Creative Announces Sound Blaster X1 USB DAC

[Uskompuf]

Creative Technology today launched Sound Blaster X1, the ultimate USB DAC and headphone amplifier which offers the heralded Sound Blaster Acoustic Engine technology, together with the multiple award-winning Super X-Fi Headphone Holography first seen in the iconic SXFI AMP. As small as a finger, it serves up a huge treat of multi-channel, high-resolution and immersive audio, with authentic reproductions down to the last detail, powered by a high-end 128dB AKM4377 32-bit DAC and Ti/Burr-Brown INA1620 dual audio operational amplifier.

Sound Blaster X1 is best used with PC and Mac, and with the Creative desktop app, users gain access to the Sound Blaster Acoustic Engine, where they can tap on the full suite of sound processing technologies to enhance their experiences for both work and play.





Sound Blaster X1 is best used with PC and Mac, and with the Creative desktop app, users gain access to the Sound Blaster Acoustic Engine, where they can tap on the full suite of sound processing technologies to enhance their experiences for both work and play.

With Sound Blaster Surround Virtualization, users get to enjoy a phenomenal mesh of depth and range in audio immersion across movies, music and games. CrystalVoice technology caters for a host of smart adjustments during conference calls with features like SmartVolume and Acoustic Echo Cancellation; there is also SmartComms Kit which helps to reduce background noise effectively and auto-mute users when they are not speaking. There are professionally-tuned audio and game presets to further please gamers; Scout Mode detects subtle audio cues and makes them obvious to keep gamers one step ahead of their competitors all the time.

Users also get to enjoy Super X-Fi headphone holography, an acknowledged game changer which redefines headphone listening by recreating the soundstage of a premium multi-speaker system for an expansive experience. Furthermore, ear-mapping via the SXFI app tailors to users' ears and helps them immerse in all their audio, especially movies and games, in the most natural way.

Sound Blaster X1 is quite simply a compelling audio solution that is impossible to ignore for discerning users.

Pricing and Availability

Sound Blaster X1 is priced at 69.99 USD and is available at the Creative online store.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Dragokar]

I would like to read a review here.

 

[Yttersta]

Last time I carried a portable Creative product was with the Zen X-Fi, which I still own although it remains software bricked. It's a nice nostalgia to me as a result; I mean, it's been over 10 years and I spent my entire university life with this.

I would like a review as well to replace the duality of my Fiio BTR5 which continues to serve as both my USB and Bluetooth DAC.

 

[CoolZone]

Same product as SXFI AMP launched quite some time ago?

 

[TheLostSwede]

Same product as SXFI AMP launched quite some time ago?

Looks identical, but apparently the bits inside aren't the same.

 

[djisas]

Same product as SXFI AMP launched quite some time ago?

This sounds like a pc\mac exclusive, no word on mobile compatibility...
I thought about buying the SXFI for 49$, usb c dongles for android lack power for even a decent iem...

 

[kinjx11]

Poor iPhone users stuck without HiFi audio since 2007

 

[Chrispy_]

Kind of [OT] but does anyone know of a cheap USB DAC like the Sound Blaster X3 or X4 that has a big fat volume knob, and outputs line-out over RCA stereo?

A friend saw my DACMagic+ to Eris E8 setup and wants to do it on a budget. I'm suggesting Mackie CR5 or M-Audio BX5 D3's which leaves him a budget of about €50 for the DAC.

 

[Tartaros]

Kind of [OT] but does anyone know of a cheap USB DAC like the Sound Blaster X3 or X4 that has a big fat volume knob, and outputs line-out over RCA stereo?

A friend saw my DACMagic+ to Eris E8 setup and wants to do it on a budget. I'm suggesting Mackie CR5 or M-Audio BX5 D3's which leaves him a budget of about €50 for the DAC.

To use on phone or PC?

 

[Chrispy_]

To use on phone or PC?

Desktop PC, hence the studio monitors, though the Mackie CR5's are cheap enough that I'm not sure they even qualify as that. They're a known, semi-decent, self-amped speaker pair though.

