Creative Sound Blaster X7 DAC/Amp Combo

Creative spared no expense in putting together the Sound Blaster X7 DAC/amp. With an impressive list of features, this desktop-ready device touts 24-bit 192kHz audio playback, a 100-watt loudspeaker amplifier, SB-Axx1™ multi-core DSP, a high-end headphone amplifier, and even an ADC (analog-to-digital converter) for recording audio into your computer. Connectivity includes Bluetooth (including aptX®), NFC, USB 2.0 for Android and iOS, TOSLINK (including Dolby Digital 5.1) and line level RCA inputs. Still not sure? Check out what this Head-Fi reviewer had to say.

Equipped with a Burr-Brown PCM1794 DAC chip, the X7 can handle the best in high-resolution audio, and can also act as a hub for multichannel 5.1 Dolby Digital playback. With Sound Blaster DSP at the helm, Creative included plenty of features for both audiophiles and gamers alike. Audio enhancements like SBX Pro Studio, CrystalVoice™, and Scout mode™ bring video game audio to life, giving players a sonic edge in online gaming. Audiophiles can take advantage of the bit-perfect Stereo Direct feature, which helps ensure accurate high-quality playback true to the original source.

With a built-in class-D power amplifier, the X7 can easily feed passive bookshelf or tower speakers directly without a separate amp that would take up extra real estate on your desk. When things need a more personal touch, the internal 600-ohm Texas Instruments headphone amplifier can drive audiophile-grade headphones with authority. The internal capacitors are superior-class Nichicon “Fine Gold,” and help deliver firm, rich bass and clear highs. This plug-and-play device is a versatile accessory for the almighty entertainment trio of gaming, movies, and music, all within a small footprint that fits perfectly alongside the rest of your desktop rig.

Because they require an amplifier to operate, the included Sound Blaster E-MU XM7 bookshelf speakers are a great match for the X7’s class-D amplifier. Offering two drivers per unit (a 5-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter), they’re a step up from general computer speakers, and deliver a crisp sound that works for a variety of music genres and applications. 

Improving upon the standard X7's impressive 2.2-ohm output impedance, the X7 Limited Edition gets it down to a downright amazing 1-ohm headphone amp out, so even the most sensitive in-ear monitors have that jet-black background without any hiss. With significantly more power and a high-power adapter (24V 6A) rounding out the impressive upgrades, the LE is more than just a pretty face-lift.

Armed with a Texas Instruments TPA3116D2 amp chip, the X7 Limited Edition easily handles the 300 and 600-ohm headphone behemoths other amps may struggle with. Equipped with a Burr-Brown PCM1794 DAC chip and the SB-Axx1 multi-core Digital Signal Processor (DSP), the X7 LE is a certified Dolby Digital 5.1 decoder and is capable of processing up to 32 audio streams simultaneously. Good thing, too, because this Sound Blaster connects to everything you throw at it.

The X7 LE features ¼ inch (6.3 mm) and ⅛ inch (3.5 mm) headphone outs, as well as a ⅛ inch (3.5 mm) mic-in. You've got RCA line in, optical in/out, and a host of speaker options including: a 4/8 ohm toggle, two passive speaker outs, RCA line out, and ⅛-inch rear and center/sub speaker outs. Throw in Bluetooth 4.1 with aptX and AAC codec support, and you've got a device compatible with computers, smartphones, tablets, and HDTVs.