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Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus SABRE32-class Hi-res 32-bit/384 kHz PCIe… competes with other Sound Cards products on SpecPicks. Use our Compare tool to view specs side-by-side, or browse the full Sound Cards category for alternatives.

Creative

Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus SABRE32-class Hi-res 32-bit/384 kHz PCIe Gaming Sound Card and DAC with Dolby Digital and DTS, Xamp Discrete Headphone Bi-amp, Up to 122dB SNR, RGB Lighting System

Name: Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus SABRE32-class Hi-res 32-bit/384 kHz PCIe Gaming Sound Card and DAC with Dolby Digital and DTS, Xamp Discrete
Brand: Creative
SKU: B086QN3WNX
Price: 104.99 USD
Availability: InStock

By SpecPicks Editorial · Verified 2026-07-22

$104.99

Buy on Amazon — $104.99 Compare to similar sound cards

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-07-22. Price and availability subject to change.

Bottom line: The Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus SABRE32-class Hi-res 32-bit/384 kHz PCIe Gaming Sound Card and DAC with Dolby Digital and DTS, Xamp Discrete Headphone Bi-amp, Up to 122dB SNR, RGB Lighting System is a niche pick — read recent reviews before buying in the sound cards category, priced around $104.99. Read recent reviews carefully before committing.

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 classifies Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus SABRE32-class Hi-res 32-bit/384… as a niche pick — read recent reviews before buying in the sound cards category, based on our editorial and benchmark analysis and our ranking model that weights rating × review-volume × price-fit. Creative's positioning sits within the broader category mid-tier. Use the Compare tool to put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives before clicking through to Amazon.

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 Amazon listing before purchase. Prices, stock, and Prime eligibility update directly from Amazon's catalog and may have moved since this page was last verified.

Pros & Cons

Pros

✓ Backed by Creative's warranty and support channels
✓ Ships via Amazon with Prime eligibility and the standard returns policy

Cons

✗ Confirm socket / form-factor / power-rating compatibility against your build before ordering
✗ Price, stock, and Prime eligibility update from Amazon and may have changed since this page was last verified

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	Option 1: Black with DDL and DTS
Model	SB1740
UnitCount	1
ReleaseDate	2021-04-29T00:00:01Z
Manufacturer	Creative Labs
ItemPartNumber	70SB174000003

Ready to buy?

Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus SABRE32-class Hi-res 32-bit/384 kHz PCIe Gaming Sound Card and DAC with Dolby Digital and DTS, Xamp Discrete Headphone Bi-amp, Up to 122dB SNR, RGB Lighting System is available on Amazon with Prime shipping and the full Amazon returns policy. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-07-22. Price and availability subject to change.