Millions of Aussie Orders!

Millions of Aussie Orders!

The Ultimate Destination for Gamers & Enthusiasts

1HR Click & Collect

1HR Click & Collect

Available Mon - Sat!

Google Review Score

Google Review Score

Same Day Dispatch

Same Day Dispatch

On 1000's of Products!

Multi-Award Winners

Multi-Award Winners

Best Retailer & Builder

Suggestion box

Which new products would you like to see at PCCG?

Creative Sound Blaster X5 DAC and Headphone Amp

90058235 | Creative
$389
ETA: 05/07/24 This item is expected to arrive into our warehouse around 05/07/24.
Buy now, pay later!
The Creative Sound Blaster X5 is a premium desktop audio accessory delivering exceptional high-resolution audio, featuring up to 32-bit/384 kHz PCM playback at 130 dB DNR, with dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs, support for ASIO 2.2 playback and recording, Bluetooth 5.0, 1 x USB-C port, 1 x USB-A Host, 1 x 3.5 mm Headphones/out, 1 x 3.5 mm Mic-in, 1 x 4.4 mm 5-pole Balanced Headphones, and is compatible with Windows PC, Mac, PS4 and PS5.



Features


Sound Blaster X5

Hi-res External Dual DAC USB Sound Card with Fully Balanced Xamp Headphone Bi-amplifier for Audiophiles

Overview

Audiophiles and pro-audio lovers: The Sound Blaster X5 is made for you.

Top-notch components. Industry-leading technologies. Exceptionally high-resolution audio.

In a nutshell, the external USB sound card fires up to 32-bit / 384 kHz PCM playback at 130 dB DNR, and features dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs, our custom-designed, fully balanced Xamp headphone bi-amplifier, and customisable DSP EQ functions.

On the Connectivity front, it comes with a USB-A Host port with USB audio that works with USB microphones and headsets, and even wireless Bluetooth® transmitters for wire-free audio. This is among a plethora of Connectivity options such as TOSLINK optical and RCA connectors, so you can connect the Sound Blaster X5 to various platforms, including PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, and even your sound systems, AV receivers, set-top boxes, and Blu-ray players.

If you are an audio enthusiast or have a discerning pair of ears, the Sound Blaster X5 is one of the best desktop audio accessories you'll ever need in your setup.

Audio

Sound Blaster X5 in numbers:

  • 2x Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs
  • 32-bit / 384 kHz PCM Playback
  • THD+N @ -115dB (~0.00018%)
  • 130 dB DNR
  • ASIO 2.2 Playback & Recording
  • DoP128, DSD256 Audio Formats

Creative Sound Blaster X5 Black Feature 1

Boosts Overall Product Performance

To enhance the Sound Blaster X5 for smoother operability, the dual microcontroller unit (MCU) design also serves to minimise inter-dependency between major components, reducing the risk of a single point of failure. This allows for improved efficiency with quicker response time between user interaction and device control, and boosts overall product performance.

Zero Compromises in Quality

Featuring not one, but two Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs on the Sound Blaster X5, be ready for exceptionally high-resolution lossless playback in 32-bit / 384 kHz over PCM with ultra-high dynamic range of up to 130 dB DNR. These DACs are also capable of decoding audio formats in DoP128 and DSD256 to deliver high-fidelity audio streaming and acoustic details you cannot miss.

Pure Audio, Pure Enjoyment

It also supports ASIO 2.2 playback and recording over USB and S/PDIF, so you can easily access multiple audio inputs and outputs at ultra-low latency, and enjoy audio in its purest form.

Audio Distortion? Non-existent

Plus, with an oversampled multi-bit modulator utilising mismatch shaping technology for incredibly low Total Harmonic Distortion rating of ~0.00018%, audio distortion is almost non-existent with the Sound Blaster X5.

Creative Sound Blaster X5 Black Feature 2

The Perfect Headphones Sidekick

Sure, you have the most coveted pair of headphones, but are you truly maximising its potential? The Sound Blaster X5 is engineered to bring out the best in any headphones, including yours.

Silky Smooth Sound

Have a go at silky smooth audio that satisfies even the most demanding desires of pro-audio users! Sound Blaster X5 is equipped with our custom-designed Xamp discrete headphone bi-amplifier technology that drives each earcup individually via 3 stages of amplification circuits.

Great with Studio-Grade Headphones

This external sound card works with a wide range of headphones, with the capability to drive studio-grade headphones of up to 600Ω, including the most demanding high-end, open-back planar-magnetic headphones, as well as sensitive IEMs, with an ultra-low 1Ω headphone output impedance.

Fully Balanced Headphones BI-Amplifier

How? Our Xamp technology works in tandem with the dual DAC ensemble to amplify the audio signals of the left and right earcups independently. This arrangement eliminates noise caused by in-circuit interference and keeps crosstalk to a minimum. The fully balanced audio can then be delivered through a 4.4 mm gold-plated headphones output connector for an accurate reproduction of the original audio content in its purest and authentic form, ensuring nothing but fidelity to satisfy your inner audiophile's desires.

Supports Virtual Surround

It also supports virtual surround on your headphones, deploying HRTF (head-related transfer function) algorithms onto audio streams for immersive, theatre-like audio envelopment with realistic spatial audio positioning, to whichever content you choose to indulge in.

Creative Sound Blaster X5 Black Feature 3

Connectivity

Creative Sound Blaster X5 Black Feature 4

Now wire-free, and more

Go wireless with Sound Blaster X5? Not a problem. The USB DAC sports a Bluetooth receiver so you can stream high-quality audio from your mobile devices, Windows PC, or Mac to Sound Blaster X5 directly.

