Creative X7 dying need a sound-card replacement

Sickb0y

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Hi guys it looks like my 5-year-old Creative X7 is about to kick the bucket as I'm having problems, where the soundcard is on (lights are on) on Windows 10, but zero sound is coming out. I already try to multiple USB cables, swapping out the USB ports and nothing seems to fix it. tried my Surface Pro 6 and the same issue happens :cry:

So here I am asking if I should buy another use X7 off fleabay or get something else, I do not watch movies at all on my pc, I mostly use it for music (Google music, youtube premium, Spotify) and light gaming. I have a pair of Audioengine A2+ Speakers + Bic Acoustech PL-200 II sub hook up to it at the moment.
With that said, anybody got any recommendations? I was looking at the creative labs AE-5 as a replacement or go with an external DAC+headphone amp that would allow me to hook up my 2.1 speakers and sub. As for budget anywhere between 170.00 to 500.00 will be my limit I also have very limited space so a receiver is out of the question :(
 
Hi guys it looks like my 5-year-old Creative X7 is about to kick the bucket as I'm having problems, where the soundcard is on (lights are on) on Windows 10, but zero sound is coming out. I already try to multiple USB cables, swapping out the USB ports and nothing seems to fix it. tried my Surface Pro 6 and the same issue happens :cry:

So here I am asking if I should buy another use X7 off fleabay or get something else, I do not watch movies at all on my pc, I mostly use it for music (Google music, youtube premium, Spotify) and light gaming. I have a pair of Audioengine A2+ Speakers + Bic Acoustech PL-200 II sub hook up to it at the moment.
With that said, anybody got any recommendations? I was looking at the creative labs AE-5 as a replacement or go with an external DAC+headphone amp that would allow me to hook up my 2.1 speakers and sub. As for budget anywhere between 170.00 to 500.00 will be my limit I also have very limited space so a receiver is out of the question :(

Wouldn't really go with the AE-5 as that is more of a sidegrade/downgrade (if you're fond of the X7's I/O versatility). The AE-9 "might" be somewhat of an upgrade, but personally I wouldn't go in that direction (I briefly considered it [when it was time for me to move on from my X7 LE], then passed in favor of the SMSL M500).

I second IdiotInCharge's suggestion to contact Creative & see if they can help you with it (see if it's still under warranty, etc).
 
Have a look at https://www.schiit.com/
With your budget you could go for a few different combo or single units.
I have a saga+ preamp with a bifrost 2 dac and I love my schiit!
 
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Thanks guys I took your advice and email creative I doubt nothing will come of it as my X7 is 5 years old (warranty only covers 1 year) and I bought the X7 back in 2015 or so when it launch. :( :cry:

anyways right now it's down to these options

eVGA Nu
Creative AE-9 with the external unit (about 370.00 with taxes via B&H)
Schiit combo ( Asgard 3 amp + modius DAC)
 
Thanks guys I took your advice and email creative I doubt nothing will come of it as my X7 is 5 years old (warranty only covers 1 year) and I bought the X7 back in 2015 or so when it launch. :( :cry:

anyways right now it's down to these options

eVGA Nu

Isn't the EVGA unit internal?
 
Isn't the EVGA unit internal?

yes it is, I'm not picky if its internal or external but rather have it external since I can hook it up to my Linux box when the weather is out of control in Los Angeles and I rather not have my furnace (my main rig) on lol :LOL:
 
yes it is, I'm not picky if its internal or external but rather have it external since I can hook it up to my Linux box when the weather is out of control in Los Angeles and I rather not have my furnace (my main rig) on lol :LOL:
I grew up in LA in an old house built in 1914 with no AC. I feel you.
 
