We take cryptocurrency — so the coins you hold can buy real hardware.Pay in crypto, spend it on real hardware. Free insured shipping worldwide over $399. Plain, unbranded boxes, sent from Germany.Free insured shipping over $399. Your rate is locked for 30 minutes once checkout opens.Rate locked 30 minutes. Every item sealed, serial-checked and covered by a 24-month warranty.Sealed, 24-month warranty.

Saved items Sign in
PCIe sound card with gold bracket, black PCB, headphone amp chip, coaxial and optical ports, splitter cable included

Creative Co

Creative Co 70SB196000000 AE-X sound card

SKU CH-CP0H-YV7PX MPN 70SB196000000

PCIe sound card with ESS ES9039Q2M DAC delivering 130 dB dynamic range, 32-bit/384 kHz playback, DSD256 support and built-in headphone amplifier

  • System RequirementsIntel® Core™ i3 or AMD® equivalent x86 processor x86 compati
  • Dimensions179 x 126 x 18 mm 263g / 9.28 oz
  • Package Contents1 x Sound Blaster AE-X sound card 1 x 3.5 mm CTIA TRRS to Du
  • ESS ES9039Q2M DAC delivers 130 dB dynamic range for cleaner sound
  • 32-bit 384 kHz stereo playback reveals greater depth and detail
  • Discrete headphone amplifier drives demanding headphones with more control
  • DSD256 and ASIO 2.3 support enable bit-perfect audio performance
  • 10-band parametric EQ with AutoEq in Creative Nexus app personalises sound

Sound Blaster AE-X sound card

The Creative Sound Blaster AE-X is a PCIe sound card built around an ESS ES9039Q2M DAC with 130 dB dynamic range. It delivers stereo playback up to 32-bit / 384 kHz and supports DSD256 plus ASIO 2.3 for bit-perfect audio. A discrete headphone amplifier provides stronger drive and better headroom for demanding headphones. The card measures 179 x 126 x 18 mm and weighs 263g.

Desktop audio enthusiasts

This card suits users who want higher fidelity than onboard audio and need a dedicated headphone amplifier for high-impedance cans. It also fits setups that require coaxial output and optical input for external DACs or receivers. Buyers without a free PCIe slot, those on macOS or Linux, or anyone needing multichannel analogue outputs should look at something else. The package includes a 3.5 mm CTIA TRRS to dual TRS headset splitter cable.

Sustained high-resolution playback

Under continuous load the ESS DAC maintains its 130 dB dynamic range without throttling, and the onboard amplifier keeps driving difficult headphone loads cleanly. ASIO 2.3 support lets professional audio applications bypass the Windows mixer for low-latency, bit-perfect streaming during long sessions. The Creative Nexus app adds a 10-band parametric EQ and AutoEq profiles that stay active without adding processing latency. Thermal output remains modest within the slim 18 mm profile.

Highlights

  • ESS ES9039Q2M DAC delivers 130 dB dynamic range for cleaner sound
  • 32-bit 384 kHz stereo playback reveals greater depth and detail
  • Discrete headphone amplifier drives demanding headphones with more control
  • DSD256 and ASIO 2.3 support enable bit-perfect audio performance
  • 10-band parametric EQ with AutoEq in Creative Nexus app personalises sound

Specifications

BrandCreative Labs
SeriesAE-Series
ModelAE-X
Part Number70SB196000000
System RequirementsIntel® Core™ i3 or AMD® equivalent x86 processor
x86 compatible motherboard
Microsoft® Windows 10 64-bit / Windows 11 64-bit
8GB RAM
Available PCIe slot
Internet connection for Software Download
Dimensions179 x 126 x 18 mm
263g / 9.28 oz
Package Contents1 x Sound Blaster AE-X sound card
1 x 3.5 mm CTIA TRRS to Dual TRS Headset Splitter Cable
1 x Quick start guide & Compliance information & Warranty leaflet
Shipping weight0.45 kg
Package size218 × 178 × 36 mm

Questions about this item

What desktop PC specs do I need to run the Creative Co 70SB196000000 AE-X sound card?

You need an Intel Core i3 or AMD equivalent x86 processor, an x86 compatible motherboard with a free PCIe slot, 8GB RAM, and Windows 10 or 11 64-bit. An internet connection is required for the software download.

Can I connect my older external DAC or amplifier to the AE-X using the digital outputs?

Yes, the card provides a coaxial output for sending a digital signal to an external DAC or amplifier, and an optical input for receiving digital audio from other sources.

How do I verify the AE-X is delivering bit-perfect playback after installing the drivers?

In the Creative Nexus app, enable ASIO 2.3 mode and select a DSD256 or 32-bit/384 kHz test file; the app will confirm the active sample rate and bit depth match the source without resampling.

Also in this aisle

People compared these

Same shelf, same checkout — eight coins and a 30-minute rate lock.