My Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic Review (with Audigy comparison)

[BFG10K]

Click.

 

[BFG10K]

All quiet on the GH front? I thought you guys would be all over this.

 

[Ichigo]

If you could run some BF2 benchmarks, please do so. THere's a ~900 post thread on the creative forums about performance issues.

 

[BFG10K]

Sorry, I don't have BF2.

However there are some BF2 benchmarks here.

 

[AntiStatic]

nice review, thanks. i still refuse to buy a creative card lol.

 

[bamacre]

Very interesting, thanks!

 

[Ghouler]

Nice one!
Did you try CMSS-headphones? I read it was disabled for testing, fairplay to auld Audigy But it actually does great job when you have it on in gamez..

 

[BFG10K]

I don't have headphones but I'll enable CMSS for my 2.1 setup when I start playing games on the card.

 

[xtknight]

Call of Duty 2 was run under its DirectX 7 path (which has nothing to do with the sound cards, the DX9 path just sucks utter chunks for performance).

Well, there is an audio API in DirectX too so I'm not sure about that one. Hopefully it only affects Direct3D.

And do you think the audio quality improvement (listening tests) was worth the money? Do you know off the top of your head if the XtremeMusic can be made to input S/PDIF digital or coaxial or with a small extra box?

 

[BFG10K]

Well, there is an audio API in DirectX too so I'm not sure about that one

That setting only affects the renderer.

And do you think the audio quality improvement (listening tests) was worth the money?

Most definitely.

Do you know off the top of your head if the XtremeMusic can be made to input S/PDIF digital or coaxial or with a small extra box?

I'm not sure. Sorry.

 

[acegazda]

what would you say are the best speakers to go with this card around $100?

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Call of Duty 2 was run under its DirectX 7 path (which has nothing to do with the sound cards, the DX9 path just sucks utter chunks for performance).

Well, there is an audio API in DirectX too so I'm not sure about that one. Hopefully it only affects Direct3D.

And do you think the audio quality improvement (listening tests) was worth the money? Do you know off the top of your head if the XtremeMusic can be made to input S/PDIF digital or coaxial or with a small extra box?

This might be what you're looking for.

You can also pick up the 5.25" drive for about $80, or you can even opt to go with the Creative DDTS-100 (its basically a Creative card in an external enclosuer that functions as a sort of mini-reciever).

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: acegazda
what would you say are the best speakers to go with this card around $100?

How much space do you have?

If you find the right deal, you can get the Klipsch Promedia 2.1s, or the Logitech Z-5300s for about that price.

You could also possibly get a lowend reciever and maybe pick up a pair of Polk R15s. This will sound better but will take up considerably more room, and to some extent you're wasting the capabilities of either your sound card or reciever (since both would probably be able to decode DD, DTS, etc.), and you'll either be using the reciever as an amplifier or else not be using your card to decode.

You might would be better off with a 2.1 system though, as some people need more bass than a 2 channel setup can offer.

Also, if you would be willing to stretch the budget, you might check your local Best Buy and see if they have the Klipsch 5.1 Ultras, as they've been selling them for $199 lately. That or get something like the Athena 5 channel setup on Amazon to pair with a reciever, but thats starting to get really out of the budget, especially since most people say those really need a sub to go with them.

 

[Ichigo]

Yes of course. Buy speakers that cost less than your soundcard. THAT MAKES SENSE.

 

[acegazda]

are you being sarcastic?
must be all good speakers cost more than the x-fi xtrememusic
yes darswordsman the kipslich 5.1 speakers are $200 and I have a $60 gift card there so thats perfect.
They are sold out though...

 

[SonicIce]

Well done. I like the real-world benchmarks on settings you'll actually play at.

How much better would an Audigy or X-Fi be than my Chaintech AV-710 performance wise and quality? (music and games). and whats up with 1856x1392

 

[Ghouler]

Chaintech uses Via Audio Chip, for benchmarks that compare this with X-Fi and Audigy 2ZS check this site:
PCPER benchmarks

 

[NanoStuff]

Can't say it's wise to use EQ presets during an evaluation, but then again people already know the X-Fi sounds better than an Audigy so it wouldn't have been a revelation either way.

 

[Ghouler]

he asked about benchmarks for Chaintech. I think this is via chip so these benchmarks are the answer to Audigy vs. Chaintech question.

 

[Geomagick]

I always knew my X-fi sounded better than the Audigy 2 I had before, however I never truly appreciated the difference in performance. Thanks for the info BFG.

 

[acegazda]

there is an audigy 2 zs platinum @ buy.com Here...
for $70 shipped after MIR how does this fare against the x-fi xtremmusic?