Creative X-FI HD USB Sound Card Review @ [H]

Zarathustra[H];1037783226 said:
I have 16GB of ram. Drivers are rock solid for me...
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Same (With X-Fi eXtremeMusic PCI). I don't understand the Creative hate re:drivers. It was justified a long time ago, but I actually find even old products surprisingly well supported these days. Example: my SB Live! External. Old hardware really, but still has Win7 drivers.
 
lollerwaffle said:
Same (With X-Fi eXtremeMusic PCI). I don't understand the Creative hate re:drivers. It was justified a long time ago, but I actually find even old products surprisingly well supported these days. Example: my SB Live! External. Old hardware really, but still has Win7 drivers.
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Agreed. I have found that lately the drivers are fully functional.

The menu structure and layout in the configuration settings is not as easy to use as in some other products though, so they still have a ways to go on improving the usability, but functionality wise they work.
 
I brought one of these months ago for my desktop at work. Sounds great with my headphones versus the HP on-board crap.
 
I have the -XFi-Titanium-Fatal1ty and I swap it between two machines one with 3gb ram and one with 8gbram . I have never had problems with drivers crashing or causing cpu usage spikes. I even used this card on Windows 8 preview and it installed and worked fine with the base drivers and software that windows installed.

I watch alot of movies and anime and have a large library of music and switch between Audio creation and Entertainment mode alot never had a a crash or problems.

I dont know what people are doing to have so many problems with creative drivers they have come along way since the crap in the 90's. I do keep my computers up to date virus free etc maybe that helps.
 
Great review, but it didn't mention which versions of EAX are supported

I had USB X-Fi HD since three months, so far the sound quality astounding ;)
I tried to figure out the EAX Advanced HD support using RightMark 3DSound 2.3,
and found out this:

rightmark3dsound1.jpg


rightmark3dsound2.jpg


rightmark3dsound3.jpg



I install some of EAX-Enabled games: BioShock, Battlefield 2, Uru - Ages Beyond Myst and Prey. I installed the latest creative Alchemy - beta version with X-Fi HD support.

BioShock: this game had OpenAL support, I tried various in-game audio settings but I didn't get the reverb no the CMSS3D to work

Battlefield 2: again this game had native OpenAL with EAX Advanced HD 5.0 and special in-game audio setting for true X-Fi Chipset, I tried to select this settings but it refused by detecting incompatible sound hardware even though I chose Hardware emulation with EAX box ticked.

Uru - Ages Beyond Myst: the audio for this game was implemented through DirectSound3D so I use Alchemy in Windows7 and the EAX effects works perfectly.

Prey: this game had native OpenAL as well and I can set the in-game audio settings to OpenAL with EAX Advanced HD and it audio effects really shined in this game with CMSS3D Headphones.


Yet the USB X-Fi HD still provide some gaming audio effects while Creative is offering the USB SoundBlaster Go! Pro and interestingly advertising EAX HD 5.0 support. I haven't tried that one but all I can say all the missing audio stuff can be unlocked in X-Fi HD with some tricking in the audio driver and other creative-based card's apps. :p
 
EarlKeim said:
Besides the songs that I posted, I listened to my entire music collection over the month that I spent with the product.

I never noticed any sort of anamoly. I did notice consistency in the sound signature. The huge soundstage compared to onboard is the most notable. The resampling? I cant point to a single issue where I noticed it.
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Huh? You mean using some sort of DSP to increase the soundstage or that just 2 channel audio has a "huge" soundstage compared to onboard soundcard?
 
SoundBlaster said:
Great review, but it didn't mention which versions of EAX are supported

I had USB X-Fi HD since three months, so far the sound quality astounding ;)
I tried to figure out the EAX Advanced HD support using RightMark 3DSound 2.3,
and found out this:

rightmark3dsound1.jpg


rightmark3dsound2.jpg


rightmark3dsound3.jpg



I install some of EAX-Enabled games: BioShock, Battlefield 2, Uru - Ages Beyond Myst and Prey. I installed the latest creative Alchemy - beta version with X-Fi HD support.

