The Sound Blaster AE-7 shows that Creative has been listening. Combat was much clearer, instead of being the usual mush of noise. But it was much easier to distinguish between music, movement, and using abilities. Music didn’t feel as if it got much uplift, and this is probably due to the compression and sampling used. On gaming, the results were similar to the AE-5. The Apple Earpods made spotting the differences much tougher, and I’d strongly recommend getting a good set of headphones or speakers (without USB!) if you’re considering the AE-7 for your rig. ![]() Being able to hear much more texture and detail is a hallmark of Creative’s sound cards, regardless of the music genre.Įven so, the difference is much more pronounced with good quality headphones or speakers. That feeling of presence continued into Fleetwood Mac’s Chains, and going off-playlist into the Eagles’ Journey of the Sorcerer and Max Cooper’s Emergence. Madeon’s Imperium was clean and clear despite the amount of stage presence in the track, and Yosi Horikawa’s Bubbles had incredible clarity and precision. Listening through the /r/headphones playlist, it was incredibly easy to hear the difference between on-board sound and the Sound Blaster AE-7. Dolby Digital Live and DTS playback was not tested due to setup limitations.Īudio output was tested using the following: For gaming, I played Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers and Destiny 2. Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3H (using Realtek’s ALC892 DAC at 24-bit/192 kHz)ĪSUS ROG STRIX z370-G (with the SupremeFX S1220A DAC, also at 24-bit/ 192 kHz).Īs before, I used the Reddit /r/headphones audiophile Spotify playlist with streaming quality set at maximum. The Sound Blaster AE-7 was compared against on-board audio from the following two motherboards: This is a huge boon to content creators that want to be able to proof their work before publishing it to an audience. It’s the same story when tuning the card for particular games, as many popular titles have equaliser and processing settings ready to go.Ĭreative has also thoughtfully included a simple Direct Mode switch that disables all EQ and post-processing, making it very easy to preview stream recordings and YouTube work without any audio effects being applied unintentionally. I found it very easy to set up the card for both my speaker and headphones setup, and a number of profiles are already included. The other area where Creative’s been listening is with the bundled software, and the new Sound Blaster Command is an absolute joy to use. Yes, it’s a bit of a fingerprint magnet, but it’s also incredibly welcome. The module also has its own microphone array if you’ve just got some cans, and a very smooth volume knob that’s separate from the Windows output level. Instead, Creative bundled an Audio Control Module with the AE-7 - a separate breakout box with 1/4” and 1/8” jacks for both microphone input and stereo headphones. It makes for a beautifully clean upgrade inside the case. There’s also no front panel audio connector, which may seem surprising until you realise that most cases use cheap cables and jacks that are prone to noise and interference. ![]() The RGB implementation and Molex power connector are gone, leaving a clean white LED-lit logo that silently screams class. Headphone Amp (600Ω): Custom-designed discrete headphone bi-amp (Xamp)Ĭonnectors: 1x TOSLINK Optical Out, 1x 3.5mm Mic/Line In, 1x 3.5mm Headphone/Headset Out, 3x 3.5mm Line Out (Front, Rear, Center/Sub)Īdditional Features: External Audio Control Module (plugs into card Mic In and Headset Out)Īs I unpacked and installed the Sound Blaster AE-7, it became clear that Creative has been listening carefully to community feedback. Max Playback Resolution: PCM: 32-bit/384kHz. But it’s the additional touches that Creative included in this anniversary card that make it almost perfect for me.Ĭhannels: 5.1 discrete speakers out, 7.1 virtual headphone surround You don’t need to be an acoustic snob to hear the difference, just a reasonable pair of headphones or speakers that can show what the card is capable of. Like the Sound BlasterX AE-5 that we reviewed in 2017, the AE-7 is a massive leap in audio quality from the built-in sound that’s integrated into most modern motherboards. By using high-end audiophile-grade components, this might be a great pick for gamers and budding content creators alike. Heading up the range is the flagship AE-9, but our focus today is the Sound Blaster AE-7 - a sleek upgrade card with performance that could rival external amp + DAC bundles. For this anniversary year, Creative has responded with two new product launches that are both rather special.
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