Creatice sound blaster X3 DAC

I just bought the same hardware. Software seems to install successfully -- then acts like it can't find the driver.

Somebody on Reddit already reached out to Creative about it and the company said that they're working on an M1 Silicon driver.

Having said that, the device works fine if you want 2 channel stereo. It won't pass 5.1 audio no matter what configuration I use even though Audio MIDI Setup sees 6 channesl on the "X3 Speakers" output. I think that's mainly due to the fact that the USB-A interface doesn't pass 5.1 audio from the Mini M1 I have. Don't know what Mac you have.

It sounds like your Mac is older and if it is, then try this: https://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=200259&c

TonyLinguini wrote:

I have Intel iMac, and the 5.1 works through midi but not through the sound blaster speaker test. That has been taken up by Creative

I will second this. The speaker test will not work.

However, if you install the drivers and set the alert/output prefs (in System Prefs) to "Speakers" (not the Optical Speaker option, just "Sound Blaster Speakers"), and then run the Optical from the X3 to the optical in your receiver, it will work.

The trick is enabling output in specific apps. For instance, go to VLC and set the Audio Device to "Sound Blaster X3 SPDIF Out (Encoded Output), your receiver SHOULD decode any and all 5.1/AC3 files for true surround and separation over 5 channels.

And I have an M1 Mini, not the Intel.

For some reason, Creative's speaker tests simply do not work, period.

You need to contact the developers of the product to find out what is compatible with.