Creative Labs Sound Blaster AE-9

The Sound Blaster AE-9 is built with high-quality components to deliver pristine, detailed audio quality for demanding audiophiles. The core of the Sound Blaster AE-9 is the flagship audiophile-grade hi-res ESS SABRE-class 9038 DAC. It delivers a high DNR of 129 dB, 32-bit / 384 kHz playback over PCM, DSD64, and a low Total Harmonic Distortion of -120 dB (0.0001%).

CleanLine Technology is set to overthrow the need of an external desktop mixer that takes up your desktop's valuable real estate. It is designed to filter and isolate noise along the mic path so you can enjoy crystal clear voice communications, even while your GPU is pushing its limits.

High-performance GPUs pack heavy workloads onto their boards, causing power supply ripple noise that manifests into audible noise and distortion when the microphone signal is amplified. The AE-9's CleanLine technology features specially-designed circuitry and components that help eliminate voltage rail issues and isolate noise along the microphone path that typically plagues internal audio cards. In addition, it utilizes a differential drive for the mic signal to help reduce the common mode noise that may be induced by other electronic sources.

The Sound Blaster AE-9 is designed to bring out the best in your headphones. It has a fully discrete Xamp Headphone Bi-Amplifier that amplifies each audio channel individually, delivering high-quality audio in an unaltered lossless mode to each earcup. The Sound Blaster AE-9 works with all kinds of headphones, driving audiophile-grade headphones up to 600 Ohms, all the way to sensitive in-ear monitors with its low 1 Ohm headphone output impedance.

The Xamp Discrete Headphone Amplifier uses a dual-amp design to amplify each audio channel individually for uncompromised audio. It utilizes a push-pull output stage design to achieve good amplification. Each audio channel (left and right) goes through three stages of separate amplification circuits:

Voltage Amplification Stage
The differential signal from the DAC is fed into a Low Pass Filter made up of WIMA film/foil capacitors, followed by a single-ended amplifier to condition the signal for 2nd stage processing.

Pre-Amp Stage
The input signal is further amplified to achieve an increase in current and power gain to drive the final output stage.

Output Stage
This stage gives further improvement to the power gain and transfers this power to the headphone with minimum loss. The push-pull design, consisting of transistors, is employed to achieve better efficiency, higher power output, and cancellation of even-order harmonics at the final output stage.

The Sound Blaster AE-9 has swappable op-amps, so you can further define your music's tonal characteristics.

The Sound Blaster AE-9 utilizes Nichicon "Fine Gold" capacitors that use etching techniques and offer a rich sound in the bass register.

Immerse yourself in audio! The Sound Blaster AE-9 supports 5.1 discrete surround channels and up to 7.1 virtual surround channels. The sound card also comes with Sound Blaster's Surround virtualization technology that can be fully customized, or switched off completely.

The Sound Blaster AE-9 comes with Sound Blaster's full suite of audio enhancements, including Surround for an incredible immersion, Crystallizer that helps improve the dynamic range of audio, or Bass that provides bigger punch on the low end. Meanwhile, CrystalVoice Technology enhances voice for clear recordings and in-game communications. All enhancements are fully customizable from the Sound Blaster Command software suite within Windows.

On top of Sound Blaster's own processing capabilities, the Sound Blaster AE-9 also supports Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect Encoding.

Ready for an unfair advantage? The Sound Blaster AE-9 comes with Scout Mode, a technology that enhances important in-game audio cues such as footsteps and weapon switching sounds. This means you can pinpoint your opponent's location and predict their moves before they even know where you are.

Many of the Sound Blaster AE-9's powerful features, such as the Xamp, are contained within the Audio Control Module that sits on your desk. Designed to work well with phantom-powered condenser microphones, the AE-9 is great for serious content creators and streamers.

The Audio Control Module lets you quickly control your audio settings. The large multifunction control knob lets you control your volume and switch between headphones and speakers. Users of different headphones will enjoy the convenient knob that allows them to switch between normal headphones, high gain headphones, or in-ear monitors. The SBX button lets users turn on and off Sound Blaster processing, which the large LED display allows for easy reading of headphone or speaker volume.