Creative Launches Super X-Fi Amp

Mine arrived tonight and I gave them a try just now...
Let me start by saying this will OBVIOUSLY be subjective, and unique to each person's ear mapping, face, matching the Creative algorithms - so I don't expect my experience to be indicative of anyone else's - it's only my experience.

First 10 minute impression using the included closed cans and a couple songs and a couple 7.1 Dolby Atmos tracks on the computer using J-River.

meh

Setup was easy using my wife's android phone. Take three pictures, pick your headphones, and that's it.

buttttt

It sounds like a sound effect "room" dsp - sort of like picking concert hall or bathroom on your run of the mill soundcard - adding reverb, echo, size -- at least as my first impression goes with the bundled Creative headphones. I'm trying not to be disappointed, frankly. And to my subjective experience, it's NOTHING, not even close to the Smyth Analyzer A16 I heard at Axpona 2016.

I haven't tried redoing the photos, I guess I could try that, and next I'll try my Sennheiser HD-600 instead of these cheapo Creative cans it came with. Frankly the HD600 cans alone are so much better than the Creative headphones w/ SFXI combo that I'd never pick this over a standalone set of HD600.

Sounds bigger, extended from your head, but not necessarily better...

We'll see if my impressions change after more use, and upgrading the headphones.

Maybe it's my big fat head... :p

I’m sad to hear that :(
 
Meh

I have a gsx1000 and creative g5.

I'll pass on this thing.

No way it can drive my awesome planar magnetic phones
 
A Creative rep showed up over at avsforum and is offering a full refund to anyone who is dissatisfied — and they are still claiming a 99% satisfaction rate.

Post 61
https://www.avsforum.com/forum/#/topics/2949928?page=7

Can you please find a better link for that? It doesn't work. It just goes to the front main page. And the search isn't working either. Can't find anything related to Creative or X-fi
 
the product is now available in 8 other countries. I just ordered mine yesterday, should be arriving in 2 weeks
 
Just ordered mine as well. Yay Canada. Not bad that they're throwing in are pair of headphones as well. I needed a new portable pair.
 
Do you think these headphones are pretty decent? Would they be comparable to like a $50 pair of headphones?
 
Do you think these headphones are pretty decent? Would they be comparable to like a $50 pair of headphones?
A thread on reddit acted like these are rebranded headphones that are usually recommended for $80-$100.

I’m a bit of a headphone snob, and prefer open ear style cans, but I didn’t like them.

For < $50 you can do better IMO, but these are probably worth $50
http://www.goodcans.com/HeadphoneReviews/Reviewss/recommendations.html

Koss Porta-Pros come to mind as a best value if you can stand the looks and don’t mind the style — they are a great value and sound exceptional for the price. My dad has a set and the sound is impressive.

I loved the Phillips shp9500 for the money - but they are discontinued and shot up nealry quadruple in price on the used market.
 
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This is worth buying now, certainly for $60

It performed well in the ASR tests as a regular headphone amp if nothing else. But they have improved it via software since launch and it now support iPhone and Android via App. I use mine regularly for PC gaming.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...tive-sxfi-amp-review-headphone-adapter.21636/

Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Creative SXFI AMP Review (headphone adapter)
This is a review and detailed measurements of the Creative Super XFi headphone amplifier and DAC "dongle." It was kindly sent to me by a member. Unfortunately it is discontinued but from what I can tell, it cost US $149. Its claim to fame was multi-channel virtualization customized to your...
Image



https://us.creative.com/p/super-x-fi/creative-sxfi-amp
 
This is worth buying now, certainly for $60

It performed well in the ASR tests as a regular headphone amp if nothing else. But they have improved it via software since launch and it now support iPhone and Android via App. I use mine regularly for PC gaming.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...tive-sxfi-amp-review-headphone-adapter.21636/

Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Creative SXFI AMP Review (headphone adapter)
This is a review and detailed measurements of the Creative Super XFi headphone amplifier and DAC "dongle." It was kindly sent to me by a member. Unfortunately it is discontinued but from what I can tell, it cost US $149. Its claim to fame was multi-channel virtualization customized to your...
Image



https://us.creative.com/p/super-x-fi/creative-sxfi-amp

This should be in Hot Deals.
That's a VERY good price for this device. It's only drawback is it doesn't support discrete 5.1 speakers (you will need the X3 or X4 for that), but for anyone who just wants headphones, that's a scorching deal.
 
I'll be interested to see how well these do. I've been looking into a USB-C Amp I can use with both my phone and my computer.
I bought the Creative Sound Blaster G3 (USB-C AMP/DAC with an included USB-A adapter). I originally bought it just because I was curious of what all it could do after reading the complete description of it on their website... And I must admit for something roughly the price of $50 (think I got mine for $35 but then prices skyrocketed shortly after COVID) this thing has so many features. Obviously you can use it on a USB-C phone for not only better sound but to make your microphone sound better especially if you do alot of video calls etc. Then its also plug and play with a PS4, PS4 Pro, and Nintendo Switch and possibly a PS5 too (haven't checked about the PS5 as I don't own one, nor plan to) by plugging the AMP in via USB-A (or USB-C on the Switch). Also works with Xbox One via optical connection (G3 comes with included optical cable as well) and then plugging the G3 in the Xbox using the USB connection to power the device only...since Xbox isn't known to let you use a plethora of 3rd party audio devices or USB headsets/AMPS by plugging them directly in the console unlike the PS4 which does let you do this.

Anyways, I think my favorite part of this thing is the many many features this little guy let's you use. Like the Game voice Mix volume dial on the G3 so you can quickly change the ratio of game audio to voice chat with the quick turn of the dial. Then it has independent volume and mic controls located on either side of the G3 as well as an instant mic mute toggle switch.

Then my next favorite feature is the option to Control the Footsteps Enhancer EQ mode either by pressing the main button on top of the G3 to turn it on OR by pairing the G3 to your phone using the Sound Blaster Command app as a on the fly mic volume and mic-monitoring control center to control how loud you want to be heard by other people while also being able to hear yourself..and of course tweaking any equalizer settings depending on if you're playing a game where you need to hear footsteps creeping up behind you like in CSGO or something, or if you're on a Zoom call you can select a pre-made EQ setting or customize yourself without stopping the game or opening up a menu etc.

Then last but not least, ironically this thing shines the best when used on a PC compared to the rest of the devices it seems like it was made for as the PC let's you customize everything using the Sound Blaster Command center. Which let's you update the firmware on the G3, and then customize the Equalizer settings much more detailed than the phone app (and when connected to your PC or MAC you can select one of the official pre-made EQ settings using the drop down list to select many games like Fortnite, COD, Rainbow Six and a bunch of other ones. Also when connected to PC you not only get to use the G3 to the fullest of all its features and abilities, but you can save one Equalizer setting at a time to the internal memory on the G3 so for example if you want to play Fortnite on your Nintendo Switch, PS4 etc then you select the specific game on the PC software and click save and then after you unplug the G3 from your PC that last EQ setting you saved stays in the memory so when you go to use it on any other device it will be all set up for Fortnite as that's the EQ setting you last saved to its internal memory. (Fortnite was just an example, of course you can choose many cooler and specific use EQ settings like certain genre of music you are listening to so when you save it and then plug it in your phone it's ready to go with that nice bass boost or classical music EQ saved. (I'm not an employee or anything of Creative, I just thought this was a solid purchase especially for all the features and devices it could be used for for the price....and it can always get enhanced updated features with future firmware updates or updates to the PC software.
 
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