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Sound Blaster E1 and E3 

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If you are of mature years – old – like me then you think of Sound Blaster for sound cards and speakers but of course they do a lot more. Here I am looking at two headphone amplifiers and the second one is also a DAC as well.

Creative Sound Blaster E1 USB Sound Card
click image to enlarge

Sound Blaster E1

Only a small proportion of headphones have the ability to amplify sound so if the level produced by your MP3 or SmartPhone is low that is what your output is.

Here a small 6.5x3.2x2cm device that can amplify the sound you give it without destroying the original. The last figure includes the clip that can fit onto a pocket or belt, the device weights only 24grams.

It is powered by its own internal solid battery that you charge by USB – lead supplied – and it also comes with a 3.5mm extension lead.

A large clear instruction sheet is provided with plenty of illustrations and even someone of my age can read the clear type.

Whatever set of headphones or earbuds you use you should get an increased volume when connected to the Sound Blaster E1 it definitely should not effect the sound quality in a detrimental way.

The unit has a micro USB port and Line in jack on one end and Headphone/Line out jack and Headphone/Mic in jack on the other end. The volume slider has on/off and Play/Pause button either side of it with the belt/pocket clip on the back. The sound output is stated at 106dB.

The Sound Blaster E1 is available from the link below for £39.99 with free delivery.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JFRHLQK?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634

Sound Blaster E3

Creative Sound Blaster E3 Headphone Amplifier
click image to enlarge

This is a slightly more powerful version of the above with a possible 112dB as the stated output.

It is 6x4x2cm and weights 44grams.

A tip that may not be immediately obvious is that the lead from your SmartPhone or MP3 player goes into the base of the unit (beside the micro USB port) while your Headphones or earbuds should work in either of the 3.5mm ports on the top of the unit. Another way of two people sharing sound output without having to share a single pair of earbuds.

The connections are 3.5mm input and Micro USB for charging in the base, two sets of headphones can connect at the top. The right side has buttons to turn the unit on/off and play/pause/answer phone. The left side has + and – buttons for volume and back and forward track. The back has a similar belt clip to the unit above.

This unit is also Bluetooth so providing your Smart Phone or ‘i’ device has Bluetooth you can dispense with the input lead. The quality of Bluetooth sound is also stated to be higher.

The output is a way of getting better – and louder – sound from your MP3 or SmartPhone.

The Sound Blaster E3 is available from the first link below for £102.85 with free delivery.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LC1VKY6?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634

The link below gives information on both the above units as well as the E5 that I did not see.  

http://www.soundblaster.com/amplifiers.aspx

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