Creative launches FX Pro with 7.1 surround and headphone amp
Creative has introduced the Sound Blaster Audigy FX Pro, a new internal PCIe sound card aimed at users who want more than standard motherboard audio. The card launched on March 16 at $79.99 in the US, and Creative positions it as the top model in the current Audigy FX lineup.
The release is notable because Creative has not launched a new Audigy PCIe card since the Sound Blaster Audigy Fx V2, which was announced on October 5, 2021. That means the new FX Pro arrives after nearly four and a half years without a fresh Audigy add-in card, even though Creative continued selling older models such as the Audigy Fx, Audigy Rx, and Audigy Fx V2.
Compared with the Audigy Fx V2, the new model raises playback support from 24-bit / 192 kHz and 5.1-channel audio to 32-bit / 384 kHz and discrete 7.1 surround sound . Creative also lists up to 120 dB SNR , a built-in headphone amplifier, and support for the new Creative Nexus software, which debuts with this card as a unified audio control app.
On the hardware side, the Audigy FX Pro uses a low-profile PCIe design and ships with a half-height bracket , so it should fit compact desktop systems as well as standard towers. Creative says the card is designed as a direct internal upgrade for users who want stronger headphone output, multi-channel speaker support, and more software control without moving to external DACs or higher-priced audio gear.
The new card also marks a software transition for the Audigy family. The older Audigy Fx V2 centered more on SmartComms Kit and Creative app features for calls and voice cleanup, while the FX Pro shifts the focus to Creative Nexus , Auto EQ , and Sound Blaster Acoustic Engine controls. According to Creative, this sound card should retail at $79.99.
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Source: Creative PR
