After the successful Aurvana Ace 2 earbuds, Creative returns with more xMEMS-powered offerings with one being the Aurvana Ace SXFI. The Creative Aurvana Ace SXFI is the latest true wireless earbuds to integrate SXFI natively with xMEMS drivers. Priced at S$169, they bring spatial holography audio to a compact in-ear form while aiming to deliver solid sound and feature parity at a competitive price.
Unboxing
Here’s what you’ll find in the box:
- Aurvana Ace SXFI
- USB-C Charging Cable
- Quick Start Guide
- Pouch
- Pair of (XS), (S), (M), (L) and (XL) Silicone Ear Tips
Build quality and features
The Creative Aurvana Ace SXFI aims to have a classy look with its matte black finish accented by a gold touches for a premium feel. The design is minimalist, though the glossy outer surface can pick up fingerprints more than typical matte surfaces. The earbuds adopt a classic stem-style shape, with a slightly longer stem than some rivals.
Build quality of both the earbuds and the charging case is pretty good. The charging case shares the same styling with gold accents revealing in the edges and interior. It also features a side strap loop, a USB-C charging port, and a pairing button tucked underneath.
Rated IPX5, the earbuds can handle light splashes and sweaty workouts. Each bud weighs about 6g, which is slightly heavier than average, but the round shape helps them feel comfortable in-ear for long listening sessions.
Controls and App
Touch controls are located on the flat outer surface of the earbuds and support double tap, triple tap, and long press gestures. Response usually snappy – some touches were missed or lagged slightly but likely due to missing the touch surface. Customization is available via the Creative app, and I also like how single tap is not a default touch control to prevent accidental mis-touches.
For full functionality, two apps are needed: the Creative app and the SXFI app, the latter required for head mapping to enable Super X-Fi personalization. That setup involves scanning your ears and face – once done, SXFI can be toggled in the app or via the earbuds.
You can also adjust ambient and ANC levels, and tweak EQ settings. The EQ offers a number of ready-made presets that you can choose from, or you can make your own curve and save it as a preset.
Fit and comfort
Thanks to a rounded body and generous selection of ear tips, the Creative Aurvana Ace SXFI delivers good wearing comfort despite being a slightly larger stem-style earbud. They sit snugly in the ear without too much pressure and are stable enough for light activity.
The protruding stem might not sit flush against the face depending on your ear shape, but for me it was all good. There’s no wear detection, so playback won’t pause when you remove them.
Sound quality & Super X-Fi
Out of the box, the Creative Aurvana Ace SXFI offers an enjoyable listening experience. The dual-driver setup featuring xMEMS technology delivers punchy bass with crisp, airy treble. Bassheads and fans of genres like hip-hop, EDM, and pop will likely enjoy the energetic sound signature.
Midrange detail is decent but not as prominent – female vocals in particular can feel slightly recessed compared to the rest of the mix. Still, the highs are well extended without being overly harsh, though rock and metal tracks at louder volumes may sound a bit shrill. If you’re after a more refined sound, the equalizer in the Creative app offers a ton of presets and a 10-band manual EQ to tweak things to your liking.
As for Super X-Fi (SXFI), you can use it with streaming services but personally where it shines depends on the content. Once set up, it expands the soundstage noticeably, simulating an open, speaker-like presentation which usually impacts intimacy and clarity noticeably on vocals and bass presence. As such, I like using SXFI when watching movies, listening to live concert recordings, and open-world gaming. And stick to non-SXFi mode when listening to music.
ANC performance & Ambient mode
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is present and works adequately for the price. Low-frequency noises like PC fans or light vehicle rumbles are handled decently, but don’t expect high-end cancellation. Higher frequency sounds can still slip through. You can choose between adaptive ANC and a four-stage manual mode. In practice, the difference between modes is subtle – I’d stick to adaptive ANC setting.
Ambient mode works fine, allowing you to hear surroundings like conversations or traffic. Though it doesn’t overly robotic or processed effect can feel a little artificial, with a faint background hiss and a midrange boost that slightly distorts natural sounds.
Microphone quality
The microphone performance quality is serviceable. In quiet environments, the earbuds pick up voice clearly with a nice depth and warmth. However, once background noise creeps in, the microphones can struggle to isolate your voice with clarity taking a hit. You’ll be fine for indoor calls, but don’t expect top-tier mic performance on the go.
Connectivity & Battery life
Connectivity is handled via Bluetooth 5.3, which ensures a stable connection and decent range. There’s only support for SBC and AAC codecs. Mono mode is available for solo earbud use. Battery life is rated at up to 8 hours without ANC (about 5.5 hours with it on), and a total of 28 hours with the charging case. While that’s not class-leading, it’s respectable. Charging is via USB-C or wireless charging.
Conclusion
The Creative Aurvana Ace SXFI is a solid all-rounder with a strong focus on sound and comfort. The default tuning works well for modern genres, and while the SXFI mode depends on the kind of music, it has niche appeal for movies and spatial audio content. If you’re after a fun-sounding pair of earbuds for casual listening with the option to explore spatial audio, the Creative Aurvana Ace SXFI is worth considering.