Well I got the Creative X7 - and here are my two week impressions after a solid burn in by listening to 320kbps internet radio, Tidal and assorted WAV, MP3 and FLAC files of varying quality.
The creative X7 provides exquisitely clear audio. It makes some of my older, 128Kbps MP3s sound like crap. I fiddled around with the SBX settings but I found that I preferred SBX to be turned off entirely - Thankfully Creative X7 has direct mode which allows audio to pass unmolested by the DSP.
The second tweak to audio I did [and highly recommend] was change the stock LME49710 op-amps to the well known OPA827. This made a distinct improvement over the somewhat austere and analytical LME49710 op-amps. The principal reason for this change was the fact I'm currently using a pair of Klipsch RP-160M passives* - which have a horn loaded screamers - the OPA827 has a mellow, dark sounding high end with excellent handling of mid to bass frequencies. With the Klipsch RP160M passives, the LME49710 was almost burn-your-ears-off strident with the Klipsch tweeters, even when I was listening off axis. I could have used EQ to counter this, but I would have had to use SBX processing to do it. So switching op-amps is in my mind, a better approach.
Connectivity of the X7 is fantastic. I connect my laptop to USB, my main PC is connected with Toslink [from my creative X-FI] and my Iphone and android phones connect through the host port - which also charges them. Brilliant. I have only used the bluetooth connectivity to use my android tablet to control the X7 remotely - The app works well, though I wish the X7 had a dedicated remote. I also wish there was an option to turn off the "device connected" voice when a bluetooth device connects and disconnects - a simple pop up indication on the connecting device would be more appropriate.
Weirdly, USB seems to have more bass than optical input.
I have an SVS SB-1000 Subwoofer on the way. Over the past week I have been in contact with SVS on the best way to set up the Creative X7 to work with one of their subs. The SVS support team have been extremely helpful with this, first rate service. I'll admit I'm tempted to get a pair of SVS Primes for my PC when i'm done with the Klipsch 160M's.
* I'm burning them in as they are going to be used as rear speakers in my photography studio which has Yamaha 5.1 receiver connected to a pair of Klipsch 280F speakers, with two SVS PB2000 subs. I'm well known among photographers in my city for having a killer sound system in my studio, though some photographers who work in the studio next to mine probably want to kill me when both of those 12" subs are playing full tilt.