Thanks guys I took your advice and email creative I doubt nothing will come of it as my X7 is 5 years old (warranty only covers 1 year) and I bought the X7 back in 2015 or so when it launch. :( :cry:

anyways right now it's down to these options

eVGA Nu
Creative AE-9 with the external unit (about 370.00 with taxes via B&H)
Schiit combo ( Asgard 3 amp + modius DAC)

Of those three options, I'd go w/the Asgard 3 + Modius combo.
Another (money-saving) option to consider from Schiit is their "gamer-focused" Hel (if you need a good mic input) -- I've heard a number of good things about it (haven't seriously read into the Hel yet, though).
 
I have a pair of Audioengine A2+ Speakers + Bic Acoustech PL-200 II sub hook up to it at the moment.
I have a different option to consider, actually US$50 cheaper than your price floor and with more functionality than a sound card:

Audient's EVO4.

Something I wound up with while looking through audio interfaces for a separate capability, but really the device is essentially a sound card with significantly higher-end connectivity. Even has digital volume control internally so no scratchiness to build up in an analog volume pot, and that digital volume control is linked to the OS volume control, meaning that volume buttons on a keyboard or wherever else work. This last part is something that I actually didn't think I'd like, I was more interested in MOTU's M2, as everyone else seems to be since it's been perpetually selling out.

But for desktop use? Damn convenient.

Small footprint, can do balanced (and unbalanced) stereo output for speakers, has real, nice mic preamps if you ever want a real mic, and has a headphone amp that can drive anything remotely marketed for 'gaming', including say the HD6XX and 250Ohm Beyers.

It's an audio interface that I found while looking for something that audiophilia seems to have completely overlooked: a powered, balanced preamp. Not sure why that's so hard, but any option I found was simply more expensive than an audio interface with balanced outputs.

The EVO4 does as well as your average sound card on the spec sheet, costs about the same, but comes without many of the annoyances with using an audio interface while bringing all of the benefits.
 
Thanks guys I took your advice and email creative I doubt nothing will come of it as my X7 is 5 years old (warranty only covers 1 year) and I bought the X7 back in 2015 or so when it launch. :( :cry:

anyways right now it's down to these options

eVGA Nu
Creative AE-9 with the external unit (about 370.00 with taxes via B&H)
Schiit combo ( Asgard 3 amp + modius DAC)
Of those three options, I'd go w/the Asgard 3 + Modius combo.
Another (money-saving) option to consider from Schiit is their "gamer-focused" Hel (if you need a good mic input) -- I've heard a number of good things about it (haven't seriously read into the Hel yet, though).
I have a different option to consider, actually US$50 cheaper than your price floor and with more functionality than a sound card:

Audient's EVO4.

Something I wound up with while looking through audio interfaces for a separate capability, but really the device is essentially a sound card with significantly higher-end connectivity. Even has digital volume control internally so no scratchiness to build up in an analog volume pot, and that digital volume control is linked to the OS volume control, meaning that volume buttons on a keyboard or wherever else work. This last part is something that I actually didn't think I'd like, I was more interested in MOTU's M2, as everyone else seems to be since it's been perpetually selling out.

But for desktop use? Damn convenient.

Small footprint, can do balanced (and unbalanced) stereo output for speakers, has real, nice mic preamps if you ever want a real mic, and has a headphone amp that can drive anything remotely marketed for 'gaming', including say the HD6XX and 250Ohm Beyers.

It's an audio interface that I found while looking for something that audiophilia seems to have completely overlooked: a powered, balanced preamp. Not sure why that's so hard, but any option I found was simply more expensive than an audio interface with balanced outputs.

The EVO4 does as well as your average sound card on the spec sheet, costs about the same, but comes without many of the annoyances with using an audio interface while bringing all of the benefits.

Just to toss another contender into the ring: try the Topping L30 Amp + Topping D30 DAC (as a stack -- they are $129USD each, for total of $258USD). The numbers on the L30 alone, are pretty freaking incredible, as per the recent Audiosciencereview: Topping L30 review
Incredible enough, to (almost) make me regret getting my SMSL M500 ...
Of note, is that the L30 Amp works great with IEMs.

John Yang & Co. over @ Topping are really, really pushing the envelope of what can be done for price/performance!
 
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