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Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 - Driver Issues (Update: Much Improved)

91K views 287 replies 76 participants last post by  BUFUMAN 
#1 ·
I recently got an AE-5 directly from Creative and while it sounds great and can drive my Sennheiser HD 600s to very high volume levels, the software has some significant issues. Has anyone else experienced these or have any workarounds?

Windows 10 1703 (15063.483), Sound Blaster Connect 3.1.13.0

Fixed 1) Volume is at 100% after a reboot. It snaps to the set volume (or what that setting is at 16 ohm) after any volume adjustment. This is less than ideal.
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Fixed 2) The headphone gain setting resets to 16 ohm after a reboot or after changing between speaker out and headphone out. In addition I think only the 16, 32, and 150 ohm options are real, 330 and 600 ohm are the same volume as 150 ohm. Not that I mind because my 300 ohm HD 600s can get very loud on the 150 ohm setting. I expect I would be happy even with 600 ohm cans if only it didn't reset, but I don't need it THAT loud.

3) I cannot customize the custom crossover setting.
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There is a slider but I cannot interact with it; it is stuck on whatever speaker type option was selected when the application was last restarted. Desktop = 150 Hz, Bookshelf = 80 Hz, Tower = 50 Hz.

It isn't really an issue but the multi channel output device maxes out at 32 bit, 96 KHz. Only the "Direct" stereo modes support the 192 or 384 KHz sample rates. As an aside the Scout Radar feature is only enabled when not in a "Direct" mode.

Running Sound Blaster Connect on startup, or not, changes none of this behavior. I also have all Acoustic Engine, Scout, Lighting, and Equalizer options disabled and did not test them.

To be honest I cannot notice a difference between my Asus Maximus VIII Hero Alpha's very good on-board audio and the AE-5 set to 16 ohm; they both have trouble driving my 300 ohm headphones. However, the AE-5 has no trouble at all when it is set to 150 ohm or higher. The max volume with my 300 ohm headphones isn't that high at 16 ohms but is higher than I probably need at the 150 ohm setting.

Update:
These three points have all been fixed for me by an aggressive reinstall using the current drivers:
Sound Blaster Connect 2, 3.1.22.0, 29th August 2017

1) Uninstall Everything Creative or Sound Blaster related
2) Uninstall (and delete) the driver out of device manager
3) Reboot and let Windows 10 install the default driver
4) Delete the Creative folder in Program Files (x86)
5) Reinstall Sound Blaster Connect 2

Edit: Actually #3 is still true, but I don't care anymore, I am only using Direct-HP mode anyway.
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#2 ·
Hi,
I received this card last week. I don't think I have experienced these issues. Not sure about 2 and 3 but volume definitely stays at whatever level it was set before reboot.
However, I've noticed that the card makes a single click/pop sound upon pc startup and shutdown. Does your card make it too?
I think the card has one mechanical takamisawa switch/relay and this is what produces this spring-like click.

Thanks!
 
#5 ·
If issue #2 bothers you, I suggest you return the card.

I contacted creative support:

- The guy thought it was weird, told me to reinstall, try this and that, yada yada.

- Told him it didn't change anything.

- Got a reply saying it's designed that way by developers, so you don't accidentally destroy low impendance headphones after using high impendance ones before.

So they really do expect you to change this setting on every single boot. No option to turn it off as of now.

EDIT: Issue #2, my bad
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glasofruix View Post

Seems like a really dumb idea to me, i mean it "could" be useful when the card detects that the headphones have been unplugged, but fiddling with the volume/impedance after each reboot is highly annoying.
You could change headphones when the PC is off. Software would not notice.

Either way, it's a dumb design decision. I understand the safety aspect but whoever thought that forcing everyone to do at least 5 clicks every time you start is a good idea, is a ******.

I'd love to see some way to override it. Batch, if necessary.
 
#8 ·
Interesting, so creative haven't stepped up or fixed their driver game...that's really sad.

I have a question for you though Asmodian, is it worthy of an upgrade if I get it? I currently have the older, but still a great freaking sound card, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion Series. Would it be an upgrade getting this new one? Just curious, thanks.
 
#10 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by lolschrauber View Post

Driver is fine. It's just that one dumbass design choice that forces you to do this every time.

And the fact that the amp is limited to 16-32-150-330-600 ohm settings. I have 250 ohm headphones, though 150 sounds kinda fine.
So the driver is fine, it's just some of it's functionality and design of the CP is stupid?

Oh and I have 50 Ohm headphones, I shouldn't have this problem then? They are the Sennheiser G4ME one
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mato87 View Post

So the driver is fine, it's just some of it's functionality and design of the CP is stupid?

Oh and I have 50 Ohm headphones, I shouldn't have this problem then? They are the Sennheiser G4ME one
You could (should) use 32 then at best. Though I'm not sure if the difference would be that noticeable so yeah, you might not be affected by that.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by lolschrauber View Post

You could (should) use 32 then at best. Though I'm not sure if the difference would be that noticeable so yeah, you might not be affected by that.
Oh ok, I will definitely get this one, once it's made available here right now, will be in a couple of weeks though, but Iam going to have to wait for the OP to respond to me, whether it's a worthy upgrade.
 
#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by lolschrauber View Post

You could change headphones when the PC is off. Software would not notice.

Either way, it's a dumb design decision. I understand the safety aspect but whoever thought that forcing everyone to do at least 5 clicks every time you start is a good idea, is a ******.

I'd love to see some way to override it. Batch, if necessary.
Meh, if it didn't reset the volume it wouldn't actually matter. There is no risk to headphones, chances are your eardrums would pop before any damage to your gear occurs.
 
#15 ·
got this card today

sounds little better than ZxR but i don't notice any effects changing when play around with the EQ software + when i use ASIO

i like it , the LED seems too short to do anything with it
 
#20 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by lolschrauber View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Notor1ouS View Post

what setting should i use for 250 ohm headphones? 150 or 330?
Better go with 150, or you might damage your headphones in the long term.
ok will use 150ohm then.

one last question:
does that affect sound quality?
would 250ohm in settings sound better compared to 150ohm in settings? (using a 250ohm headphone)
 
#24 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Notor1ouS View Post

is it normal, that the equalizer doesnt work with "direct HP" in settings(setup tab)?

the soundcard sounds insane with my dt990 250ohm, really enjoying it.
but the software seems a bit beta (slowish)
same problem here

i had to use MusicBee equalizer to bump the bass up a bit
 
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