Creative's Sound Blaster Audigy FX Pro brings discrete audio back from the grave

[Alfonso Maruccia]

Audio Blast From the Past: Creative Technology doesn't believe the sound card market is completely dead yet. The Singapore-based company has announced a new discrete audio solution, urging users to move beyond motherboard-based audio chips. The upgrade doesn't come cheap, however.

While the traditional discrete sound card has largely become a niche product for enthusiasts and hardware obsessives, Creative is attempting to attract new customers with a fresh model. The newly launched Sound Blaster Audigy Fx Pro can significantly upgrade the audio experience, the company says, and includes an additional layer of "intelligence" thanks to a brand-new companion app.

The Sound Blaster Audigy Fx Pro is a PCIe-based sound card that provides discrete 7.1 surround sound, a 120 dB DAC, and PCM playback at up to 32-bit/384 kHz. Line-in recording supports PCM resolution up to 24-bit/192 kHz.

Additional features include built-in amplification for high-impedance headphones, multiple connectivity options, and full compatibility with both Windows 10 and Windows 11 (x64).

The new card has been designed for compact PC builds, Creative said, and should provide a "meaningful" upgrade over the Sound Blaster Audigy Fx V2 released in 2021. The company is also debuting the Nexus companion app, which offers software controls for customizing the discrete audio experience.

Creative says Nexus adds a new layer of "intelligence" to the Audigy Fx card series, although it does not clarify whether the software includes modern AI technologies such as chatbots or large language models. Nexus features include automatic equalization for quick sound optimization, the Sound Blaster Acoustic Engine for tailoring different listening experiences, and additional audio tuning tools.

Creative argues that audio has become one of the most overlooked aspects of a modern PC build. Users often spend heavily on graphics cards, displays, and peripherals while continuing to rely on motherboard audio solutions that are merely "good enough" for gaming or enthusiast setups.

The Sound Blaster Audigy Fx Pro was designed to challenge that assumption, according to Creative. The sound card promises clearer playback, more immersive sound options, improved headphone performance, and smarter software tools for customizing audio settings.

The Sound Blaster Audigy Fx Pro further advances the Sound Blaster legacy in the sound card market, Creative said. The company is already selling the card through its online store for $80, while motherboard-based audio solutions typically come at no additional cost. Creative also recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the Re:Imagine modular audio hub – an unusual move for a multi-million-dollar company that dates back to the early PC audio era.

Many saw the Re:Imagine initiative as the final straw signaling the decline of an aging business model. However, the campaign quickly surpassed its initial funding goal. At the very least, the launch of the Sound Blaster Audigy Fx Pro confirms that Creative has no plans to abandon the discrete sound card market anytime soon.

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Creative's Sound Blaster Audigy FX Pro brings discrete audio back from the grave

 

[tomkaten]

Curious about the cost though, these days you can get a great external DAC/Headphone amp for very little. Or an audio interface if you also need professional mic inputs and recording. Devices offering a separate power brick will also have the distinct advantage of doing away with all the "dirty" power supplied by a mid quality PSU and also all of the EM interference inside a PC case.

Not to mention that integrated audio is really good these days and more than enough for most people, contrary to what Creative will have you believe.

 

[Hecate91]

There isn't any info on what audio solution Creative is using for the FX pro and Creative doesn't list it themselves, however it doesn't make much sense to be launching an internal sound card when USB DAC's have taken over the audio market.
Also because there isn't much choice in dedicated PC speakers anymore with 3.5mm jacks.

 

[Plague]

And here I am still using my old SB ZX

 

[NumberNine]

Creative flailing to justify their existence.
Just put the money into a better motherboard unless you are running a studio, at which point Creative Labs still has nothing to offer because you will need channels. There is no use case, only nostalgia and begging.

 

[brucek]

I don't get the point. Everything I listen through has its own decoder. So what is there for the sound card to do?

 

[RudyBob]

F*** Creative

 

[Axiarus]

I'll continue using my external AMP/DAC combo.

 

[Watzupken]

Creative should consider letting go of sound card as a business and just focus on external DAC, etc. In my opinion,
1. People on a budget will not want to add more cost when building a PC,
2. PC enthusiasts tend to add powerful hardware, I.e. GPU, which pretty much blocks or use up most of the PCI-e slots.
3. I am not sure how many people still uses a giant desktop nowadays. The more compact it is, the less likely there will be PCI-E slots to plug additional devices.

Hence, I think the market for such internal sound card is small and shrinking.

 

[scavengerspc]

And here I am still using my old SB ZX

I have a DOS box I built in the late 90s with a SoundBlaster 16 still kicking.

 

[IMABEARLOL]

The budget would have been better spent developing their drivers and software for their existing products.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

The budget would have been better spent developing their drivers and software for their existing products.

This is the big sticking point. Even if this wasn't just a rebranded realtek chip, creatives support is awful. Why would anyone want to buy their products just to get no support?

 

[Namtrooper]

And here I am still using my old SB ZX

And here I am still using the Creative x-fi Titanium Fatal1ty edition (or some such). Bought it back when I thought surround sound was the best thing since sliced bread. Probably around 2008 if I have to guess.

 

[Hotrod2go]

There isn't any info on what audio solution Creative is using for the FX pro and Creative doesn't list it themselves, however it doesn't make much sense to be launching an internal sound card when USB DAC's have taken over the audio market.
Also because there isn't much choice in dedicated PC speakers anymore with 3.5mm jacks.

All you need is Logitech's Z906 speakers, but upgrade the speaker cables as they are pathetically thin & cheap out of the box.

 

[Jyrkz]

My audigy experience was always holy ****, the sound was amazing and the extra features where next gen, recordings etc,, recoding music etc... next lvl a soundcard

 

[Stoly]

I miss my good old nforce2 motherboard. That dolby digital live/DTS connect encoding was amazing.
I haven't used my hometheater for gaming since then.

BTW I think I still have an audigyFX PCI somewhere.

 

[Stoly]

BTW remember when AMD was using raytracing for sound? what happened to that?

 

[etempest]

Are they only going to update the driver once every 4-5 years?

 

[toooooot]

What is the purpose of it? To revive an old PC? Then the price is too high.
Can it really offer sound much better than sound from motherboard integrated chip?
Seems like a product that is released too late. Meanwhile, this thing below, I used it when MB sound was real crap, and I needed something to connect my PC to my receiver too.
I used it till the point when motherboard makers stopped supplying PCI slots.
RIP Omega Claro.

 

[TameU]

Could be interesting if the drivers won't suck as usual.

 

[daffy duck]

Isn't the big problem with Creative their dogshit drivers?

I'm looking for a decent audio solution as the sound on my otherwise excellent Asrock X870E Nova MB is terrible. I'm wary of Creative.

 

[Axiarus]

Isn't the big problem with Creative their dogshit drivers?

I'm looking for a decent audio solution as the sound on my otherwise excellent Asrock X870E Nova MB is terrible. I'm wary of Creative.

Look into external AMP/DACs. Checkout the Topping DX3 Pro+ to start. Very good combo for the price.

 

[daffy duck]

Look into external AMP/DACs. Checkout the Topping DX3 Pro+ to start. Very good combo for the price.

Cheers, will check it out today.

 

[BadThad]

The first Audigy was the only time I could really tell a difference over the decades. Since then, meh. I bet the card also comes with some amazing and buggy bloatware for FREE! They are notorious for adding layers of unnecessary BS.

 

[Rapob]

Hmm 5-10 years too late.
Not going back to internal sound card again, USB DAC ftw.