X-Fi Speaker Settings

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JustinSane

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In my X-Fi console(running in game mode), I had my Speaker settings set to Headphones. I use DT-770/80s for headphones. If I switch it over Headphones to 4/4.1 Speakers the sound is way better for some reason. What does everyone else use?
 
for my senn hd525's

speaker tray icon opened- bass set to 67%, treble to 95% , wave at about 85%

creative console settings- eq in a 'v' shape , bass boost on at 5db, 50hz cutoff. set to headphones because i mostly game

this works great for me, my cheaper cans cant handle these settings
 
Might be the CMSS-3d headphone thing interfering with music playback or something.

What I'd recommend is setting your X-Fi to whatever you are using (headphones, whatever), but make sure to uncheck 'sync with control panel'. Set Windows sound control panel to "quadraphonic". This provides the best surround for titles that can't properly detect the optimizations the X-Fi is using.

Then, play around with the X-Fi options to optimize it for your liking - changing the CMSS-3d setting (or disabling it), messing around with the EQ, etc. For my taste, I do like the CMSS-3d sound for most audio (at around 50%), but disable the EQ and Crystalizer.

And, of course, make sure you are in "Entertainment" or "Audio Creation" mode. "Game" mode makes no small number of sacrifices to audio quality to enable optimum gaming performance.
 
I prefer entertainment mode as well, I don't run equalizer or crystalizer nor eax enhancements to my sound, I boost up treble slightly opposed to bass and added the bass boost but cut off frequency about 80hz.

I'm using AKG K141 headphones and prefer a more neutral sound through my headphones, but like having a bit of oomph to my sound when I use speakers. It all comes down to preference, it's kinda akin to the jazz equalizer setting in my car, don't care for mids as much as the highs and lows. You'll find a setting preference you will prefer according to the music you listen to. I find this gives a nice balance between bass heavy techno/dance/rap to orchestral highs, even rock sounds better this way to me (reminds me more of the concert bias I recall from live shows. )
 
JustinSane said:
In my X-Fi console(running in game mode), I had my Speaker settings set to Headphones. I use DT-770/80s for headphones. If I switch it over Headphones to 4/4.1 Speakers the sound is way better for some reason. What does everyone else use?
Click to expand...

I found almost any setting besides "headphones" sounds better on my headphones esp 4.1. So far I'm not impressed with my X-fi at all, seems to have alot more crackling and distortion than I got with my onboard sound. I may just switch back.

With my onboard, I never had to compleatly customize my modes every time I changed from speakers to headphones (thi sis a real PITA). So far I am also starting to think that my onboard sounded better. I have not played any games yet though. I probably jsut don't know what I am doing since it seems everything has to be set in like 3 differnet places! Controll Panel, Creative, then the playback app all have to be changed every time I go from speakers to headphones...And even then it still sounds better in 4.1 mode than headphone mode!
 
I don't bother with headphone mode, I just configure it in 7.1 and it sounds good to me. I've had no issues with popping, though I wouldn't recommend the latest creative drivers, they broke the surround when I installed them.
 
Slade said:
I don't bother with headphone mode, I just configure it in 7.1 and it sounds good to me. I've had no issues with popping, though I wouldn't recommend the latest creative drivers, they broke the surround when I installed them.
Click to expand...

Where did you get the latest drivers? When I went to cratives website the latest drivers available were from 06...
 
the headphone mode for creative cards is MOSTLY for gaming- less stereo seperation and 3d effects (otherwise it tickles your ears and drives u insane)
other soundcards just dont have a good gaming mode so u cant tell a difference when changing from speakers to headphones
 
ourfpshero said:
the headphone mode for creative cards is MOSTLY for gaming- less stereo seperation and 3d effects (otherwise it tickles your ears and drives u insane)
other soundcards just dont have a good gaming mode so u cant tell a difference when changing from speakers to headphones
Click to expand...

When I switch to headphone mode it is MUCH more flat, and quiet. Almot like I stuffed the headphones full of cotton. The range of sound is dramaticaly decreased. It makes my AD700's sound like some free headphones from the airplane, only maybe not even that good.

Why would I want less stereo seperation with headphones? Why would I want everything to sound like complete Crap when I put headphones on? Man I'm about 2 seconds away from ripping this card out of my ssystem and going back to onboard sound. I am far from impressed for now. I'm trying to use the headphones in entertainment mode. I even disabled all extra effect stuff.
 
I experience more seperation under headphone mode than speaker mode, at least when using headphones, but it works the other way around when using speakers.
 
Justintoxicated said:
When I switch to headphone mode it is MUCH more flat, and quiet. Almot like I stuffed the headphones full of cotton. The range of sound is dramaticaly decreased. It makes my AD700's sound like some free headphones from the airplane, only maybe not even that good.

Why would I want less stereo seperation with headphones? Why would I want everything to sound like complete Crap when I put headphones on? Man I'm about 2 seconds away from ripping this card out of my ssystem and going back to onboard sound. I am far from impressed for now. I'm trying to use the headphones in entertainment mode. I even disabled all extra effect stuff.
Click to expand...

for music listening u DONT want the headphone setting! also keep in mind that the xfi keeps all settings seperate for each speaker set, volume, eq, bass boost, etc. if u set all ur 2 speaker settings it doesnt carry over into headphones or 5.1, etc. they all need to be set seperately. if the headphones setting bothers u dont use it. when i play with my onboard i wonder why a headphone setting exists when the sound doesnt change at all!

and less stereo seperation in headphones is needed in games as no crosstalk may have been put into sound sources (unlike music)- this causes a 'tickle' effect in ur ears because its not natural to hear sound 100% from one ear only
 
Interesting thread...

I just got an X-Fi XtremeMusic and I'm also using DT770/80s and I'm not very impressed but I am not an audiophile by any means.

I just got my card tonight so I didn't have much time to fool around with it, but it seems like everything is opposite:

When using headphones: Don't use headphone speaker type.
For gaming, do NOT using the gaming mode.

This seems very strange... I'll have to do some listening tests to compare this to my onboard sound...
 
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