Most gamers are content with using the built-in audio hardware that comes with modern motherboards. They’d rather spend their extra budget on high-end headphones. In the audiophile world, DACs and/or amps are a must-have to bring the best out of your audio system. Well, the folks at Creative aimed to give gamers a taste of auditory luxury without the hefty audiophile tax.
The Creative Sound BlasterX G6 is a USB sound card that will complete your next-gen gaming experience. The Sound BlasterX G6 is compatible with the previous gen and next-gen consoles, and of course, the PC. Okay, yes, it works on MacOS too.
What’s in the box
The Creative Sound BlasterX G6 comes with a micro-USB cable, an optical cable, the Sound BlasterX G6 and a couple of warranty leaflets and quick setup guide.
Design
The Sound BlasterX G6 has a very straightforward design. It’s smaller than the previous version and more lightweight and compact as most of it is made out of plastic. The top has an aluminum look with the Sound BlasterX logo that, you guessed it, has RGB. It’s configurable via the software, which we’ll talk about later. On the front you have the volume knob, which is clickable and lights up to know which device you’re adjusting the volume for. And 2 3.5mm jacks, one for your headset and another for your microphone.
Round the back, you’ll see 2x 3.5mm combo jacks (digital and analog) and a micro-USB for power. Do note that the G6 doesn’t have a battery and relies on the USB power being delivered by the device it’s connected to.
The bottom is rubber and very grippy to most surfaces, so clicking on buttons and adjusting the volumes shouldn’t be a problem one-handed.
On the right side, you’ll find most of the buttons for quick access to enable/disable the Sound BlasterX G6’s features.
Features
At its core is Cirrus Logic’s CS43131 DAC chip. A DAC is a digital-to-analog converter, which converts the 1s and 0s from our computers to sound waves. Having a dedicated DAC helps deliver a cleaner signal to your headphones or audio system. The Sound BlasterX G6 also has the Xamp headphone amplifier which, well, amplifies the audio signals. It’s set-up in a dual-mono config, giving each L and R signals its dedicated amplifier for a more balanced audio.
The Sound BlasterX G6 is capable of playing up to 32-bit 384 kHz PCM files. That’s as raw as you can get, and it’s only available on Direct Mode (the option where all digital signal processing is disabled and you get the raw output of the audio file). You can enable Direct Mode by holding the Scout Mode button and wait for the LED to blink.
As for decoding capabilities, the Sound BlasterX G6 supports Dolby Digital, virtual 7.1 surround sound, game-voice volume balancing, Scout mode and SBX.
It also has a high/low gain button on the side. Perfect for IEM users which needs less power and for studio headphones that needs up to 600ohms to drive.
Performance
I tested the Sound BlasterX G6 with a Grado SR125i open-back headphones and I was immediately blown away. The sound stage was wider, considering the SR125i is an open back headphone. The amplifier does its job really well as without the G6, I use the Grados at 30-40 volume and with the DAC connected to the laptop, 10-12 was enough. Bumping up the volume also gives the headphones a more clear, crisp and clean response.
As a fan of FPS games, cranking the volume up to get information gives you an advantage to first frags as you can hear the footsteps clearly and the wider soundstage gives you a clearer picture of where an enemy might be coming from. The Scout Mode button gives you an instant edge as it gives you a more focused sound level and muffles unwanted noise from the game.
You can also press the volume knob to switch between your headset volume and mic volume. If the light is white, it’s set to adjust your headset’s volume.
If you press and hold on the knob for a few seconds, the light will turn red and you can adjust your microphone gain on-the-fly. Wasn’t able to review how the Sound BlasterX G6 improves my microphone audio as I don’t have a 3.5mm mic.
Racing games also come to life giving you more immersion and just takes you out of reality. Pressing on the SBX button gives more life to your digital cars as if an engine is right next to you.
Of course, with the Sound BlasterX G6 listening to music and watching movies also gets a boost in immersion and literally, everything is clearer now.
But where the Sound BlasterX G6 really shines is when you use it with the Sound Blaster Command software. With 30 years of experience in the audio tech space, Creative gives you full control and more with the Sound Blaster Command. There are even presets to most popular games which can help enrich your experience with it. You can also set the LED through the Command software.
Verdict
Whether you’re a gamer or an audiophile, the price tag on the Sound BlasterX G6 is definitely something you should consider as your next upgrade. You’ve got to hear it to believe it. One thing is for certain, the Sound BlasterX G6 is miles away from any onboard sound card that may come with your laptop or motherboard or console. It’s compatible with a wide array of systems from PS4 to the XBOX, to a Windows PC and even on a Mac.
Tech Specs
| Controls | Volume control knob, Scout Mode button, SBX button, Gain switch |
| Weight | 144g |
| Dimensions | 111x70x24mm |
| Headphone Amp | Output Impedance: 1Ω, Supported Headphone Impedance: 16–600Ω |
| Dynamic Range | 130 dB |
| Audio Technology | SB-Axx1™ |
| Max. Playback Quality | DSP Mode: PCM 16 / 24 / 32-bit / 44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0 kHz, Direct Mode: PCM 16 / 24 / 32-bit / 44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0, 176.4, 192.0, 352.8, 384.0 kHz* |
| DoP 24-bit / 176.4 , 352.4 kHz | |
| * 384 kHz playback only available in Windows 10 or higher | |
| Max. Recording Quality | Mic-in: 16 / 24 / 32-bit / 44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0, 176.4, 192.0 kHz |
| Optical-in: 16 / 24 / 32-bit / 44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0, 176.4, 192.0 kHz | |
| Recording Resolution | Mic-in: 16 / 24 / 32-bit / 44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0, 176.4, 192.0 kHz |
| Line-in: 16 / 24 / 32-bit / 44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0, 176.4, 192.0 kHz | |
| Optical In: 16 / 24 / 32-bit / 44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0, 176.4, 192.0 kHz | |
| Platform | USB 2.0, USB 3.0 |
| Connectivity Options | 1 x 1/8″ Line In/mini TOSLINK In Combo Jack, 1 x 1/8″ Line Out/mini TOSLINK Out Combo Jack, 1 x 1/8″ Headphone / Headset Jack, 1 x 1/8″ Ext. Mic-in Jack, 1 x micro USB port for PC/Mac |
| Max Channel Output | Stereo |
| Compatible Systems | Windows OS/ Mac OS/PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Nintendo Switch |
