30 second exam
The Creative Sound Blaster AE-9 is no slouch when it comes to audio performance, but its hefty price tag makes it hard to recommend right off the bat. If you've got a higher-end pair of headphones, the Sound Blaster AE-9 is an essential upgrade, especially if you want something with an XLR mic input and a focus on everything-and-kitchen-sink functionality. if you only have a pair of "gaming" headphones, the AE-9 won't be an obvious step up. For console gamers - just close this review and move on, there's nothing to see here. Whether or not you buy the Sound Blaster AE-9 depends entirely on your setup, but regardless, it's clear that Creative's premium sound card is phenomenal hardware that delivers incredibly impressive sound.
Design, specifications and features
The Sound Blaster AE-9 is a PCI-e sound card, which means that you will not only need to make sure that you have enough space on your PC's motherboard to install it, but also make sure that your power supply has enough power and the necessary power. cables (6 pins) to work properly. Considering the size and power consumption of GPUs these days, installing the AE-9 correctly may be more difficult than you think.
(Image credit: Avenir) This is the AE-9's biggest drawback (besides the exorbitant price). “Install” a dedicated sound card in 2021 seems like a stretch, especially when similarly well-equipped external solutions (some from Creative) are available. An internal sound card also means they're not portable and they're not cross-platform either, so losing $350 on hardware that won't work with your TV, mobile devices or consoles could be a deal breaker for many. You will really need to make a comprehensive list of why AE-9 is really worth it for you and why its particular set of features appeals to you over other solutions.
(Image credit: Avenir) Other than that, Creative has gone to great lengths to bring as many top-notch features and hardware as possible to the AE-9, which almost justifies the cost. Let's go over its exhaustive list of specifications:
- ESS Saber 9038 Audiophile Grade DAC
- 129 dB DNR, with 32-bit 384 kHz playback (in direct mode)
- CleanLine technology to provide interference-free communication for the microphone input
- Xamp headphone bi-amp provides separate left and right channel amplification for clean audio production
- Supports up to 600 ohms for high power headphones
- Interchangeable op amps if you want to further customize your sound
- Nichicon Fine Gold Capacitors
- Support for 5.1 surround sound via DTS and Dolby, as well as a 7.1 virtual surround sound solution
- Sound Blaster Engine for audio processing
- Scout mode to improve game sounds like footsteps (we'll talk about that later)
In short, the AE-9 is capable of powering high-end headphones and audiophile home theater setups, while delivering clean, fast, and efficient audio processing without any interference from your motherboard and/or GPU. The sound card itself is sleek and covered in a premium silver finish with LED support so it doesn't look out of place if your PC is completely flooded with RGB lighting. Houses the following ports: Front Left, Front Right, Rear, Center/Subwoofer, Optical Out, Optical In, Op-Amp Pair 1 (Single DIP), Op-Amp Pair 2 (Dual DIP)
(Image credit: Avenir) It also has a mini HDMI link that connects to the eternal Audio Control Module (ACM), a desktop box that provides an additional set of convenient features and ports. This little box has the following ports: XLR mic input with +48v phantom power switch, 3,5mm mic input and headphone jack, 6,3mm headphone jack, left/right AUX input (in back), headphone impedance selector switch, volume/mute button that functions as an input selector between headphones and speakers, LED display, and SBX button to activate Creative software functions. The ACM is no bigger than a small pie box and has the same silver finish as the sound card. It's a beautiful device that should blend in with any setup without looking out of place. The only problem with this is the inclusion of the SBX button, which simply activates the profile you've selected in the Sound Blaster Command app. If you want to change the profile or change your sound settings, you have to launch the app, which makes it pretty useless if you want to switch profiles frequently to suit your entertainment needs. Instead, we want Creative to include a button to easily switch between inputs, or to allow us to toggle between the different EQ settings which, to us at least, seem much more useful.
