(Apart from the HE-6, this X7 should supply more than enough current and voltage for your headphones, even my Stax + transformer sounds amazing though probably short of a Blue Hawaii design or something.)
Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
Evshrug
maniac2003
Thanks for your reply.
maniac2003
Unfortunately I missed the Linn Records "24-bits of Christmas".
Evshrug
Wow, first page post! First time for that, thanks guys!
& maniac2003, I get tracks from HD Tracks and Linn Records (and itunes), the important thing is finding songs you like of course. Underpowered amps have an anemic sound, bass is there but has weak impact, treble can sound brittle and fatiguing, mids sound blah... But the X7 is quite capable and doesn't have those weak attributes at all. I'm confident the numbers will back that up once they're found
& maniac2003, I get tracks from HD Tracks and Linn Records (and itunes), the important thing is finding songs you like of course. Underpowered amps have an anemic sound, bass is there but has weak impact, treble can sound brittle and fatiguing, mids sound blah... But the X7 is quite capable and doesn't have those weak attributes at all. I'm confident the numbers will back that up once they're found
Sedare38
What headphones with a mic would you recommend since the beamforming mic is not so great?
Right now I have a Roccat KAVE XTD 5.1 (there are actually multiple speakers in the cups), but the all-in-one set up is a bit of an issue with me (the headset cable is attached to the USB soundcard/controller so if one part fails it all fails). The X7 looks like it's up my alley. Also can it be used with Powered speakers or only passives? I have been eyeing the Audio Engine A5+ speakers, which are powered.
Thanks for the review!
Right now I have a Roccat KAVE XTD 5.1 (there are actually multiple speakers in the cups), but the all-in-one set up is a bit of an issue with me (the headset cable is attached to the USB soundcard/controller so if one part fails it all fails). The X7 looks like it's up my alley. Also can it be used with Powered speakers or only passives? I have been eyeing the Audio Engine A5+ speakers, which are powered.
Thanks for the review!
abvolt
Great review very cool looking also..
Radical
Sorry to say, it looks like my postbox.
Radical
How does a DAC provide better than CD sound. Does it change, subtract or add some bits from the original stream where it is required? How does it know that what its doing is better than original CD.
xtxxtxxtx
I was also thinking about the schiit stack before reading your review. I must say this looks more impressive considering the price.
Ceej
Hey guys I am a relative noob, I have Shure 940s, Denon AH-D600 and most recently Sennheiser HD650. I have been using a Xonar Xense card to drive them but especially the 650s are just lifeless with the Xonar. Volume is fine but they just don't sound "right" like something is missing. Do you guys think this X7 would solve my problem or should I maybe look at a schiit combo or something else? Maybe a tube? Any input?
ezvkm77
Creative Labs has been busy lately, I will keep a watch for their products! Thanks for the review.
maniac2003
My unit arrived today, ordered at Creative's EU shop. Sounds very good in combo with my Philips X1. Unfortunately my PC isn't fully detecting the X7 on USB. So hopefully the Tech boys/girls from Creative can help me out here.
PacoTaco
Radical,
It does and it doesn't. Some audio files DO play at better than cd quality, and the DAC take advantage of that. But if you're just playing a CD or FLAC burned from a CD on your computer, it cannot provide better quality than its source.
It does and it doesn't. Some audio files DO play at better than cd quality, and the DAC take advantage of that. But if you're just playing a CD or FLAC burned from a CD on your computer, it cannot provide better quality than its source.
Evshrug
Gotta catch up on a couple comment replies!
sedare38,
The Beamforming mic is fine during pc gaming, if convenience is your main goal. The directionality feature can work, so does smart volume and Echo reduction. Adequate for gaming chat. However, if mic recording quality is important to you, then I'd skip headsets altogether and get a desktop mic - I've had really good success with my Blue Microphone, FWIR Samson makes some decent models too.
I'd skip "true" surround headsets with multiple drivers per earcup, they inevitably interfere with eachother and just don't sound as good as regular headphones. The X7 will do the positional audio for you (and would be incompatible with the Roccat usb Soundcard anyway). I've really enjoyed AKG K612 and Q701 headphones with the X7, great for gaming and music, though I'll be testing more. You can choose passive OR active (powered) speakers with the X7, though if you want to use surround speakers you'll at least need active speakers for the rear and center speakers. AudioEngine is pretty cool.
abvolt,
Really appreciate the encouragement! FYI, the volume knob is silver, surrounded by gold, and it's not self-illuminated... In my pictures it's catching the light from a lamp I have in front of it.
ipdtt,
Amazon link is probably posted near the review. Kinda wish I had an affiliate link, lol!
Radical,
You've got a pretty cool post box. Though it won't fit much mail... The x7 probably won't fit under a monitor, but it's smaller than I expected... compare it to the size of my mouse in the pictures.
