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Creative Sound Blaster E5 USB DAC/Amp Combo
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Creative Sound Blaster E5 USB DAC/Amp Combo
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Product Description
The Sound Blaster E5 comes from Creative Labs, a Singapore company that’s been on the leading edge of digital audio since 1981. Dubbed by TechHive “a Jack of all trades, with nary a significant compromise,” it bundles a 24-bit/192kHz high-resolution USB DAC, best-in-class headphone amplifier, USB device, and more into a portable, battery-powered package that can fit in the palm of your hand Read More
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keyboard_arrow_downPheckphul
0
Feb 5, 2023
For those of you looking for a replacement battery, I found this on AliExpress:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256801736969682.html
I haven't ordered one yet, but plan to.
Cheers!
adi518
296
Oct 10, 2020
For anyone still stuck with an E5 brick, I suggest to drop the battery completely and turn it into a true desktop DAC/AMP unit, see this: https://github.com/Jamesits/sound-blaster-e5-battery/blob/master/FAKE_BATTERY.md
The result, which now feeds my Topping DAC via Bluetooth 4/NFC:
(Edited)
NEX0N
15
Jun 23, 2020
they sent me a replacement due to swelled battery
after 2 years it start swelling AGAIN
adi518
296
Oct 10, 2020
NEX0NLol, yes that is expected. I guess their firmware upgrades (there were supposed to fix this) didn't work either. Creative totally blew this one. Not only the battery management is bad, the PCB design is flawed, because you can't use it without a battery, and I think they still have it in production. I also saw refurbished units on their website for the third price of retail, probably the result of swollen batteries as well. Did Creative replace it for you or Drop? back then, I got a refund from Drop for this mishap, which was the much preferred way IMO. However, I still wanted to use my E5 brick, so some good folks posted their solutions on GitHub: https://github.com/Jamesits/sound-blaster-e5-battery. You'll find that it's rather easy to make it work without their battery, a very rather simple set of solders and you are done, without any modifications to the body of the unit. It'll also still be useable as a mobile unit, just grab a powerbank and bind it with the rubber bands from Creative (included in the box).
(Edited)
adi518
296
Apr 3, 2020
For those with a dead battery, a seller on Aliexpress listed a replacement inventory of 200 units. Get one before it's gone again. Also see this GitHub repo: https://github.com/Jamesits/sound-blaster-e5-battery
(Edited)
lI_Simo_Hayha_Il
1
Jun 23, 2019
Great product, as long as the battery lasts. Creative offered me a replacement for $80, and I have to pay +$40 labor to solder it on the board, because they didn't think to use a clip.
TMBackstrom
160
Mar 28, 2019
Just got one of these direct from Creative for $60 off, $139.99 total. They're having a 30% off storewide sale, code to use at checkout is SPRING30.
EDIT: Received the unit a couple days ago, and at first I wasn't really impressed with it. That's because I was using it like a normal DAC/amp wired by OTG to my Android phone. Once I connected it by Bluetooth, it 'woke' up! This thing is great! Drives my Hifiman HE-4XX headphones fantastically! Highly recommend it if you have a newer phone with BT 4.x to drive it.
(Edited)
noouman
3
Nov 12, 2018
Hi folks, anyone run into swollen battery issue? What should I do with it? How to deal with it long-term? I am willing to sacrifice mobility if it is possible to remove the battery altogether to avoid running into same issue a year later. Swollen battery is slowly disintegrating entire device, turned it off and stopped using it as soon as I noticed the issue.
makiroll
0
Dec 26, 2018
Same problem. Mine wasn't used for a while. Found the battery so swollen the engraved plate branding was popping off. I've learned this is a common issue and unfortunately the battery is not designed to be easily replaced, nor is the battery easy to find. pictured here: http://kcsr.org/kafir/e5/e5-td-2.jpg Also the E5 will not boot if the battery is not present, it gets stuck in a loop.
Not shown is as third yellow wire that's not found on most lipo batteries. I've found a 1600 mAH version that I'm considering trying. Weighing between spending $20-30 to try that option or just writing this off as a loss. I won't be recommending the Creative E5 to anyone anymore.
noouman
3
Nov 20, 2018
Having it plugged in 24/7 is what causes it's battery to swell and make it a fire hazard
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