XiFi soundcards

[erikistired]

i'm thinking about buying an xfi (whatever the base model is) and turtle beach ear force hpa headphones. i don't have room for 5.1 speakers nor would my wife be happy with me making anymore noise than i already do. i'd like the surround for gaming tho. and i need new headphones. i have an audigy 2 value but i wouldn't mind having an xfi.

 

[PSUPef2k]

great thread. After reading this I will definitely include an X-fi card in my upcoming build.

 

[PSUPef2k]

Originally posted by: videogames101
DO NOT GET THE X-530!!!!!! They are CRAP!!! Just grab some z-5300's and get on your way, just don't nuke your sound by getting the x-530's!

If I get an X-fi I will go after the Logitech Z-5500 or Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 speakers.

What would the best X-Fi card be for gaming/music/movies?

 

[Smartazz]

I had an integrated card and thought it could do the job, my brother talked me into getting an Xfi card, def. worth the money, and should last for a while.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: fisher
i'm thinking about buying an xfi (whatever the base model is) and turtle beach ear force hpa headphones. i don't have room for 5.1 speakers nor would my wife be happy with me making anymore noise than i already do. i'd like the surround for gaming tho. and i need new headphones. i have an audigy 2 value but i wouldn't mind having an xfi.

I wouldn't bother with the 5.1/surround headphones. They can only at best mimic surround. Just get a nice pair of normal headphones (maybe Sennheiser HD-280s would be near that price range ~$80?). The X-Fi already does this, and so you'd end up with better quality.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: PSUPef2k

Originally posted by: videogames101
DO NOT GET THE X-530!!!!!! They are CRAP!!! Just grab some z-5300's and get on your way, just don't nuke your sound by getting the x-530's!

If I get an X-fi I will go after the Logitech Z-5500 or Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 speakers.

What would the best X-Fi card be for gaming/music/movies?

They would all be about the same. The Platinum gives you a box that has inputs and things so that you could hook up other devices to it (can't remember if its internal or external though) and I think a remote. The Fatal1ty version has 64MB of X-RAM which as of now is just a gimmick (with no clue if it will ever be more than that). I don't recall what the top model is (Elite Pro or something), but it offers the XRAM, a bigger/better external box, and also better DACs (which should help sound quality). However its like $400.

If you don't need any of the extra stuff (to be honest, I don't think most people would, and if you're wanting it for music mixing and things like that, I think you'd be better off with the EMU sound cards), then just go with the base Xtreme Music version, as I personally don't feel the extras the others offer is worth the cost of them.

 

[Brian48]

Upgraded from an A2 ZS to a X-Fi Extrememusic. Absolutely love it and well worth the upgrade for me. In regards to gaming, the improvement was minimal, but as far as music goes, it extremely noticable. Drivers are also incredibly solid as well.