At the back of the Sound Blaster X5, there is a dedicated USB-A host audio port, for you to connect to a wireless audio transmitter such as the Creative BT-W4 or Creative BT-W3 - so you can play high-definition audio such as aptX Adaptive (BT-W4), aptX HD(BT-W3) wirelessly to your Bluetooth headset(Bluetooth receiver must support corresponding aptX codec). This USB-A host audio port(USB Host Audio port support maximum 5V 100mA USB Audio Class Device on PC, Mac and Console only) also works with external USB speakers, microphones, and headsets for extra flexibility.

And there's more! Choose from a plethora of RCA and TOSLINK Optical connectors, a gold-plated 3.5 mm Microphone-in port with an easy-to-access mic gain knob, as well as a convenient USB-C audio port that also powers the Sound Blaster X5 via a single cable for fuss-free audio enjoyment. For versatility, the Sound Blaster X5 also features a ubiquitous gold-plated 3.5 mm headphones port for easy Connectivity to your commonplace unbalanced headphones and a gold-plated 4.4mm port for your prized balanced headphones.

Creative Sound Blaster X5 Black Feature 5

Front

Creative Sound Blaster X5 Black Feature 6

Back

Creative Sound Blaster X5 Black Feature 7

Controls

It's all Right there

The Sound Blaster X5 features an entire get-up of front-mounted buttons and switches that are easy-to-access and intuitive for everyone.

1. Power

Press x1 to power the device ON / OFF

2. Microphone Mute

Press x1 to mute/unmute microphone

3. Bluetooth

  • Enter Bluetooth pairing mode: Press and hold 2s
  • To reset Bluetooth pairing: Press and hold 5s

4. Microphone Gain Knob

  • Rotate left to decrease Mic Input Gain
  • Rotate right to increase Mic Input Gain

5. Display Button

Press x1 to cycle through different display status

6. Headphone Gain Switch

  • Flip the switch upwards for high impedance headphones (>150 ohms)
  • Flip the switch downwards for low impedance headphones (<150 ohms="" li="">

7. Headphone / Speaker Switch

Press x1 to toggle between Headphones / Speakers output

8. Direct / DSP Switch

Press x1 to toggle between DSP Mode and Direct Mode

9. EQ

Press x1 to cycle through three saved EQ presets

10. PC / Console Switch

  • Flip the switch upwards for PC / Mac
  • Flip the switch downwards PS5, and PS4

11. Volume Knob

  • Rotate left to decrease playback volume
  • Rotate right to increase playback volume

Customisation

Make it Truly Yours

You are in full control to take your audio further. Make adjustment to the 10-band EQ frequency graph, select from a list of Acoustic Engine's pre-tuned audio profiles, or switch them off completely for clean, pure, unadulterated sound. Our Creative app offers you full customisability over what you wish to hear, or not.

Specifications


General Data

Model Number 90058235
Headphone Output Power (Unbalanced) 0.98 Vrms (60 mW) @ 16Ω, 1.47 Vrms (65 mW) @ 33Ω, 4.11 Vrms (112 mW) @ 150Ω, 4.14 Vrms (52 mW) @ 330Ω, 4.15 Vrms (29 mW) @ 600Ω
Audio Technology Sound Blaster Acoustic Engine
Supported Operating Systems macOS X v10.5 and above, Windows® 10 Ver 1703, Windows® 11
Headphone Output Power (Balanced) 1.18 Vrms (86 mW) @ 16Ω, 1.90 Vrms (109 mW) @ 33Ω, 5.86 Vrms (313 mW) @ 150Ω, 8.25 Vrms (206 mW) @ 330Ω, 8.28 Vrms (114 mW) @ 600Ω
Connectivity Options (Main) 1 x TOSLINK Optical In, 1 x TOSLINK Optical Out, 1 x RCA Line-in, 1 x RCA Line-out, 1 x 3.5 mm Headphones-out (Unbalanced), 1 x 4.4 mm Headphones-out (Balanced), 1 x 3.5 mm Mic-in, 1 x USB-C port of PC/Mac/PS4/PS5, 1 x USB-A Host Audio-out port
DAC 2 x Cirrus Logic CS43198 high-resolution DAC, PCM 32-bit / 384 kHz playback, DoP 64, 128 support, DSD 64, 128, 256 support, THD: -115 dB, DNR: 130 dB
Remote Control (BLE) Android devices, iOS devices
Headphone Amp 16–600Ω
ADC DNR: 114 dB, THD+N: -105 dB
Max Channel Output Stereo
Power USB-C
Dynamic Range (DNR) 130 dB
Audio Technologies CrystalVoice
Recommended Usage Gaming
Warranty 1-year Limited Hardware Warranty
Package Contents 1 x Sound Blaster X5
1 x USB-C to USB-A Cable (1.5m / 4.9 ft)
1 x Optical Cable (1.5m / 4.9 ft)
1 x 3.5 mm to RCA Stereo Cable (2m / 6.6 ft)
1 x Quick Start Guide
1 x Warranty and Compliance Leaflet

System Requirements

Windows Intel® Core™ i3 or AMD® equivalent processor
Microsoft® Windows 11, 10 32 / 64-bit Ver 1703 or later
> 4 GB RAM
> 4 GB of free hard disk space
Available USB 2.0 / 3.0 port
Macintosh Macintosh running macOS 10.15 or later
> 4 GB RAM
> 4 GB of free hard disk space
Available USB 2.0 / 3.0 port
PS4 Firmware Ver 5.0 or later
Available USB port
PS5 Firmware Ver 20.02-2.26.00.00-00.00.00.0.1 or later
Available USB port
Software Remote Control Android OS Ver 8.0 or later
iOS Ver 12.0 or later
Built-in Bluetooth Low Energy support
Backed by a 1 year Creative warranty.

Customer reviews

Customer questions