BioShock: this game had OpenAL support, I tried various in-game audio settings but I didn't get the reverb no the CMSS3D to work

Battlefield 2: again this game had native OpenAL with EAX Advanced HD 5.0 and special in-game audio setting for true X-Fi Chipset, I tried to select this settings but it refused by detecting incompatible sound hardware even though I chose Hardware emulation with EAX box ticked.

Uru - Ages Beyond Myst: the audio for this game was implemented through DirectSound3D so I use Alchemy in Windows7 and the EAX effects works perfectly.

Prey: this game had native OpenAL as well and I can set the in-game audio settings to OpenAL with EAX Advanced HD and it audio effects really shined in this game with CMSS3D Headphones.


Yet the USB X-Fi HD still provide some gaming audio effects while Creative is offering the USB SoundBlaster Go! Pro and interestingly advertising EAX HD 5.0 support. I haven't tried that one but all I can say all the missing audio stuff can be unlocked in X-Fi HD with some tricking in the audio driver and other creative-based card's apps. :p
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Let me get this straight, there's NO game mode for this card ?
 
SoFGR said:
Let me get this straight, there's NO game mode for this card ?
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Yes you are right, but I'm wondering about USB SoundBlaster Go! Pro with the claim of supporting EAX 5.0

I need some one who own X-Fi Go! Pro to confirm that. :confused:
 
SoFGR said:
Let me get this straight, there's NO game mode for this card ?
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Games usually wind up being better in straight up stereo mode on a good set of headphones anyway.

Game modes and EAX usually just result in something that sounds worse.
 
BababooeyHTJ said:
Awesome, sounds like this might be a really great solution for a lot of people.
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Alchemy works very well for legacy games. Legacy games are extremely affordable and for those of you that have never played the original FEAR or Thief series, it really adds something to average stereo sound.

Newer games designed for Vista and Windows 7 do not take advantage of Alchemy in any way.
 
EarlKeim said:
Alchemy works very well for legacy games. Legacy games are extremely affordable and for those of you that have never played the original FEAR or Thief series, it really adds something to average stereo sound.

Newer games designed for Vista and Windows 7 do not take advantage of Alchemy in any way.
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Yes, I know that. I like to play a lot of older games like Neverwinter Nights 2 and EAX support is something that I missed with my Xonar. I just wasn't too sure if this usb solution had proper EAX support.
 
I just got this device and I think I threw out the driver cd after install. now I re installed windows 7, I cannot find the drivers on the creative website. anybody here can help me out?
 
I've listened to it after being heavily immersed in the world of hifi. It's mediocre at best for an external usb headphone dac/amp combo card. Just my two cents.
 
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Am not sure if the "HD" should be marketed to shine illustriously with headphones.
However, having listened to it with high end speakers and amplifiers, I found the sound quality to be actually superb.
 
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I have a question, is there anyway to push the sound up even louder than the basic volume knob thats on Creative's Audio Creation software? My open 595s aren't quite as loud and full as I would like them to be compared to my Senn 280HD.

Thank you!
 
I really wish there were a way to achieve more volume. That was one thing we noted in our review. Perhaps the addition of an optional AC adapter might have done the trick for those that wanted more volume.
 
Yeah, thats sort of the first thing that I noticed when moving from a Xonar DX.

Should we be expecting a Recon 3d review, btw? ;)
 
Ah I see thank you! It looks like I posted in the wrong thread, I was referring to the Titanium HD, not the USB model.

BTW I had a horrible experience with Asus Xonar DG. One of the reasons why I'm looking at Creative or the Omega.
 
Alexnova said:
I have a question, is there anyway to push the sound up even louder than the basic volume knob thats on Creative's Audio Creation software? My open 595s aren't quite as loud and full as I would like them to be compared to my Senn 280HD.

Thank you!
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EarlKeim said:
I really wish there were a way to achieve more volume. That was one thing we noted in our review. Perhaps the addition of an optional AC adapter might have done the trick for those that wanted more volume.
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You guys will want to look into amplifiers.
 
