Introduction

Creative recently introduced one of the most interesting USB sound cards in the company's history, the $120 Sound Blaster X3. Creative refers to it as a "Hi-Res 7.1 external USB DAC and amp sound card with Super X-Fi for PC and Mac". This short description doesn't really do the Sound Blaster X3 justice. It's a feature-packed external sound card equipped with a couple of interesting technologies and an intuitive controlling scheme, which lets us tap into most of its features by using the on-board controls. Many of its capabilities can be accessed through a mobile app as well, which comes as great news to anyone who is after an external sound card for their PlayStation 4 or Nintendo Switch since they'll still be able to make use of most of what the sound card offers. That isn't the case with sound cards that depend solely on a Windows/MacOS driver.



The Creative Sound Blaster X3 can be combined with headphones, gaming headsets or active speakers—2.0, 2.1, 5.1, and 7.1 speaker configurations are supported. Thanks to the built-in TOSLINK connector, it can also be connected to any newer external AV receiver, stereo amplifier, or a pair of higher quality active speakers. That gives the Sound Blaster X3 a lot of potential uses, although the proximity to a PC is obviously its natural habitat. In this review we'll examine the design, extensive features, and input/output quality of this interesting sound card. Read on to find out what you're getting for your money!

Specifications

The Package

The Creative Sound Blaster X3 comes in a very simple cardboard box. The sound card is depicted on the front and top, while other sides are densely populated in various logos, technical specifications, and written descriptions of its features. The packaging doesn't really stand out in any way, but hey, it's what's inside that matters!


Inside the box you'll find the sound card, a two-meter-long, rubberized USB-C cable you'll need to connect it to your PC/PS4/Switch, the quick start guide, and a bunch of warranty and promotional leaflets. There's no external power supply as it's not needed—the power is delivered via USB.