Creative Sound BlasterX AE-7 Hi-res PCI-e DAC and Amp Sound Card

OVERVIEW

Featuring pristine audio fidelity alongside Sound Blaster's audio processing legacy, the AE-7 takes the audio game up a notch and will awe you with its audiophile-grade components with playback exceeding massively popular desktop amps and DACs.

DAC

Hi-res ESS SABRE-class 9018 with incredibly clean 127 dB DNR audio stream

THD + N

Up to -120 dB, 0.0001%

Playback Capability

Clear, pristine audio at 32-bit / 384 kHz PCM and DSD64 Playback

Headphone Amp

Ultra-low 1Ω headphone output impedance, supports 16Ω to studio-grade headphones of up to 600Ω, including high-end planar-magnetic headphones

Surround Sound and Encoding

5.1 discrete surround for speakers, 7.1 virtual surround for headphones, Dolby Digital Live, DTS Connect Encoding, and Sound Blaster Surround Virtualization

Convenience

Audio Control Module - perfect for quick access to volume control knob, 6.3 mm and 3.5 mm mic and headphones I/O connectors. Also fitted with a built-in mic array for hassle-free communications

Audio Enhancements

Full suite of audio enhancements including customizable EQs and Sound Profiles, Surround, Crystalizer, Bass, Smart Volume, and Dialog Plus that further boosts your audio. For gamers, Scout Mode is a feature not to be missed!

Customization

New and improved Sound Blaster Command software for further audio customization, with a quick on and off toggle switch to activate or deactivate audio processing effects.

Take Full Command of Your Audio Setup

All thanks to our users and community, the newly designed Sound Blaster Command software suite has been improved based on their feedback! It's now easier than ever to customize your audio quickly for your specific needs.

Do you prefer pure audio with no effects or processing while listening to music? Or do you prefer to push your audio immersion to the limits by putting the Sound Core3D enhanced audio effects to work while gaming? The ability to save and switch to multiple profiles with a simple click expands your options when it comes to changing between music, gaming, or movies.

Hardware Accelerated Audio

The addition of AE-7 to your PC rig basically means one thing — you're adding in a dedicated quad-core processor designed with one goal in mind — to deliver incredibly pristine and enhanced sound on your PC without overstressing your CPU. Sound Blaster handles audio processing on the card itself, freeing up your CPU to handle other tasks.

Incredible Processing

And that's not all! Having been in the audio processing game for 30 years, the Sound Blaster AE-7 comes with Sound Blaster's full suite of audio enhancements. You can enjoy Surround for an incredible immersion, Crystallizer that helps to improve the dynamic range of audio, or Bass that provides bigger punch on the low end. Meanwhile, CrystalVoice technology enhances voice for clear recordings and in-game communications.

Clean and Crisp Audio Clarity

Enhanced audio is only going to sound as good as the components delivering it, and with the AE-7, we're not pulling any punches. The AE-7 features an ESS SABRE-class 9018 DAC that delivers an incredibly clean 127 dB DNR audio stream at up to 32-bit / 384 kHz PCM and DSD64 Playback. If pristine is at the core of your demand, the AE-7 is going to blow past your expectations.

Theatrical-Grade Discreet and Virtual Surround

Whether you are outputting to headphones or speakers, the AE-7 is able to take stereo or multi-stream sources and transform them into immersive, theatrical audio. It supports discrete 5.1 on speakers, and up to 7.1 virtual surround on speakers and headphones. You can even switch effortlessly between headphones and your speakers for those times you want to pump the bass or go stealthier with your headphones.

There's also Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect Encoding for even more delivery options to your external audio devices.

Custom Xamp Discrete Headphone Bi-amplifier

Audiophile and theater-grade components deserve an audiophile-grade headphone amplifier. The AE-7 features our custom Xamp bi-amplified headphone amp in which each earcup gets its own power from the first stage of amplification all the way through delivery.

The end result in your ears is silky smooth audio regardless of how dynamic or demanding the current audio scene may be. For the pro-audio users, the Xamp Discrete Headphone Bi-amp satisfies even the most demanding needs of audiophiles seeking for music in its original form, and appreciate music the way it is intended to be.

It also features an ultra-low 1Ω headphone output impedance that can drive studio-grade headphones of up to 600Ω, including high-end planar-magnetic headphones.

Audio Control Module

Take easy control with the ACM that is incorporated with a built-in microphone array, 6.3 mm and 3.5 mm connectors for mic and headphones input and output connections. You can conveniently adjust the volume with the knob on the ACM - all within your fingertips.