Creative

CREATIVE Sound Blaster PCIe Gaming Sound Card and DAC with Dolby Digital and DTS (SB1740)

Name: CREATIVE Sound Blaster PCIe Gaming Sound Card and DAC with Dolby Digital and DTS, Xamp Discrete Headphone Bi-amp, Up to 122dB SNR, RGB Lighting
Brand: Creative
SKU: B086W7VGNQ

Bottom line: The CREATIVE Sound Blaster PCIe Gaming Sound Card and DAC: SABRE32 DAC hits 32-bit/384 kHz playback with up to 122 dB DNR; main trade-off: needs a free PCIe slot, so no help for laptops or SFF builds.

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By Mike Perry, Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated 2026-10-06

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For retro PC hardware and period-correct parts, synthesises manufacturer documentation, community compatibility lists and marketplace listings rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. About the author →

Pros & Cons

Pros

✓ SABRE32 DAC hits 32-bit/384 kHz playback with up to 122 dB DNR
✓ Xamp bi-amp drives headphones up to 600 ohms, planar-magnetics included
✓ 1 ohm output impedance suits low-impedance IEMs and gaming headsets
✓ Dolby Digital Live and DTS encoding out to an external receiver

Cons

✗ Needs a free PCIe slot, so no help for laptops or SFF builds
✗ RGB and audio tuning both require Sound Blaster Command on Windows
✗ 7.1 is virtual only; discrete channel output stops at 5.1
✗ Bundled RGB LED strip adds cable routing to an already busy case

Manufacturer description

SUPPORTS DOLBY DIGITAL AND DTS – Now with support for Dolby Digital Live and DTS Encoding for even more delivery options to your external audio devices! The AE-5 Plus also supports 5.1 discrete and 7.1 virtual surround, as well as Sound Blaster’s Surround Virtualization technology POWERFUL DISCRETE HEADPHONE AMP – Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus features Xamp, our custom-designed discrete headphone amp that utilizes bi-amplification technology to power each earcup individually with 1Ω output impedance and drives studio-grade headphones of up to 600Ω, including high-end planar-magnetic headphones…

SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored CREATIVE Sound Blaster PCIe Gaming Sound Card and DAC using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the sound cards category. Creative's sound cards lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for sound cards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

What headphones can the AE-5 Plus actually drive?

Xamp, the onboard discrete bi-amp, powers each earcup separately and drives studio-grade headphones up to 600 ohms, including high-end planar-magnetic pairs. Its 1 ohm output impedance also keeps sensitive low-impedance headsets from hissing.

Does it support Dolby Digital and DTS?

Yes. The AE-5 Plus adds Dolby Digital Live and DTS Encoding so you can send encoded surround to an external receiver or soundbar. It also handles 5.1 discrete, 7.1 virtual, and Creative's Surround Virtualization.

How good is the DAC compared to onboard motherboard audio?

It uses a SABRE32 ultra-class PCIe DAC rated for up to 32-bit/384 kHz playback at 122 dB DNR with ultra-low distortion and jitter, which is a tier above the codecs integrated into most motherboards.

Can I control the RGB lighting?

The card has customizable RGB LEDs on its body plus an included RGB LED strip, with 16.8 million colors and multiple patterns selectable through the Sound Blaster Command software for PC.

Key Features

SUPPORTS DOLBY DIGITAL AND DTS – Now with support for Dolby Digital Live and DTS Encoding for even more delivery options to your external audio devices! The AE-5 Plus also supports 5.1 discrete and 7.1 virtual surround, as well as Sound Blaster’s Surround Virtualization technology
POWERFUL DISCRETE HEADPHONE AMP – Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus features Xamp, our custom-designed discrete headphone amp that utilizes bi-amplification technology to power each earcup individually with 1Ω output impedance and drives studio-grade headphones of up to 600Ω, including high-end planar-magnetic headphones
PRISTINE AUDIO QUALITY – Featuring the SABRE32 ultra-class PCI-e DAC to deliver up to 32-bit / 384 kHz playback with a 122 dB DNR, ultra-low distortion and jitter, the AE-5 Plus is more than capable of hi-res audio for games, music, and movies; put simply, for discerning audio lovers of any kind, the AE-5 Plus is set to blow past your expectations with pristine audio and powerful performance
RGB YOUR GAMING RIG – The AE-5 Plus has customizable RGB LEDs on its body, and also features an included RGB LED strip. Enjoy a symphony of lights and sound with 16.8 million colors in different patterns to choose from, all via the Sound Blaster Command software for PC
INDUSTRY-LEADING AUDIO PROCESSING – The Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus rides on Sound Blaster’s long legacy of audio processing and enhancements, available through the Sound Blaster Command software and featuring fully customizable audio processing technologies to deliver clearer vocals, accurate cues, and bass boost

Full Specifications

Brand	Creative
Color	Black
Model	70SB174000003
UnitCount	1
ReleaseDate	2020-05-01T00:00:01Z
Manufacturer	Creative Labs
ItemPartNumber	70SB174000003
Full listing title	CREATIVE Sound Blaster PCIe Gaming Sound Card and DAC with Dolby Digital and DTS, Xamp Discrete Headphone Bi-amp, Up to 122dB SNR, RGB Lighting System, SB1740

Ready to buy?

CREATIVE Sound Blaster PCIe Gaming Sound Card and DAC with Dolby Digital and DTS, Xamp Discrete Headphone Bi-amp, Up to 122dB SNR, RGB Lighting System, SB1740 is vintage hardware; the used and vintage market on eBay carries most of the live inventory. Prices and condition vary by seller and move in real time, so we link the live listing rather than quote a cached price. It also has an Amazon listing — check it for current price and availability. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

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