Sound Blaster X1 Hi-res Super X-Fi External USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier for PC and Mac, Also Compatible with PS4, PS5, and Switch

I initially bought this amp but returned it later because I bought SXFI Air Gamer. Pros: For the price, this amp is one of the lowest-cost solutions to give me virtual surround sound. For compatibility, I use it with my iPhone with the lightning to USB-A camera adaptor, my MacBook Pro, and PS4. It isn't easy to find a surround sound solution for Apple products without paying a lot to buy Airpods and subscribe to Apple Music and Apple TV. Moreover, headsets that provide surround sound on PS4 usually are not compatible with iPhone or MacBook. Most of the headsets provide surround sound to only PCs. These headsets do not provide surround sound for iPhone/MacBook and PS4 at the same time, except SXFI Air Gamer. This little guy X1 amp is one of the few compatible with almost ALL electronic devices. For surround sound, SXFI is a bit narrower than Dolby Atmos, but SXFI is also accurate for different sound positions. For other surround sound formats, e.g., Dolby Atmos, DTS 2.0, THX spatial, we need to pay to subscribe to the surround sound, and they are available only on PC (and maybe XBOX). I don't like the idea of paying a monthly subscription for the surround sound that the headset is supposed to provide. For the one-time $50, I own SXFI surround sound forever. For size, this is a small form factor, and it is easy to carry around. Cons: When I connect to either iPhone or MacBook Pro to listen to free music on YouTube (not YouTube Music subscription), there will occasionally be an interruption of sound. It is like jumping a track on the vinyl, but the interruption is very short. While the music video is playing, the interruption lasts less than a second. The music video continues to play through this interruption, suggesting that the interruption originates from this amp, not from the iPhone/MacBook, YouTube, or internet connection. This is annoying and the main reason I return it. The input of this amp is only USB-C. With an adaptor, I can use USB-A as the input. There is no 3.5 mm aux in. Connection to iPhone is relatively troublesome with a lightning to USB-A camera adaptor, USB-A to USB-C adaptor, USB-C to USB-C cable, and finally the amp. I bought SXFI Air Gamer mainly because I can use Bluetooth with SXFI. FYI, SXFI Air Gamer has Bluetooth 5.0, not 4.2 (please see my review on SXFI Air Gamer). This amp has no Battle mode. This is another reason I get SXFI Air Gamer to experience the Battle mode. On iPhone, only SXFI app works. On Mac, only SXFI app works. The Creative App on Mac does not recognize X1 amp when connected with USB-C. This X1 amp is the same as SXFI amp. The company put a sticker at the back of the amp to cover the original "SXFI amp" logo. Both Pro and Con: The SXFI app has a list of headsets, earbuds, and IEMs. The list does not have my Sony M9, but my M9 can still produce surround sound when I pick any IEMs in the list. When I pick different IEMs, I can hear the changes in sound when I test the sound position on each virtual channel from the Audio Midi of my MacBook Pro. If I have a Creative headset/earbud/IEM, it will perfectly match this amp. Note: make sure to take the pictures of your ears and face clearly in the center. The first time I took those pictures for myself, SXFI did not work well. I could not tell the sound positions accurately. After my wife retook those pictures for me and set up another profile, SXFI worked very well. The sound positions became more accurate. Conclusion: This amp fits almost all my needs. If there were no interruptions listening on YouTube, I would have kept it. With three times the price of X1 amp, SXFI Air Gamer is a better fit for my needs.

Superb product, bang for the buck. Works well with my HD560s via usbc to PS5.

It improves the sound quality over your onboard sound card. It isn't audiophile grade though so just be aware of that, other wise sounds great 👍

Update: After using it for more than 3 Months I can say the most underrated DAC I have ever used. Quality is so good and it punches way above its price point at $45. dont doubt and buy it. it has so much power that can Drive my Sundro heapdhones with iPhone and OTG cable + it can amplify headset as well something that is not very usual at this price point. I think this easily deserves 5 Stars. I got this to listen to Lossless audio with KZ Pro headphones I can easily tell the difference and build quality is superb! already picked a few other cheap DACs and even iFi this thing is obviously a better choice. very tiny but nice quality also had done some Zoom and FaceTime calls and asked the recipient to tell me if there is any difference when I switch to the same headset over standard 3.5mm and everyone confirmed my voice is louder and clear I also heard them louder and cleaner. haven't tried gaming yet but on Music and Calls it was a great choice.

I purchased this device because the sound of my PC (on-board audio) is muddled and noisy. Immediately after hooking up the SoundBlaster X1, I noticed an incredible improvement in sound quality. There is an app (for the PC) to allow you to customize your sound. There is another app (for your phone) that allows you to map your head and customize additional aspects of the sound based on the shape and position of your ears. Although I did try this, I don't turn that feature on. Some people will really love it, though, I'm sure. This is a less-expensive (and less time-consuming) solution than purchasing and installing a new sound card in your computer.

