Meet the Future of Audio PRODUCT EXPERIENCE GUIDE ®
06 SOUND BLASTER X7: AN OVERVIEW Get acquainted with the Sound Blaster X7’s controls, connectors and connectivity options. THE 14 EXPERIENCING SOUND BLASTER X7 Discover a whole new side of audio using the Sound Blaster X7. 16 ENHANCING AUDIO PLAYBACK Learn how to easily enhance your audio with the downloadable Sound Blaster X7 Control mobile app and Sound Blaster X7 Control Panel software.
ULTRA HIGH-END SOUND BLASTER WITH 24-BIT/192kHz HIGH RESOLUTION 127dB USB DAC & AUDIO AMPLIFIER • Ultra High Fidelity Digital Audio • Powerful Amplification • Audiophile Experience
Sound Blaster X7: An Overview ARCHITECTURE, CONTROLS & CONNECTORS Beamforming CrystalVoice Microphones NFC Sensor Headphone Stand Slots • Just tap for one-touch Bluetooth pairing • Insert the supplied headphone stand to hang your headphones on 2-way Binding Post Terminals DC-In Port Volume Control Knob • Adjusts the volume level • For crystal clear voice communications Dolby Digtal Indicator • Lights up in white when Dolby Digital decoding is activated • Connect to passive speakers via bare wires
Sound Blaster X7: An Overview TECHNOLOGY INSIDE CONNECTIVITY Audiophile-grade components for superb playback performance Audio Sources Designed to indulge users with pristine audio quality, the Sound Blaster X7 is packed with the finest of the finest audiophile-grade components that deliver the absolute best audio performance.
Sound Blaster X7: An Overview CONNECTIVITY (cont.) Audio Sources (cont.) Headphones Manual Bluetooth Pairing Connect to Bluetooth devices with robust high-quality low latency aptX® and AAC music streaming. One-Touch Bluetooth Pairing NFC Technology allows for one-touch pairing. Simply tap your NFC-enabled device on the Sound Blaster X7 to instantly pair and connect. USB DAC Experience pristine powerful audio from select smartphones/ tablets* via the USB Host port.
Sound Blaster X7: An Overview Active speakers CONNECTIVITY (cont.) AUDIO INPUTS ANALOG 1 2 3 LEFT RIGHT AUDIO OUTPUTS COAXIAL FRONT OPTICAL Speaker System REAR 1 CENTRE/ SUBWOOFER/ REAR CENTER 2 ~ 16V AC IN 3 SPEAKER CONFIGURATION -- 6.1/7.1 -- 5.1 Passive speakers (bare wires) Connect the wires from the positive and negative terminals on each speaker to the corresponding terminals.
Experiencing the Sound Blaster X7 To truly test the capabilities of the Sound Blaster X7 and the quality of the audio reproduction, our team performs listening tests with a variety of genres and with different pairs of headphones. We do not believe in limiting ourselves to just gaming demos, but to achieve a more critical assessment, we use Industry Reference Tracks for the auditions.
Enhancing Audio Playback SOUND BLASTER X7 CONTROL APP FOR SMART DEVICES SOUND BLASTER X7 CONTROL PANEL FOR PC/MAC The Sound Blaster X7 Control Panel software for PC/Mac gives you simplified control and complete The Sound Blaster X7 comes with an amazing mobile application. configuration of every playback and voice aspect of the Sound Blaster X7. Visit http://support.creative.com to Sound Blaster X7 Control app supports both iOS and Android, giving download the Sound Blaster X7 Control Panel.
Enhancing Audio Playback CUSTOMIZING PRE-DEFINED AUDIO PROFILES TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS A. Music / Movies / Gaming B. Voice Communication In the SBX Pro Studio menu In the CrystalVoice menu 1 , select or modify the options as desired. SBX Surround – Move the slider higher to “open” up a larger sound field and simulate a surround speaker setup. A lower percentage gives a more “centered” audio. SBX Surround can be experienced when you plug in a pair of headphones into the Sound Blaster X7.
Enhancing Audio Playback CONFIGURING SPEAKERS / HEADPHONES CONTROLLING AUDIO OUTPUTS AND CHANNELS The Speakers/Headphones menu A Mixer is also available on the Sound Blaster Control Panel software. 4 allows you to configure your speakers and headphones so that you get the best listening experience with the Sound Blaster X7. It allows you to adjust the volume levels of individual outputs and channels (microphone, headphones, etc).
Appendix TESTING METHODOLOGY USING RMAA V6.4.0 This document guides you through the set up of your Sound Blaster® X7, for RMAA measurement in real-time 24-bit/192kHz Playback and Recording using the Analog Inputs and Outputs. Comparison charts for results of the 24-bit/44.1kHz, 24-bit/48kHz, 24-bit/96kHz and 24-bit/192kHz. RMAA measurements can also be found at the end of this document.
