Creative Sound Blaster X AE-5

[Nebulous]

Yeah yeah, I know, onboard sound has evolved and is better yadda yadda. I always had a sound card in my rig as the onboard was always missing some sort of detail in the sound or the onboard just sounded like crap.

I wanted to get a little sound upgrade and jumped on a deal on flebay for the AE-5. Supposedly "Factory Refurbished". Physical condition was flawless so I plops it in and install fresh drivers and softwares from Creative's site.

Music & movies sounds are flawless. Not crazy about the Command proggy, but it works just fine. Start a game and once the game starts, the game sounds is mixed with a buzzing hiss. Depending on your location in the game maps, the buzzing & hissing gets louder or lowers. The racket goes crazy while firing weapons or driving vehicle. Does not matter what game it is, the buzzing and hissing is horrible.

I can play music either through Youtube, Winamp, CD's, MP3's on a USB drive, doesn't matter the format of the music, the AE-5 works wonderful with zero issues. Start a game and it'll go nuts with the buzzing & hissing sounds. I reinstalled the Sound Blaster Z back in and sounds are back to normal. Ya win some, ya lose some

Just contacted the seller for return & refund.

 

[unsafesteagle]

This sounds similar to my experience.
Using HDMI from the GPU to the TV.
Issue persisted and remains across different motherboards and gpus

 

[Nebulous]

I remember onboard sound doing that, so you would get a nice sound card and voila. Once I started using sound cards for my pc sound stuffs, I've been hooked. I want my sound to be right on point and comfortable to my ears. This carries over to my vintage audio collection as well

Got the refund back into my pp account. Going to look around for another one or a real nice alternative.

 

[Zerileous]

I think USB DACs are more commonly used.

 

[unsafesteagle]

One of the points for me was to use HDMI and enable all the extra sound channels , there by enabling pass through on a bunch of Dolby digital formats from the pc

 

[Nebulous]

I think USB DACs are more commonly used.

Hmm, never tried one of those for pc or anything. Usually I make plugs/adapters I need for that specific use. I might try one.

 

[Zerileous]

I'm still using the built in DACs with my own mobo and other devices so I can't speak from experience. I have heard good things about (in no particular order, although Schiit has probably been around the longest): Schiit Modi+, JDS Atom, iFi Zen

 

[Nebulous]

Funny how in many searches for another one at a discount, sometimes the white one is cheaper than it's black counterpart. Then in other searches it's the other way around.

 

[Nebulous]

*Update*

So I got from amazon a Renewed From Creative AE-5 Plus (White version). Retail box not too beat up, included a new set of Led's and all the paperwork that comes in a retail package.
The card itself is brand new, with all the stickers intact, never opened. I also check the mounting bracket screw hole and not 1 single blemish. Yayy!

Tested and no, no noise!