver architectures. As for surround sound, majority of people either don't have enough room for such setups at home or bought cheap trash speakers sets and was very disappointed years ago.

Multimedia cards isn't suited for high quality and predictable recordings. Even top of line cards have synchronization or sound level problems. Even their EMU series have 1 serious problem - they record noise caused by WiFi/DECT, at least they have proper sound levels and you can break ground loops.

 

[stimpy88]

Half the price, and it would be a fair upgrade from MB audio, which, in many cases nowadays, is more than "good enough" especially when you take in to account the limitations of the "modern" Windows Audio stack.
But for $300, nope, it's simply more overpriced gold plated garbage with a dash of snake oil.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Half the price, and it would be a fair upgrade from MB audio, which, in many cases nowadays, is more than "good enough" especially when you take in to account the limitations of the "modern" Windows Audio stack.
But for $300, nope, it's simply more overpriced gold plated garbage with a dash of snake oil.

Its not targeted for the general user though. Its a card for audiophiles. Unless you're one of them then you're best sticking with an sb-z or AE-5

 

[Slacker]

I don't see the point in releasing this card over the SB ZX-R. Its basically the same setup with a different cover and the loss of 5.1 surround sound. Creative drops the daughter board for a external DAC. The removable op-amps are the exact same thing from the ZX-R.

My advice is to buy the Titanium or the ZX-R used on eBay and slap some Burson Audio op-amps. Makes a big difference that even an external DAC at the same price has a hard time beating. Also, buy a decent receiver and connect to a Kef Q100s or an Elac Debut 6.2 and be amazed by the sound. No Logitech Z speakers can match.

 

[Ferrum Master]

I don't see the point in releasing this card over the SB ZX-R

It really pushes the MIC/recording capabilities the previous cards doesn't have. And actually sucked hard on it (I own them also). This card really fills the gap. It is not for PA. Not for a mere consumer.

One asks how the breakout box works? Same as always via i2s via HDMI cable. The box uses same soundcore3d chip in slave mode and then drives the ADC/DAC combo.

The biggest question is. How does the soundcore drive the DAC? It uses DSD mode versus the legacy PCM the PCM1794A uses on Ti HD and ZX-R.

Also... again... 300bucks? Thats nothing... it is prolly ES9028PRO... if you don't steal it costs about 80€ itself. Maybe anyone can show me a cheap device using ES9028PRO? Pay up the taxes, BOM, labour cost?

 

[mat9v]

I wonder what are the DA converters in the Box or is the audio being sent from op-amps on the card through this propriety HDMI cable to the box?

 

[Scrizz]

I don't see the point in releasing this card over the SB ZX-R. Its basically the same setup with a different cover and the loss of 5.1 surround sound. Creative drops the daughter board for a external DAC. The removable op-amps are the exact same thing from the ZX-R.

My advice is to buy the Titanium or the ZX-R used on eBay and slap some Burson Audio op-amps. Makes a big difference that even an external DAC at the same price has a hard time beating. Also, buy a decent receiver and connect to a Kef Q100s or an Elac Debut 6.2 and be amazed by the sound. No Logitech Z speakers can match.

Yeah I love my Titanium HD.