Appendix 3. Output and Input Setup • At the Mixer tab, select “Playback” and set the Master Speaker Volume to 100%. Set the rest of the Monitoring source and SPDIF Out to 0% and mute them. Turn on Direct Mode • Select “Recording”, set Line In volume at 50%, set all other Recording inputs to 0% and mute them. 2. Cable Loopback Connection and Set Impedance Use a high quality RCA to RCA audio (stereo) cable; connect the Line output to Line Input for the loopback test.
Appendix 4. Setting Up RMAA for Analog Measurement: • Establishing playback and recording levels: • Launch RMAA v6.4.0 Click on this button The latest version of the RMAA software can be downloaded from the following website: in the Run tests section, Adjust the Recording Line-In level (@~50%) till the test tones are ~-1dB. http://audio.rightmark.org/download.shtml • Select the bit depth and sampling rate you wish to test.
Appendix RightMark Audio Analyzer Test Report for Sound Blaster X7 (24-bit, 192 kHz) Testing device Frequency response Noise level Speakers (Sound Blaster X7) Sampling mode 24-bit, 192 kHz Interface MME Testing chain External loopback (line-out - line-in) RMAA Version 6.4.0 PRO 20 Hz - 20 kHz filter ON Normalize amplitude ON -0.1 dB / -0.3 dB Level change Left Right From 20 Hz to 20 kHz, dB -0.41, +0.02 -0.56, -0.13 From 40 Hz to 15 kHz, dB -0.11, +0.02 -0.26, -0.
Appendix Intermodulation distortion RightMark Audio Analyzer Test Report for Sound Blaster X7 (24-bit, 96 kHz) Stereo crosstalk Testing device Speakers (Sound Blaster X7) Sampling mode 24-bit, 96 kHz Interface Left Right IMD + Noise, % +0.0028 +0.0026 IMD + Noise (A-weighted), % +0.0017 +0.
Appendix Frequency response Noise level Intermodulation distortion Left Right Left Right From 20 Hz to 20 kHz, dB -0.27, +0.02 -0.41, -0.13 RMS power, dB -116.5 -116.6 From 40 Hz to 15 kHz, dB -0.09, +0.02 -0.24, -0.13 RMS power (A-weighted), dB -118.4 -118.7 Peak level, dB FS -97.3 -98.0 DC offset, % +0.0 +0.0 Dynamic range THD + Noise (at -3 dB FS) Left Right Dynamic range, dB +116.3 +116.5 Dynamic range (A-weighted), dB +118.2 +118.7 DC offset, % +0.00 +0.
Appendix RightMark Audio Analyzer Test Report for Sound Blaster X7 (24-bit, 48 kHz) Testing device Frequency response Speakers (Sound Blaster X7) Sampling mode 24-bit, 48 kHz Interface MME Testing chain External loopback (line-out - line-in) RMAA Version 6.4.0 PRO 20 Hz - 20 kHz filter ON Normalize amplitude ON Level change -0.1 dB / -0.3 dB Mono mode OFF Calibration signal, Hz 1000 Polarity Left Right Left Right From 20 Hz to 20 kHz, dB -0.22, +0.02 -0.37, -0.
Appendix Intermodulation distortion RightMark Audio Analyzer Test Report for Sound Blaster X7 (24-bit, 44 kHz) Stereo crosstalk Testing device Speakers (Sound Blaster X7) Sampling mode 24-bit, 44 kHz Interface Left Right IMD + Noise, % +0.0026 +0.0025 IMD + Noise (A-weighted), % +0.0014 +0.
Appendix Frequency response Noise level Intermodulation distortion Left Right Left Right From 20 Hz to 20 kHz, dB -0.21, +0.02 -0.36, -0.13 RMS power, dB -116.6 -116.9 From 40 Hz to 15 kHz, dB -0.11, +0.02 -0.26, -0.13 RMS power (A-weighted), dB -118.5 -119.2 Peak level, dB FS -101.5 -100.2 +0.0 +0.0 DC offset, % Dynamic range THD + Noise (at -3 dB FS) Left Right Dynamic range, dB +116.7 +116.7 Dynamic range (A-weighted), dB +118.6 +119.0 DC offset, % +0.00 +0.
Appendix Test Comparison Chart Test Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB Noise level, dB (A) [MME] Speakers (SB X7) 24-bit/192 kHz Technical Specification [MME] Speakers (SB X7) 24-bit/96 kHz [MME] Speakers (SB X7) 24-bit/48 kHz [MME] Speakers (SB X7) 24-bit/44 kHz GENERAL Connection Type (PC Interface) +0.02, -0.11 -118.5 +0.02, -0.09 -118.5 +0.02, -0.11 -118.8 +0.02, -0.11 -118.
® Corporate Headquarters Creative Technology Ltd, 31 International Business Park #03-01 Creative Resource Singapore 609921 Tel: +(65) 6895 4000 Fax: +(65) 6895 4999 Creative Website: www.creative.com For more details on Sound Blaster products, visit www.soundblaster.com © 2014 Creative Technology Ltd. All rights reserved. The Creative logo, Sound Blaster, the Sound Blaster logo, SBX Pro Studio, the SBX logo, CrystalVoice and VoiceFX are registered trademarks or trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd.