An amp is the way to go. I have tried the good (although, cheap in all ways) Fiio E6 and E11 with the X-fi. Computer------> USB -------> Fiio (amp)---------> headphones and all I can say is WOW! And then some! Im not an audiophile but do know quality sound. The best sound (of course) was from my AKG K 702's, but I was equally impressed with a $125 pair of V-Moda Crossfades. While for most it seems obvious but if your going to be listening with a $12.99 headset, the best thing you can do is spend your money on a good set of cans, then look to the source after. ;-)
 
This product struck me as something that seems ideal for what I'm looking for:

1. External (I need the internal PCI-E breathing room for my GPUs)
2. Will apply spatial surround sound effects in games to standard headphones
3. Yields better sound quality and separation for headphone music listening
4. Relatively inexpensive (<$100)

The only thing that seems to be missing is something like DDLive or similar from DTS where I could send a bitstream output to my Denon receiver to get true 5.1 ch sound for games, music, or movies played on my PC.

I use 90% headphones - switching back and forth from Sennheiser HD595 to Sony MDR-XB700 (when I want my bass), and 10% 5.1 surround sound (see sig), so clearly I would prioritize headphone usage, and the low power output of this product worries me somewhat. Still, my Senns are rated at 50 ohms and the Sonys are 24 ohms, so they should be much easier to drive than the review cans, but still.

I'm tempted to go with something like the FiiO or other DAC/amp, but that wouldn't give me the gaming DSP surround sound support, which is a high priority.

Knowing all this, would you recommend this product? How does it perform compared to the Creative 5.1 external card? I didn't see if you did a review of that one, though you referenced it early in the review.

Excellent review, btw. You really hit on every aspect of a sound card that I would have questions on.

Thanks
 
acer1642 said:
An amp is the way to go. I have tried the good (although, cheap in all ways) Fiio E6 and E11 with the X-fi. Computer------> USB -------> Fiio (amp)---------> headphones and all I can say is WOW! And then some! Im not an audiophile but do know quality sound. The best sound (of course) was from my AKG K 702's, but I was equally impressed with a $125 pair of V-Moda Crossfades. While for most it seems obvious but if your going to be listening with a $12.99 headset, the best thing you can do is spend your money on a good set of cans, then look to the source after. ;-)
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I can recommend the Schiit Audio Asgard.

True class A headphone amp. Best - by far - you can get for the money, and its only $250...

You have to get WAY more expensive to beat it.

And what's more, it's actually made in the U.S....
 
Zarathustra[H];1038287879 said:
I can recommend the Schiit Audio Asgard.

True class A headphone amp. Best - by far - you can get for the money, and its only $250...

You have to get WAY more expensive to beat it.

And what's more, it's actually made in the U.S....
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that being said, if I were to couple an external DAC with one of these, I'd probably get Schiit's own DAC, the Bifrost.
 
Does anyone have this and an X-FI HD PCI-E or X-FI Titanium so they can comment how the USB version compares in games?

I have the X-FI HD but I'd really like to take it out to make more room for a 3 slot gpu cooler I'm concerned about the lack of game mode on the USB version. I use Sennheiser 595's.
 
Thanks for the heads up Deads0uls, I'll check it out. Too bad Creative will never provide drivers and applications for Mac and Linux. It works fine for Mac/Linux, but there are no applications or extras ... just basic audio functionality provided by the OS.
 
Question.
If I play a 88 khz file with the X-Fi HD. Will it downsample it to 48. khz or upsample to 96?
 
Just my 2 cents: tried out the X-Fi HD USB and found it superior to the Xonar U3, but honestly, tested with my headphones and IEMs, I found its sound quality inferior to my X220's onboard output. Louder, but not as good. Gave them both a few weeks and I'm sticking with onboard. From what I've heard the X220's onboard is pretty decent though, so if yours is crappy, it might be worth it.
 
Oh yeah, one other problem with the X-Fi HD USB: it has THX TruSurround, but unfortunately as I understand it, for the virtual surround processing to work well, you need to set Windows to 5.1/7.1 so that the audio channels get fed into the software for better virtual effect. The X-Fi HD USB is limited to stereo in windows configuration, and thus I believe the THX is limited in this product.
 
Sorry to bump this. Will this work without pc tutnef on for let's say ps3 optical cable or 360?

I am looking for the device which looks like this and which i can plug 2.1 speakers in the back, headphones on the front. Control audio volume and have ps3 and pc connected to it.

Does it only needs usb power to work or so i could use ps3 usb to power out without a must to pc be turned on ?


Or do i need other device
 
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