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Square black external DAC with large volume knob and multiple ports on front and back

Creative Labs

Creative Labs Sound Blaster X4 70SB181500000 sound card

SKU CH-17YM-Y65QK MPN 70SB181500000

External USB DAC and amp delivers 7.1 discrete and virtual surround with Super X-Fi and Dolby Digital Live

  • Interface typeUSB-C, USB Bus Powered
  • Audio chipSound Blaster Acoustic Engine, Super X-Fi
  • Audio channels7.1
  • SNR114 dB
  • Supported operating systemsWindows® 10 Ver 1703, macOS 10.15 and above, Windows® 11
  • Setup requirementsWindows® OS Intel® Core™i3 or AMD® equivalent processor Inte
  • Hi-res 24-bit/192 kHz DAC for detailed playback
  • 114 dB signal-to-noise ratio for clean audio
  • 1 discrete and virtual surround with Super X-Fi
  • SmartComms Kit with two-way noise cancellation for calls
  • Headphone amp drives 32–600 Ω loads

External USB DAC and Amp

The Creative Sound Blaster X4 is a USB-C powered external sound card that delivers 7.1 discrete and virtual surround audio for Windows 10, Windows 11 and macOS 10.15 or later. It targets gamers and content creators who want hi-res 24-bit 192 kHz playback and a built-in headphone amplifier without installing an internal card. Buyers needing an internal PCIe solution or more than 7.1 channels should look elsewhere.

Thermals, noise and power

The unit draws all power from the host USB port, so it adds no separate power supply and generates no audible fan noise. Its aluminium chassis passively dissipates the modest heat produced by the DAC and amplifier stages during normal listening or gaming sessions. No active cooling is present, so thermal throttling is not a concern under typical desktop workloads.

Bundled accessories and software

A 2 m USB-A to USB-C cable and a 1 m optical cable are included for immediate connection to PCs, Macs, PS5, PS4 or Nintendo Switch. The SmartComms Kit leaflet unlocks auto-mute and two-way noise-cancellation features in the Creative app, while the Creative app on Android and iOS via Bluetooth provides remote EQ and Super X-Fi toggles. Three hardware EQ presets and Direct Mode can be stored on the device for driver-free use.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Internal & USB Sound Cards, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $119.99
Pricier than about 91% of the 185 comparable items (median $29.99).

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Specifications

Product
Brand nameCreative
Model nameSound Blaster X4
Part number70SB181500000
Audio & video
Audio chipSound Blaster Acoustic Engine, Super X-Fi
Audio channels7.1
Ports & slots
Interface typeUSB-C, USB Bus Powered
Size & build
Product dimensions130.5 mm × 130.5 mm × 40.6 mm (5.14 × 5.14 × 1.6 in)
Product weight384g / 13.55 oz
Shipping weight0.29 kg
Package size237 × 167 × 60 mm
Compatibility
Supported operating systemsWindows® 10 Ver 1703, macOS 10.15 and above, Windows® 11
In the box
In the boxSound Blaster X4
USB-A to USB-C Cable (2m / 6.56 ft)
Optical Cable (1m / 3.28 ft)
SmartComms Kit Leaflet
Quick Start Guide and Leaflets
Warranty Leaflets
More details
SNR114 dB

Other versions of this model

5 more in the same range

Questions about this item

How do I install the Sound Blaster X4 on my Windows 10 PC, and what step is often missed?

Connect the supplied USB-A to USB-C cable to a USB 2.0 port, then install the Creative app to enable Super X-Fi and Dolby Digital Live; the step often missed is running the app setup after Windows detects the device.

What maintenance or replacement will the Sound Blaster X4 need over time?

No user-serviceable parts are inside; keep the USB-C port and optical connectors clean, and replace the 2 m USB cable or 1 m optical cable only if they become damaged.

What limit appears first during long gaming sessions with the Sound Blaster X4?

The headphone amplifier is rated for 32–600 Ω loads; driving very low-impedance headphones continuously can trigger thermal protection before the 114 dB SNR spec is reached.

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