Review on 🎧 Enhance Your Audio Experience with the Creative Sound Blaster X7 High-Resolution USB DAC 600 ohm Headphone Amplifier by Devin Girard

TL;DR For the price, it does the important things well. In terms of fit and finish, and ergonomic quality of life, you're getting something that feels a little gimmicky with a triangular design. If this is your first desktop DAC/amp it's not bad but it gives the impression that you're paying for the brand. And here's why: In the audio quality department, the X7 is pretty good. I have an AudioEngine A5+ and a HifiMan Sundara connected to it and I like the sound quality but there is a little hiss/hum at high volume when connected via USB. Unfortunately, a USB connection is required to use the software. If you want to prioritize higher sound quality, use an optical cable to connect to your computer whenever possible. So he gets a 3/5 on this most important aspect. Unfortunately, the rest of the device leaves a lot to be desired. The build quality consists mainly of plastic panels glued together. The front handle is embedded in the top of the triangular hood. Because of this, it's difficult to turn the handle with two fingers without getting caught. The handle must be extended further or the hood removed. It feels like someone tried to design the device to be good looking, not ergonomic. I fixed this by taping the potentiometer knob over the X7 knob with double sided tape. Not only does it encase a gaudy handle that looks like faux gold, it feels more comfortable because it has a texture that's easier to hold. see drawing. The device cannot output audio from speakers and headphones at the same time. Without software, speaker output will be disabled when you plug in headphones. So you can't just leave the headphones plugged into the device unless you install the software. With the software installed you can switch between speakers and headphone output, but when I switch to headphones there is a loud click/pop from the switch. You can hear an audible click from the X7 each time you toggle. Why?! Just make sure you put on your headphones when switching from speakers if you want to get your ears pierced! To toggle, you also need to go to the X7 Control Panel to toggle. This button must be on the device itself (replace the SBX button) or an option in the application's context menu in the taskbar. My computer is connected to the speakers via USB. There is a slight but noticeable lag when I play Rocksmith. When I pluck my guitar, you can hear the gap between the sound of the string and the sound of the speaker. This has not happened with my headroom DAC/amp nor with the analog connected X7. So I'm assuming it's a lag behind the DAC. Finally, it takes a few seconds for the device to turn on. I appreciate that you can mute the device, so I usually do that instead of turning it off. the best options.