Two DACs are better than one
The Creative Sound Blaster X5 looks more like a high-end DAC or headphone amp than a regular external sound card, and for good reason. The 216 x 170 x 72mm (8.5 x 6.7 x 2.8 inch) body houses two CS43198 DACs and a balanced 16-160 ohm headphone amplifier, allowing you to connect to almost any device. It can even send an unbalanced headphone signal if desired.
Connectivity includes just about anything you can think of, including RCA, optical, 3.5mm, 4.4mm, USB A+C, and even Bluetooth 5.0. Control using the Creative app, which has desktop and mobile versions. The software offers the usual output switching and audio profiles for games and applications, including what used to be SBX profiles. CrystalVoice offers filters and effects, and Smart Volume finally solves the mic level problem.
The $300 price tag isn’t an impulse buy, but given the features it offers, it’s not bad when compared to its competitors. Find out more about the Creative Sound Blaster X5 at TechPowerUp.