Creative Sound Blaster control software
The included Sound Blaster Command app is essential if you want to get the most out of the AE-9. It houses most of your gaming features and other audio settings allowing you to customize it to your liking. The biggest component of the app is the SBX suite, which offers multiple profiles such as Gaming, Cinema, Concert, Night, Action Adventure, RPG, RTS, etc., as well as game-specific profiles like Apex Legends, DOTA 2. , CSGO, Arena of Valor, Battlefield 1, COD: Infinite Warfare, Fortnite, League of Legends, Overwatch, PUBG, Rocket League, and even MGS 5, Project Cars, and The Witcher 3.
(Image credit: Avenir) Each of these profiles associates different values (from 0 to 100) with the SBX's acoustic engine, which is divided into 5 different audio parameters: Surround, a virtual surround sound solution; Crystalizer, which enhances certain frequencies for greater clarity; Bass, which expands the low frequencies; Smart Volume, which normalizes the general volume; and Dialog+, which enhances speech for low-rated audio files. If you've used a Creative sound card before, you already know how the Acoustic Engine works. We've never been a fan of them because they distort the sound in weird ways that never feel natural or enjoyable, just like their presence here. With the likely exception of using the Surround feature, which slightly expands the soundstage without adjusting the sound, we generally leave everything else off. They're not very useful for everyday audio listening, but feel free to explore to see if you can improve your audio in any way.
(Image credit: Avenir) Elsewhere in the Sound Blaster Command app, you also have the Equalizer tab with a number of presets similar to those available for SBX. If nothing appeals to you, you can create a custom EQ preset by manually adjusting the frequencies or simply drawing the curve you're looking for. The equalizer preset can also be selected separately for headphones and speakers. The Playback tab allows you to switch between headphones and speakers, as well as enable direct mode which disables all sound card processing and enables 32-bit 384kHz audio.
(Image credit: Avenir) The Recording tab offers several options for adjusting the output quality of your microphone. In addition to adjusting the volume and boosting the microphone, you also get noise reduction, echo cancellation, smart volume, and various EQ presets that are primarily designed to reduce harshness and improve sound quality. Going back to the good old days of the 90s, it also has the voice morph feature that changes your voice to sound like an old person, a woman, a child, a thug or a devil. Here's a sample mic recording demonstrating all of these features below with the Razer Barracuda X headset: When it comes to Scout Mode, this feature is designed to help you hear footsteps and "weapon handling" such as reloading. in games, essentially resulting in enhanced treble frequencies. Bien qu'il amplifie un peu les aigus, nous n'avons remarqué any imaginable difference avec son activation dans Apex Legends ou Battlefield 5. environment. So Creative's claim that this gives it an "unfair advantage" is more hyperbole than anything else. Enabling Scout mode also disables the SBX entirely, which may not be a valid compromise depending on your preferences. The Encoder tab is for configuring your speakers, allowing you to output DTS and Dolby Audio sound if you have connected them to your sound card as indicated. Finally, the Mixer tab allows you to adjust the volume of the different ports of the sound card, such as microphone, AUX, S / PDIF, etc.
We tested the AE-9 on four headphones: the Sennheiser HD598, the Razer Barracuda X, the Steelseries Arctis Prime, and the HyperX Orbit S (which is exactly like the Audeze Mobius). The Sennheiser HD598 are mid-range audiophile headphones that we've been using for almost half a decade, so we know exactly what it sounds like from a variety of different sources (onboard sound cards, DACs, TV headphone jacks, console controllers). , etc. .). So we can say with certainty that with the AE-9 the Sennheisers have never sounded so good. It enhances the headphones' already impressive soundstage, expanding the range and depth of audio that's also packed with detail and clarity. We honestly didn't expect them to sound any better, especially since they're only 32 ohms so a DAC/amp shouldn't benefit in any way, but the combination worked and gave us a whole new appreciation for the incredible sound of the HD598. when powered with high quality components.
(Image credit: Avenir) However, the AE-9 changed the sound signature of the headphones, and it prevailed in all the headphones I tested. The HD598 inherits Sennheiser's penchant for warm-sounding characteristics, but with the AE-9 plugged in, we received a much louder, heavier sound in the mids and highs than we were used to. It's not one bad sound signature, but another, and we appreciate it all the more because it can effectively add more bass to the sound that the HD598 lacks. We have also given various equalizers a...