My X-Fi is so amazing that...

[T9D]

...

 

[Caveman]

So... What card would folks recommend today in a Win 7 64 environment? I want a good stand alone solution.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I love my X-Fi! Digital SPDIF out at 96KHz using a 24-bit 96KHz default source through my primary GTX 285 and into my TV with a single HDMI connection. Digital Bitstream out using the Dolby Digital Live encoder for a 5.1 audio signal. X-Fi CMSS-3D and X-Fi Crystalizer working flawlessly on top of that with fully dedicated hardware processing. I pitty the fools who think their motherboard's on board audio is just as good. Simpletons they are!

I pity you for thinking the Crystalizer improves your audio. Plus, since you're raving about the digital out, you want less screwing with that. What are you even playing? I will laugh if you're applying all of that to stereo music (or even non-stereo music actually). If it's movies, why aren't you just passing the Dolby or DTS stream? For games, I'd prefer to let the game do the surround, in which case I'd say do uncompressed 5.1. At best, I don't think I'd be wanting to apply two separate surround processing.

The signal is through HDMI to the TV. The TV has the 3.5mm connection.

Wow, just noticed that. As was mentioned the not very good DAC in the X-Fi will likely trounce all over your TV, and then there's the whole applying surround stuff only to have it decoded to stereo by your TV part. Ugh.

It works well at encoding a 5.1 audio source for headphone use while gaming.

You have them plugged directly into your TV? You could notice the distortion straight from the Head-Fi but don't notice any from the TV?

 

[T9D]

...

 

[darkswordsman17]

Are there any other sound cards that have a graphic EQ built into the driver, so that you have a system-wide EQ? See, this is why I like my X-Fi. The only other sound card that had this was a crappy on-board sound card, which sounded HORRIBLE... and the EQ that the drivers had didn't work at all. Just made it sound worse.

What are you EQing and why are you EQing it?

So... What card would folks recommend today in a Win 7 64 environment? I want a good stand alone solution.

What do you want to do with it? What do you listen on (speakers/headphones)?

 

[darkswordsman17]

I got the X-FI elite pro. It has even better DACs in it. Well worth the upgrade. Top notch professional sound. I put it up against separates and the X-FI won in all areas. Even against some supposed Giant killer DAC in the audiophile world. One that got rave reviews from everyone and was 4 times the price at the time. One thing to note is that if you are really into sound comparisons you absolutely must be running your X-FI on Vista or Windows 7. XP it total and complete garbage for sound. It was always one of it's flaws since it runs sound through the Kernel. Keels getting down sampled and then upsamled over and over until the end product is junk. With a good set up my jaw dropped when I went to Vista for the first time.

Edit: and turn off that stupid crystalizer and other effects junk.

What do you mean better? What do you mean by separates? How exactly did you test it?

You can bypass the kernel in XP, and while Vista/Win7 are better, you'd still want to bypass that for music. Wasn't the X-Fi also guilty of resampling everything that it processes? It wasn't as bad as the Audigys, but is still happens because of the way the hardware does things.

 

[skace]

When I built my latest system, I took the onboard over my latest gen XFi. The XFi is literally sitting in a box. And this is coming from someone with HD800s and the HeadRoom Desktop setup....

 

[BassBomb]

I have audigy2 was only slightly better than my onboard..

I would get an odd noise in the motherboard that would occur occasionally, never occured in the audigy so i use that

I hook it up via digital SPDIF using 3.5mm to RCA (then goes to my reciever)
Onboard doesnt need the adaptor as its just RCA to RCA.

 

[0roo0roo]

shens, take a pic of said port..macro

 

[darkxshade]

I haven't used a soundcard since soundblaster live 3 PC's ago but I recently jumped on the X-Fi when I saw it on the slickdeals frontpage for $30 around Black Fri. Here's hoping I didn't make a mistake in buying it.

 

[sandorski]

I ripped my Audigy Gamer out years ago and have used Onboard ever since. No more mucking around with Creatives craptacular Drivers has spared me much grief.

 

[AdamK47]

What are you even playing?

Gaming with headphones. The X-Fi uses the DTS stream to encode the 5.1 channels. CMSS-3D converts the 5.1 audio source from the game to two channel audio. Have you tried CMSS-3D before?

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

Love my Auzentech X-Fi Prelude.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Gaming with headphones. The X-Fi uses the DTS stream to encode the 5.1 channels. CMSS-3D converts the 5.1 audio source from the game to two channel audio. Have you tried CMSS-3D before?

Yes I have and did not like it. I've never been a big fan of any of the surround technologies.

