Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus Internal PCI Express Sound Card, 5.1 Channels, 32-bit/384 kHz, Black

The Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus is a PCIe sound card that upgrades desktop audio beyond standard motherboard solutions. It converts digital data into analog signals and handles multi-channel processing for gaming and media. The card supports 32-bit/384kHz playback, a 122 dB signal-to-noise ratio, and 0.00032% total harmonic distortion. It features discrete 5.1 surround sound support for multi-speaker configurations, while the Sound Core3D quad-core processor manages digital signals to reduce CPU load.

The card requires a standard PCIe slot. It uses a SABRE32 Ultra Class DAC for signal management and features the Xamp discrete headphone amplifier, which supports impedances between 16 and 600 Ω. Physical connections include a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a microphone input, and an optical S/PDIF port. It is compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10. The package includes a 30 cm RGB LED strip and an extension cable for case lighting. Minimum system requirements are an Intel Core i3 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 600 MB of storage space.

• DTS and Dolby Digital Live encoding — converts multi-channel audio for real-time output via the optical port.
• Scout Mode — highlights in-game audio cues to help track enemies and events.
• CrystalVoice — reduces background noise and improves vocal clarity for communication and recording.
• BlasterX Acoustic Engine — provides digital signal processing tools for audio customisation.
• Aurora Reactive RGB — controls the card’s integrated lighting and the included external LED strip.
• Three 3.5 mm analog outputs — enables the connection of 5.1 surround sound systems.