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X-Fi ExtremeMusic

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Actually, to answer my own earlier question, drivers are widely available, I just clicked on the wrong menu. In order to get them from Creative, go to SoundBlaster.com and click on the second choice in the menu (SoundBlaster, not XFi) and then navigate to XFi and then ExtremeMusic. XFi only has Extreme Audio. What's the difference, btw?
 
Extreme Audio is the bottom of the line card, you can't even use EAX in Bioshock with it according to their website. Did you find the Vista ISO and try to use the modded support.cab? You can go to driverheaven.net and visit their forums. There is a lot of info there.
 
to those of you responding about drivers, are you actually using this OEM card, or are you using a retail version?
 
Originally posted by: Bad Dude
Originally posted by: GZeus
I'm just too busy (or lazy?) to read through all 68 pages of the modification guide, though I probably will at some point before I actually try the mod.

In the meantime...
- has anyone ordered the Blackgate 2200uF and the ERS paper? If so, can you PM me the part numbers etc for whichever seller you used - or - if anyone wants to do a private sale of these, also PM me.

Thanks! 🙂
Click to expand...

First of all, you don't need ESR paper. It's minimal improvement. The main mod is the Oamp change out and the Capacitor. You don't need a Blackgate brand. You can use any brand that is of good quality. I bought one for $2.16 and Xircon brand.
Most important is the soldering skill.
Click to expand...

Actually, I've heard that ERS paper (or some sort of ESD shielding device) makes a pretty big impact on SQ. There are some posts on Head-Fi about how people merely shielded their card and got noticeable results. I think that the SQ improvements go in order:
1) op-amp switch-out - the stock opamps on the X-Fi are pretty bad; switching them with the recommended National opamps is a good idea. (not sure if you can use other opamps, I'll be looking this up shortly)
2) ERS Paper or similar. While expensive, the benefits from shielding your sound card is awesome. I believe even some conductive material boxed around the card will do (of course, you have to make sure the two don't touch).
3) capacitor replacement. The sound quality improvement from better/more expensive capacitors has been pretty debatable, as some say that there is very little difference between something like a Panasonic FM and a Black Gate. Besides, the main cap that people switch out in X-Fi mods is a power cap, which makes probably the least difference.
 
Originally posted by: ZappDogg
to those of you responding about drivers, are you actually using this OEM card, or are you using a retail version?
Click to expand...

I am..and the method I posted above unlocks everything on the OEM card with all software working, which is equivalent to a retail card. All modes,EAX,CMSS,THX,Crystallizer,10-band EQ,variable sub crossover, flexijack input modes...everything works. I however can't confirm that all flexijack options actually work as I don't have inputs to try although I assume they do since the card is the same as retail it's just the drivers that have been crippled.

It's a bunch more than just drivers. I don't think the card is really worth the discount without all the extra features working. If you don't have the volume panel icon in your system tray everything isn't working.

It looks like post above at station drivers has the Vista ISO which is a good place to start if you have vista. If it doesn't work, replace the support.cab and it should recognize the OEM card and install everything.
 
Originally posted by: PepperBreath
As far as shielding goes, couldn't you just wrap the X-Fi in an Anti-Static bag?
Click to expand...

I doubt it. Anti-Static bags and EMI Shields are two different animals.

It'd be worth to try building a grounded wire cage surrounding the card. That'd provide some shielding while allowing heat exchange - not that I care, since I'm sure my ears won't be able to tell the difference
 
Originally posted by: Shaq
Originally posted by: ZappDogg
to those of you responding about drivers, are you actually using this OEM card, or are you using a retail version?
Click to expand...

I am..and the method I posted above unlocks everything on the OEM card with all software working, which is equivalent to a retail card. All modes,EAX,CMSS,THX,Crystallizer,10-band EQ,variable sub crossover, flexijack input modes...everything works. I however can't confirm that all flexijack options actually work as I don't have inputs to try although I assume they do since the card is the same as retail it's just the drivers that have been crippled.

It's a bunch more than just drivers. I don't think the card is really worth the discount without all the extra features working. If you don't have the volume panel icon in your system tray everything isn't working.

It looks like post above at station drivers has the Vista ISO which is a good place to start if you have vista. If it doesn't work, replace the support.cab and it should recognize the OEM card and install everything.
Click to expand...

hmm interesting. gotta give this a try when i get home
 
Just got mine it (at work). The label reads as a model SB0460. Ascendtech's product description lists it as a SCCRSBXFISB0670. According to Google, the SB0670 seems to be the OEM (and possibly crippled?) HP model, where the SB0460 seems to be the real deal. I just compared my PCB to some reference pictures from a Guru3d review, and the board, capacitors, opamps, and headers are identical to the retail item. I'll head home and install in an hour.
 
It bluescreened Vista until I booted up in Safe Mode and installed the drivers off the FileFront ISO. It only successfully installed a few of the bundled programs...many of them didn't install due to errors. Audio console is working, which gives access to CMSS-3D which is the biggie, and it works as advertised in 5.1 mode. Bass redirection would be nice =( The sound quality is already noticeably better than the Audigy 2 ZS.
 
Just FYI, you can download the latest Creative Console Launcher from their support page, and it will enable all of the advanced equalizer and bass options.
 
I thought the filefront ISO is only for XP? I didn't see another version and the date was 2006. That would probably be why some of them didn't install. The station drivers link that is posted a few posts above is the Vista ISO which should work since it's for Vista. If it doesn't install then you need to try and replace the support.cab called reggie's mod on my earlier post. The link is below. One of the links says Vista ISO.

http://www.station-drivers.com/page/sb%20xfi.htm
 
How long did it take for you guys to get your cards? I ordered on Oct. 3 and I'm still waiting for mine. I haven't received any emails aside from an order confirmation.
 
I received mine 2 days after ordering, shipped UPS from Ohio to Indiana.
Clarification: the 2007 Vista ISO refuses to install anything on my XP (32 bit) machine.
Station-Drivers.com only offers the May, 2007 XP/Vista drivers.
Windows Update has newer XP drivers, dated June 2007.
 
Originally posted by: vailr
I received mine 2 days after ordering, shipped UPS from Ohio to Indiana.
Clarification: the 2007 Vista ISO refuses to install anything on my XP (32 bit) machine.
Station-Drivers.com only offers the May, 2007 XP/Vista drivers.
Windows Update has newer XP drivers, dated June 2007.
Click to expand...

Refer to my earlier post about XP. I have XP and all programs are working. You have to download a modified file so the XP ISO will recognize the OEM card and fully install all software. Just downloading drivers from creative, windows update etc. will only install minimal features.
 
Originally posted by: Shaq
I thought the filefront ISO is only for XP? I didn't see another version and the date was 2006. That would probably be why some of them didn't install. The station drivers link that is posted a few posts above is the Vista ISO which should work since it's for Vista. If it doesn't install then you need to try and replace the support.cab called reggie's mod on my earlier post. The link is below. One of the links says Vista ISO.

http://www.station-drivers.com/page/sb%20xfi.htm
Click to expand...

I downloaded this package from FileFront...everything I could find indicated that it was for Vista, although there wasn't a Vista folder under the "driver" directory.

Vista ISO

I did have to use the modified support.cab to get it going, so thanks for that link.
 
Mine came yesterday in a huge box. I opened up that box to find a retail box for a motherboard (I think it was an MSI... can't remember for sure), then inside the motherboard box was the card in it's anti-static bag surrounded by Styrofoam peanuts. They didn't skimp on the packing materials thats for sure 🙂
 
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