What do you mean uses the DTS stream? The X-Fi should be handling the surround from the game itself, either via the game passing it after it processes it or having the X-Fi process it if it supports that, then it should be applying the surround. Encoding it in DD or DTS is a waste if you're just listening to it 2 channel. I don't know why you're even bothering outputting to the TV though, as the X-Fi should be better. Are you plugging into the front panel or into the X-Fi itself on the back?

 

[dr150]

Love my Auzentech X-Fi Prelude.

:thumbsup:

 

[AdamK47]

Yes I have and did not like it. I've never been a big fan of any of the surround technologies.

What do you mean uses the DTS stream? The X-Fi should be handling the surround from the game itself, either via the game passing it after it processes it or having the X-Fi process it if it supports that, then it should be applying the surround. Encoding it in DD or DTS is a waste if you're just listening to it 2 channel. I don't know why you're even bothering outputting to the TV though, as the X-Fi should be better. Are you plugging into the front panel or into the X-Fi itself on the back?

Read my previous replies. The X-Fi is connected to my primary nVidia GTX 285 with SPDIF out. The audio signal is then sent through HDMI using DVI to HDMI. When I plug the headphones into the 3.5mm jack of the TV all audio processing by the TV is disabled and the signal is sent directly to the headphones.

You don't seem to understand how SPDIF out works by default on the X-Fi. By default Creative limits it to two channel audio if all you are using is the X-Fi driver. In order to get 5.1 channel audio you need to download and activate (a $5 charge) the Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect Pack. Google it. It's true that I use only two channels through my headphones, but the audio source is 5.1 channels and converted using CMSS-3D. Google that as well if you still don't understand how it works for headphone use.

It seems like you've ignored all that I've said and drew a picture in your mind as to how I am horribly and incorrectly doing things.

 

[jlee]

Turtle Beach used to make some great, cheap sound cards. However, their driver support is literally non-existent. Creative puts them to shame.

I had a Santa Cruz for years. I think it's in my cousin's computer now.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Read my previous replies. The X-Fi is connected to my primary nVidia GTX 285 with SPDIF out. The audio signal is then sent through HDMI using DVI to HDMI. When I plug the headphones into the 3.5mm jack of the TV all audio processing by the TV is disabled and the signal is sent directly to the headphones.

You don't seem to understand how SPDIF out works by default on the X-Fi. By default Creative limits it to two channel audio if all you are using is the X-Fi driver. In order to get 5.1 channel audio you need to download and activate (a $5 charge) the Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect Pack. Google it. It's true that I use only two channels through my headphones, but the audio source is 5.1 channels and converted using CMSS-3D. Google that as well if you still don't understand how it works for headphone use.

It seems like you've ignored all that I've said and drew a picture in your mind as to how I am horribly and incorrectly doing things.

Do I have this right?

Native 5.1 from the game --> DTS encoder --> CMSS-3D conversion to 2 channels --> spdif to video card --> HDMI out to TV --> TV converts 2 channel digital to analog --> headphones?

I believe darkswordsman17 is asking why don't you do

Native 5.1 from the game --> CMSS-3D conversion to 2 channels --> X-Fi converts to analog (using its superior DACs) --> headphones

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

shens, take a pic of said port..macro

I assume it's one of those mini optical outs (rather than a regular toslink type connection).

You'd use one of these cables to run from the mini optical out to a regular device
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022902

The jack might be a multi-function jack that's assignable to different tasks?

I don't know... I've never used an X-Fi.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

From 2006

From Creative:

Reality:

 

[sandorski]

From 2006

From Creative:

Reality:

hehe, they got some Balls.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

X-Fi converts MP3s into a tiny band that plays inside your computer for you and it sounds better than a studio.

 

[zoiks]

Love my Auzentech X-Fi Prelude.

I currently use the Turtle Beach Montego DDL and love it. Prior to that I used the Santa Cruz which rocked as well. I still have that card.

 

[HannibalX]

I have the X-Fi Elite Pro driving Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speakers and I'm very satisfied with the sound quality.

I have run these same speakers on various systems with onboard sound and the difference is night and day. I don't see myself using onboard sound any time soon.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Do I have this right?

Native 5.1 from the game --> DTS encoder --> CMSS-3D conversion to 2 channels --> spdif to video card --> HDMI out to TV --> TV converts 2 channel digital to analog --> headphones?

I believe darkswordsman17 is asking why don't you do

Native 5.1 from the game --> CMSS-3D conversion to 2 channels --> X-Fi converts to analog (using its superior DACs) --> headphones

This. Even doing SPDIF, why bother with the DTS/DDL encoding when you just want the two channels? It adds extra processing for no reason and would actually be compressing the audio (you should be able to do PCM stereo which would be lossless no problem, versus DTS/DD which compresses the signal). The TV is processing the signal, it has to if its getting a digital signal and yet you can just plug your headphones into the analog out.