Creative X7 LE Amp and E-MU XM7 Bookshelf Speaker Review

Introduction

Creative have been a major player in the audio world for longer than many of us care to remember. Even those in the office who started their lives on 286 CPUs knew of the Soundblaster solution to our aural needs. Whether it’s the AWE64, the X-Fi or the latest Sound Core3D, they’ve been providing outstanding quality audio to everyone for many years.

With digital audio being available to all, and nearly all of us owning multimedia devices, our needs as consumers have moved away from a mere add-in card for our PC towards a solution that enables us to get the best quality audio regardless of the source. As with any company that wishes to survive in the rapidly changing world of digital media, Creative had adapted with this change and used their endless experience to produce something which we would have previous called an external soundcard, but is so far beyond such a constraining moniker that it’s best described as an amplifier.

Today then we’ll be looking at the Limited Edition upgrade to the Creative X7 amplifier, and Creative have also kindly supplied a set of their E-MU XM7 Bookshelf speakers with which to massage our ears.

X7 Limited Edition Specifications

• Audio Processor : SB-Axx1â„¢
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) : 127dB (DAC)
• Connectivity Options (Main) : microUSB
  Microphone :
  Built-in Stereo Mic
  1 x 1/8″ (3.5mm) Mic In
  Line / Optical :
  1 x RCA Aux/Line In
  1 x TOSLINK Optical In
  1 x TOSLINK Optical Out
  Speaker :
  2 x Binding Post Passive Speaker Out (L/R)
  1 x RCA Line/Front Speaker Out
  1 x 1/8″ (3.5mm) Rear Speaker Out
  1 x 1/8″ (3.5mm) Center/Sub Speaker Out
  Headphone :
  1 x 1/8″ (3.5mm)Headphone Out
  1 x 1/4″ (6.3mm)Headphone Out
  USB HOST :
  1 x Type A USB Host Port – Device Audio Stream & Charging
  
• Headphone Amp Up to 600 Ohms
• Max Channel Output 5.1 Channels, Stereo Amplified
• Audio Technologies : SBX Pro Studio, CrystalVoice, Scout Mode, Dolby Digital Technology

E-MU XM7 Speakers specifications

• System Configuration : 2-way
• Power Output : Max 60W per channel
• Drivers Woofer: 5” (132 mm) special combination diaphragm with oversized magnetic structure and shielding
  Tweeter: 1” (25 mm) silk dome tweeter
• Dimensions : 232.0 x 174.0 x 298.0 mm (9.14″ x 6.85″ x 11.7″)
• Weight : Approx 4.35kg
• Included Accessories 2 x Soft Grilles, 2 x Speaker Cable 2.4m, User Manual
• Connector Type Gold-plated binding posts
• Color : Brown wood grain with metallic grey finish / Black wood grain finish