For some people, replacing a PC’s motherboard audio with a sound card is already a high-end move. Replacing it with a sound card that costs $350? That’s insane.
But that’s just what Creative is offering with its new SoundBlaster AE-9 (See it at Creative Labs), a 32-bit PCIe sound card with integrated digital-to-audio converter (DAC), separate left and right headphone amps, and a tabletop breakout box with pro-grade microphone inputs. In other words, the AE-9 is aimed at gamers who are also audiophiles and creators with a need for a desktop recording studio.
Source: IGN.com SoundBlaster AE-9 Soundcard Review