What did I break Creative X-Fi

[almach1]

OK here is the scenerio. I decided to upgrade my audio to x-fi and to also use some 5.1 Headphones for movies and games. Here is what I did in order

1. Purchased X-Fi extreme music and Turtle Beach 5.1 (non amplified headphones).

Problem with this combination = Front right RATTLES HORRIBLY on high volume only and NO BASS at all.

My conclusion = bad headphones - I returned the headphones

2. Purchased the Turtle Beat 5.1 amplified headphones

Problem with this = Worked fine for 5 minutes then front right ear RATTLED HORRIBLY AGAIN at high volume but this time I did hear bass (Probably because it's amplified)

Moved the headphones to 2nd computer with built in ac97 5.1 audio and no rattle BUT you can tell the front right speaker is not nearly as loud as the front left. I'm guessing his computer can't push the Db's enough to hear the rattle.

Conclusions:

So I think that my creative X-fi ruined both headphones front right speaker. I used my x-fi first on both headphones and the front right speaker had rattles. I used 3 different sound cards and rattle is still there or the volume is really low on the front left. useing different media players made no difference.

Can it be my computer or was it my X-fi that ruined both pairs of headphones?

 

[PurdueRy]

Haha, a sound card ruining headphones...2 pairs at that...that's a new one.

I doubt your computer borked either set of headphones. Unless you turned the volume up way to loud on the amplified set.

 

[almach1]

I really don't want to think that the same exact speaker died on two different pairs of headphones. i mean the chances seem very slim? The first sound card they were both plugged into were the x-fi.

what if- (I might try this tomorrow) i return the headphones one more time for an exact replacement and again the front right speaker starts to rattle. can i then blame it on the x-fi ?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: almach1
I really don't want to think that the same exact speaker died on two different pairs of headphones. i mean the chances seem very slim? The first sound card they were both plugged into were the x-fi.

what if- (I might try this tomorrow) i return the headphones one more time for an exact replacement and again the front right speaker starts to rattle. can i then blame it on the x-fi ?

How about you listen on something other than your computer...THEN if no rattle occurs after listening for a few hours, plug them into the X-fi. If they then break...I guess its possible

 

[almach1]

i'll give the turtle beach one more chance before I blame it on the x-fi. i'll keep ya posted.

 

[Ghouler]

I would not buy 5.1. headphones to pair X-Fi at all.
Surround over headphones (CMSS-3D) works with good stereo headphones better then any 5.1 headphones.
Some 5.1 headphones have vibration effect, this is cool when you are close to any tanks in BF2, but I guess it kills your hearing effectively, too.

Make sure this rattling was not just the vibration effect of the headset activated by low frequencies

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, If you overdrive any audio reproducer you will get distortion especially earphones. Coincidence that one phone distorts first on both. Maybe! Jim

 

[almach1]

I want audiophile headphones with a built in mic. not too many around. i would go with sennhiesers (sp) or audiotechnicas, but they don't have mics. i'll admit the 5.1's don't sound as good, but the vibration effects were pretty cool. i might return them again and go with the steel headphones.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836509102
8 out of 30 gave negative reviews. maybe i'll take another chance on build quality.

 

[RallyMaster]

Did you check if your speakers are configured correctly? Who knows, maybe you have the speaker balance messed up?