 

[djisas]

Kind of [OT] but does anyone know of a cheap USB DAC like the Sound Blaster X3 or X4 that has a big fat volume knob, and outputs line-out over RCA stereo?

A friend saw my DACMagic+ to Eris E8 setup and wants to do it on a budget. I'm suggesting Mackie CR5 or M-Audio BX5 D3's which leaves him a budget of about €50 for the DAC.

Try the Schiit fulla, they got one for 100ish...
Or Hel for extra features and double price...

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

To quote Schiit themselves: "Fulla E is pretty much the answer to the question, “What’s the most affordable way I can get into great sound for gaming…or music…or even remote office work?” Because Fulla E is a great DAC/amp with top-shelf components—that also has a very nice microphone input, too."

 

[Chrispy_]

Try the Schiit fulla, they got one for 100ish...
Or Hel for extra features and double price...

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

To quote Schiit themselves: "Fulla E is pretty much the answer to the question, “What’s the most affordable way I can get into great sound for gaming…or music…or even remote office work?” Because Fulla E is a great DAC/amp with top-shelf components—that also has a very nice microphone input, too."

Thanks but that's more than double his budget and doesn't have RCA out.

There's a ton of stuff that meets the price and budget requirements from Foss, Behringer, M-Audio etc, but he wants a chunky, satisfying volume knob and the RCA is important to him because he has other stuff he wants to use it on. I guess you could just get adapter cables but that gets messy fast.

 

[djisas]

Thanks but that's more than double his budget and doesn't have RCA out.

There's a ton of stuff that meets the price and budget requirements from Foss, Behringer, M-Audio etc, but he wants a chunky, satisfying volume knob.

All I read was "chunky, satisfying volume knob"...
That's about all I know...

 

[Chrispy_]

All I read was "chunky, satisfying volume knob"...
That's about all I know...

FiiO E10K fits the bill but only if you call that "chunky", I'm not sure I would...

How bad could this be?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AIYIMA-Headphone-Amplifier-Digital-Converter/dp/B08CVG6YV4

 

[Tartaros]

How bad could this be?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AIYIMA-Headphone-Amplifier-Digital-Converter/dp/B08CVG6YV4

Seems fine, but reading comments I came across a person whose broke because the capacitors exploded after 1 day of use. Also seems to have problems with usb.

Looks like something expecting to be modded.

 

[djisas]

FiiO E10K fits the bill but only if you call that "chunky", I'm not sure I would...

How bad could this be?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AIYIMA-Headphone-Amplifier-Digital-Converter/dp/B08CVG6YV4

That's a low end chinese amp, hard to trust any random no name gadget...
I've seen reviews of things like this https://www.amazon.es/-/pt/dp/B07D5...59566684&sprefix=aplificador+a,aps,90&sr=8-59
Issues go from obvious bad sound, massive hiss to fake valves that serve no purpose other than looking cool...
There's a reason why valve amps are expensive...

There should be above average quality gear at a low budget from reasonable brands like creative, fiio, Schiit or iFi...

 

[Tartaros]

I still have my old Xfi HD somewhere, it did me a good service. The problem is the sound is so small compared to my actual sound card I don't have any use for it. But I have seen people modding it several times and apparently is very good for that.

I think we in this thread are at a point where we could start getting around modding cheap or old sound devices. Those 50 buck are tempting me to grab a book on electronics and sound and go for it.

 

[CityCultivator]

Looks identical, but apparently the bits inside aren't the same.

Model number between the SXFi AMP and X1 is the same; does not look that they changed the hardware, just added software.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Model number between the SXFi AMP and X1 is the same; does not look that they changed the hardware, just added software.

The DAC seems to have had a change in hardware based on what's on Creative's site, but I honestly don't know.

 

[CityCultivator]

The DAC seems to have had a change in hardware based on what's on Creative's site, but I honestly don't know.

The DAC is the same (AKM4377); the opamp was not described in SXFi AMP page and here it is described. My guess: same, as the model number is identical. I think the differentiating factor is the firmware between them both.