Creative Sound BlasterX G5 7.1 External Gaming Audio DAC Review

Testing was performed over a two week period where I used the Sound BlasterX G5 in conjunction with a Sound BlasterX H5 Gaming Headset.  During this time I tried a variety of different settings all based on some of the default profiles and a few that I had created myself.  Overall I found the audio reproduction to be extremely good with excellent imaging both in virtual surround and standard stereo.  Audio amplification was also very good and drove the Blaster H5 Gaming Headset quite well.  Of course your mileage may vary depending on your environment, headset and hearing sensitivity. 

No Audio DAC review would be complete without a sound test and for this I used the RightMark Audio Analyzer.   This test was performed using a loopback cable which is basically a jack that connects the analog line-out plug back into the analog line-in.  That way we can remove almost all of the variables and concentrate on what is actually being reproduced and recorded.

Specs
Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB: +29.29, -102.38 - Very Poor
Noise level, dB (A):  -116.2 - Excellent
Dynamic range, dB (A): 90.6 - Very Good
THD, %:  0.0054 - Very Good
THD + Noise, dB (A):  -74.3 - Average
IMD + Noise, %:  0.067 - Good
Stereo crosstalk, dB: -62.8 - Average
IMD at 10 kHz, %: 10328.730 - Very Poor

General performance Average

For the RightMark test I disabled all of the audio processing and set the output to Stereo.  Both input and output frequency response defaulted 24-Bit/48kHz which not only would provide excellent sound but also allowed the input and output sampling to be the same. 

The results tell an interesting story with an accurate dB(A) matching that from the BlasterX G5 specifications of 120dB and fairly good results across many of the testing parameters.  There are a couple of results that didn’t make much sense including Frequency Response and Intermodulation Distortion @ 10Khz.  These seem to be comically high and are one reason why the overall audio is only “Average”.

Over the years there has been a staggering decline in discrete sound card solutions.  Many of the big names are still available but given the prevalence of excellent onboard audio solutions we often forget that specialized sound cards are still a good solution.  The Creative Sound BlasterX H5 External Gaming DAC is an excellent example of a specialized sound solution that can also be used beyond the PC. 

One of the ingenious things about the Sound BlasterX H5 is that it can be used on any device with a line level output including mobile devices and console games.  The audio can then be passed through to an audio amplifier or amplified internally to a gaming headset.  During this transition you can choose one of three SBX audio processors and further enhance the audio being provided or you can bypass that completely. 

I tested the BlasterX H5 on a Windows based PC and was able to further control the H5 by creating my own audio profiles using the Acoustic Engine Pro software and save them directly to the device.  This would completely bypass my onboard audio solution and really gave some realism to my otherwise boring 2.1 stereo headphone setup.

Of course combine the BlasterX G5 with any gaming headset and you’ll get a virtual sound stage in either 5.1 or 7.1 channel audio with integrated microphone controls and sound profiles.

Portable Audio Solution
Works On More Than The PC
Support For High-End Headphones
Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound
Virtual 5.1 Surround Sound
Bass Boost
SBX Sound Profile
Dynamic Volume Light

USB cable is not braided
Poor Rightmark Freq and IMD scores