Excellent device, works great, i use it to clarify my caller’s voices, some of them speak very softly and this helps me hear them clearer and louder.

I bought this primarily for gaming and music listening. I paired this with my Kiwi Orchestra Lite IEMs and it had PLENTY of power to push them and sound was amazing. The strength of this product is the amount of flexibility you get through the software to really dial in how games and music sound. And that is where it all falls apart as well. Although I can connect this to my Android phone, there is absolutely no way to configure it using the mobile app as it is not recognized as a supported device. How could their latest portable AMP/DAC not have this feature? I can only use customize it on my PC and for that they have other options with better features which basically makes this product irrelevant. So I returned it for the Qudelix 5K that gives you total control of your device on any platform.

Bonne qualité! La sortie est assez puissante pour mes IEM donc j'ai maintenant une stabilité dans le niveau sonore peut importe les fréquences dans l'audio. Le seul soucis que je peux émettre c'est l'application qui est un peu hasardeuse VS d'autres marques.

Es un excelente amplificador, tiene mucha potencia en PC, tienes que usar la app de creative para sacar todo el potencial, en consolas la calidad de sonido es regular; debido a las limitaciones de las mismas, pero aún así es buena, cuando activas el modo calidad y desactivas los DSP, todo cambia. Excelente producto por su precio. Probado en ps5 y w11 con Sennheiser 560s.

Prometen un sonido envolvente y a mí parecer se escucha como el 7.1 emulado. un buen dac hifi nadamas, el superxfi no se me hace la gran cosa.

Would be batter of the volume can go a bit higher

Omg I have edited this review so many times. What a roller coaster. TLDR; these sound awful on my Sennheisers because the MacOS apps and EQ capabilities don’t work at all. But they sound amazing with my Soundcore q20i and other budget / midtier headphones. I just listen to them wired all the time now. The spatial is awesome, even without eq. Just have to push the button and it works. It isn’t gimmicky it really sounds like speakers in the room. Works across all audio and headphones you plug in and that is worth 5 stars. Just disappointed that I can’t access eq and other features without Windows. My original review below: How is everyone getting this to work on their Mac? Or do they just mean they plugged it in and hear sound? The instructions/manual included and online are out of date. Basically, here’s the situation: There are TWO apps that go with this. One is the Creative App that you install on your Mac. The other is the SuperXFI app that you install on your Mac and your iPhone. 1) The Creative App - the main one - does NOT work with MacOS. I have a MacBook Pro 2019 with latest OS (Sequoia, 15.7.2 I think). Sound plays, you can adjust audio midi, it’s detected by the computer. But the app itself will not detect the device no matter what I do. I reset, restarted, tried getting it to work via Terminal. Nothing. NONE of the features associated with the Creative app will work unless you have a Windows PC (I assume - I only have a Win 11 work PC that can’t install third party apps on). I’m not the only one with this issue based on app reviews. 2) The SXFI app works on iPhone and Mac but it is trial and error and took multiple tries. You HAVE to sign up for an account and be signed in. The SXFI app will allow you to choose EQ presets (for your headphone and/or for genre), custom EQ (10 band), adjust bass and treble, personalize spatial audio with your face, access your Apple Music playlists from within the app. Involves plugging and unplugging and closing the app until it successfully detects and personalizes. Eq doesn’t stay with dongle w/ this app. So depending on your use case… Great product (4-5 stars) for: -Using on iPhone or Mac and DO NOT want EQ, ONLY want spatial audio for your headphones? This is great, it works well. But you better like the out of box EQ on your headphones (Apple sucks for not letting us eq things system wide) and constant reminders to use the apps (that you literally can’t) when you click the button. Spatial audio sounds good and is fun, not gimmicky, works across apps. The play/pause and vol buttons are all responsive and the volume adjusts in small finely tuned not huge leaps like some DACs. It also can be very quiet or very loud. Can still use in line controls if they come with your cable. Not great (1-2 stars depending on your headphones) for: -You just want to plug and play, no apps, no customization? Out of the box without being able to use the apps, this makes my Sennheiser HD569 and 560S lean to screechy piercing voices and muddy bass (esp on the 569). I suggest trying Fiio (they have spatial, bass boost, and bluetooth on some of theirs) or even the Apple dongle if you just want something to plug and play and don’t want spatial. Horrible (1 star) for: Want to use this with Mac with the features for gaming like scout effects and to customize it as advertised? It’s literally impossible. You’ll only get spatial and EQ if you get the SXFI app working. ^^ THIS is what I wanted it for. But I was so happy with the spatial sounding natural on all my devices and headphones that I can forgive.