SQ is what you feed it, a cd music source (16/44.1Hz)will have as much quality as a cd, while an HD track of higher bit/sample rate will play at native quality, up to 24/196 Hz in direct mode.
xtxxtxxtx,
I liked my Bifrost Uber, it sounds really good and perhaps technically better than the X7, but for the same money (bit less actually) and all the extra features and still a great SQ performer, I like what the X7 offers more.
Ceej,
I haven't heard the HD650 myself... It may be the headphones' character or not the right match with your amp, I have read great reviews from others using the HD650 with an Ember tube amp... but if I was you, already owning the Asus Xense, I'd try messing with EQ or OpAmp rolling. If the Xense has an amp as good as the STX then power shouldn't be the problem, don't bother with an X7 for that reason, but if the Xense is a $50 soundcard then yeah, the X7 would be a fairly strong upgrade in DAC and Amp quality, plus the X7 is pretty awesome for an apartment/bedroom/gaming room setup.
ezvkm77,
They seem to be making a serious effort and transforming since the Z-series soundcards! I'll be reviewing some other stuff from them, hopefully highlighting their successes will encourage great future products too.
maniac2003,Good luck there! Share what fixes it so others will know.PacoTaco,Thanks!
sedare38,
The Beamforming mic is fine during pc gaming, if convenience is your main goal. The directionality feature can work, so does smart volume and Echo reduction. Adequate for gaming chat. However, if mic recording quality is important to you, then I'd skip headsets altogether and get a desktop mic - I've had really good success with my Blue Microphone, FWIR Samson makes some decent models too.
I'd skip "true" surround headsets with multiple drivers per earcup, they inevitably interfere with eachother and just don't sound as good as regular headphones. The X7 will do the positional audio for you (and would be incompatible with the Roccat usb Soundcard anyway). I've really enjoyed AKG K612 and Q701 headphones with the X7, great for gaming and music, though I'll be testing more. You can choose passive OR active (powered) speakers with the X7, though if you want to use surround speakers you'll at least need active speakers for the rear and center speakers. AudioEngine is pretty cool.
abvolt,
Really appreciate the encouragement! FYI, the volume knob is silver, surrounded by gold, and it's not self-illuminated... In my pictures it's catching the light from a lamp I have in front of it.
ipdtt,
Amazon link is probably posted near the review. Kinda wish I had an affiliate link, lol!
Radical,
You've got a pretty cool post box. Though it won't fit much mail... The x7 probably won't fit under a monitor, but it's smaller than I expected... compare it to the size of my mouse in the pictures.
SQ is what you feed it, a cd music source (16/44.1Hz)will have as much quality as a cd, while an HD track of higher bit/sample rate will play at native quality, up to 24/196 Hz in direct mode.
xtxxtxxtx,
I liked my Bifrost Uber, it sounds really good and perhaps technically better than the X7, but for the same money (bit less actually) and all the extra features and still a great SQ performer, I like what the X7 offers more.
Ceej,
I haven't heard the HD650 myself... It may be the headphones' character or not the right match with your amp, I have read great reviews from others using the HD650 with an Ember tube amp... but if I was you, already owning the Asus Xense, I'd try messing with EQ or OpAmp rolling. If the Xense has an amp as good as the STX then power shouldn't be the problem, don't bother with an X7 for that reason, but if the Xense is a $50 soundcard then yeah, the X7 would be a fairly strong upgrade in DAC and Amp quality, plus the X7 is pretty awesome for an apartment/bedroom/gaming room setup.
ezvkm77,
They seem to be making a serious effort and transforming since the Z-series soundcards! I'll be reviewing some other stuff from them, hopefully highlighting their successes will encourage great future products too.
maniac2003,Good luck there! Share what fixes it so others will know.PacoTaco,Thanks!
Evshrug
Another X7 review... With test chart data!
http://www.head-fi.org/t/756102/creative-sound-blaster-x7-detailed-review-impressions
http://www.head-fi.org/t/756102/creative-sound-blaster-x7-detailed-review-impressions
iRaphi
is it possible to connect one pc (tower) over spdif and use it mainly for gaming, while connecting another one over usb (a nuc as htpc) and switching between the sources when needed?
iRaphi
ok nevermind
I discovered that you can change the input, but only through the software
I discovered that you can change the input, but only through the software
SoAmusing777
How exactly would I connect this to my PS3? The main reason I'm interested in this is for it's virtual surround. That's about it. Right now I have a Harman Kardon AVR 254 with Dolby Headphone.
PacoTaco
Via the optical out of the PS3 to the optical in of the X7. Then, you'd set the ps3 to output dolby through optical, than set the X7's cinematic range to whatever you want it to be.
