On the front are separate microphone and headphone jacks, which can work independently, or together, if you’ve plugged in a gaming headset that uses both plugs. It does work with power adapters plugged into the wall, though sound would have to then come in from the line-in port.

Plug it into a computer or console and it will draw power from there. There is no power brick in the box, so the idea is for the connected device to power the X3. Then you have four line-outs for sound systems. A 3.5mm line-in port is perhaps the easiest and most common of them all. The Toslink optical output is there if you want to set up your TV or game console that way. USB-C is the power port, whereas the rest are all about audio variety. On the rear, there are no less than seven ports. The three buttons laid out in front of it mute the microphone, change audio modes and toggle Super X-Fi on or off. The primary input is the large knob in the middle that controls a couple of different things, depending on setup. The one given is a little too long.Creative found a way to keep things simple, yet provide different avenues to pursue all at once. My only grouse is that it would be great if the product can be a little smaller and come with a retractable/adjustable USB connection. This also has caused them to rethink about going wireless when analogue can actually sound so good. Though old technology and already a defunct model, the whole setup made the same group of friends realise that you do not have to spent thousands to enjoy incredible sound. The pinnacle of sound came when I managed to hook up a Cambridge Soundworks 5.1 megaworks with THX Certification and 500 watts of pure RMS power. THe whole front area becomes a huge sound stage. They simply could not comprehend that music can sound so good with strong separation of channels and enhanced through stereo surround from 5 speakers. I was using a system (low budget at $55) with a 25 watt RMS subwoofer and the highs and lows, clarity and deep bass from the system has blown my friends away when played as it matches and even surpassed systems that would cost ten times more.

This product is best matched to a 5.1 sound system. However, even if you leave everything at default settings, the sound is already enhanced as compared to the onboard sound chip/card of your notebook/PC.

This means that you will never be constrained by the recording quality of any MP3 song or game as you would be able to tune the sound accordingly. The product comes with a mini DSP-like array of features that allows you to tune the sound stage the way you would like it to sound.

Creative sound blaster x fi