High-end headphones are a delight to use, especially with the subtle audio cues they deliver which makes music streaming as well as gaming more enjoyable and immersive. However, these peripherals often come at a steep price. Take the EPOS H3PRO Hybrid for instance, this great-sounding headset costs £239 while the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX sells for £180. Such options might not be within everyone’s budget, so how about giving your existing tried-and-tested headset a boost? The newly-released, £65 Creative Sound Blaster X1 aims to do just that and let’s see how well it enhances the audio experience of your existing headphones.

Out of the box, you’ll find the following items:

• Creative Sound Blaster X1
• USB-C to USB-C cable
• Quick Start Guide

  

As for the device’s specs, they can be found below:

Finger-length in size (9.7 x 175 x 67 mm / 0.4 x 0.7 x 2.6 inches), the main unit of the Sound Blaster X1 is a rather slim and pocketable accessory. The size expands as you plug in the USB-C cable on one end and your headphone’s 3.5mm jack on the other. But even after these connections, the device remains rather inconspicuous and lightweight (15 g / 0.5 oz for the main unit). The matte black body and gold markings don’t draw much attention either.

All controls are found on the front side of the device. There’s a tiny LED Status Indicator, a button to toggle the Super X-Fi feature, volume controls, and a multifunction button. In particular, having the volume controls are handy as I’ve come across several headphones and earphones that don’t come with such hardware. I find that having the ability to adjust the volume with in-line controls is easier/handier than adjusting from the audio source.

Also handy is that the Sound Blaster X1 is meant to be connected to a headphone with a 3.5mm jack. This doubles the accessory as a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone port adapter with some attractive bells and whistles.

Indeed, while using the Sound Blaster X1 is essentially a plug-and-play affair for a boost in volume and clarity, the extras that come with Creative’s companion apps are well worth setting up. There’s the Super X-Fi technology from Creative that I’ve previously tested and found to be a real audio experience enhancer rather than a gimmick. By using a smartphone app and your smartphone’s camera to map your facial structure, the Super X-Fi technology uses computational audio to deliver a personalised experience that emulates the soundscape of a multi-speaker system. 

This effect can be toggled easily via the dedicated button and by switching it on/off, you can really notice the difference. Regular headphones will sound like speakers placed next to each ear while the Super X-Fi tech will create a surround-like soundscape. The effect is instantly noticeable and feels more up-close and personal.

While the Super X-Fi effect is most pronounced with Creative’s own headphones, the Sound Blaster X1’s Super X-Fi does deliver a similar experience when I’ve used it with earphones. The audio output is crisp, vibrant and details subtle aural nuances that are characteristic of high-end headphones. The audio quality has been consistently clear and faithful across devices I've tested it on (PC, AYANEO, Switch) whether it's for gaming, watching YouTube videos or playing my Spotify playlists.

In addition, with the PC Creative app, you’ll have access to an additional suite of customisation options. You’ll get to adjust the EQ band to your liking, and toggle other Creative-specific features. There’s Scout Mode that highlights specific audio cues to deliver an edge during competitive gaming such as weapon reloads or footsteps. Further tweaking of audio elements for gaming purposes is available via the Acoustic Engine module https://uk.creative.com/technology/acousticengine/ . The level of customisation comes in handy if you want to fine-tune the audio experience based on your needs and this makes your Sound Blaster X1-equipped headphones more versatile.

However, not everyone might have a use for all of these features and they can be initially intimidating to get acquainted with. For someone looking to increase sound clarity, the Sound Blaster X1 can be quite pricey, especially with cheaper alternatives like the $10 Odyssey HD from Venture Electronics. 

Moreover, the extra features from the Sound Blaster X1 that really make the device stand out are only accessible through the dedicated app. This means having yet another app to clutter your phone/PC.

And while the Sound Blaster X1 doubles as a USB-C to headphone jack adapter, it doesn’t support USB-C headphones which are also becoming common. If you wish to benefit from the Super X-Fi tech without buying a new pair of headset, you’ll have to contend with earpieces that feature a 3.5mm cable. Having the option to also plug in USB-C headphones would be welcome to make the accessory more versatile.

But with the range of customisation available, the Creative Sound Blaster X1 already offers varied use cases and it does so by outputting convincing audio. It’s an accessory worth looking into if you want to give your headphones a boost with new tech.