X-Fi: Any good for high end equipment?

sovietdoc · Jan 4, 2006, 08:03 AM

Okay, I know professionals are gonna laugh in my face because I consider the set of Z-5500 Digitals "high end" but anyways. I am wondering whether X-Fi Elite Pro actually sounds really nice on some high end equipment. All the reviews I read said the card was amazing, but none of them had tested it out with say Gigaworks S750 or Z-5500's. I heard people say that on the high end equipment it sounds "too bright" and hurts ears. I am wondering if thats true or not because I wanna use it for DVD Audio and as far as I know that tests our the most of your sound hardware as far as the playback quality. So anyways, does it really sound much better on the high end equipment?

**dj_stick** · Jan 4, 2006, 11:27 AM

if it souinds too bright, simply EQ it to your liking, but the higher quality the sound card, the more your speakers will shine (and vice versa)

g35x · Jan 4, 2006, 12:45 PM

i have an xtreme music and it sounds AWESOME in games....was reccomended to me by a friend and i thought he was crazy telling me to spend 117$ on sound but it blew me away and was worth every penny,and what dj stick said is true just mess around with settings until it sounds perfect

sovietdoc · Jan 4, 2006, 07:21 PM

K thanks guys

Shakey_Jake33 · Jan 4, 2006, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g35x

i have an xtreme music and it sounds AWESOME in games....was reccomended to me by a friend and i thought he was crazy telling me to spend 117$ on sound but it blew me away and was worth every penny,and what dj stick said is true just mess around with settings until it sounds perfect

Curious, what card did you upgrade from? I'm still looking for the extra shove to make me ditch my Audigy2 ZS

sovietdoc · Jan 4, 2006, 09:20 PM

Yeah, I am still not sure whether or not to upgrade from the Audigy2 eX. If creative would release a card like X-FI with DTS Live 96/24 encoding, damn, I would be the first one in line to get it

Zelig · Jan 4, 2006, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sovietdoc

Okay, I know professionals are gonna laugh in my face because I consider the set of Z-5500 Digitals "high end" but anyways. I am wondering whether X-Fi Elite Pro actually sounds really nice on some high end equipment. All the reviews I read said the card was amazing, but none of them had tested it out with say Gigaworks S750 or Z-5500's. I heard people say that on the high end equipment it sounds "too bright" and hurts ears. I am wondering if thats true or not because I wanna use it for DVD Audio and as far as I know that tests our the most of your sound hardware as far as the playback quality. So anyways, does it really sound much better on the high end equipment?

I'm in the same boat, except it's harder for me, since I'm leaning towards laughing at you for calling the Z-5500 high-end, and using digital connections.

Seriously though, I'm probably just going to have to get a card to try out to make my own opinions before buying, far too few people online have the same experience and pickiness as I have when making sound card/speaker decisions.
(You reading this Zardon? I remember some good comments when you got your Creative speakers.

)

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Jan 5, 2006, 06:37 AM

my friend's nuance system is $10k cdn, we used an optical connection to his digital reciever. we weren't able to get 96khz to work but it was amazing

g35x · Jan 5, 2006, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shakey_Jake33

Curious, what card did you upgrade from? I'm still looking for the extra shove to make me ditch my Audigy2 ZS

onboard

GeneralClaymore · Jan 5, 2006, 05:27 PM

G35x I see that you having fun with your extreme music. So you though i was crazy =p. I went from a A2zs and notice the improvement , when I was shocked. I didnt expect this much improvement. I love the 3d Headphone mode, and I love the way my games sound now. In mmos I keep jumping as I turn around becase people sound like there standing right behind my chair in Project Entropia its like there talking at the back of my head.

Then the surrounding freak me out because i can hear all monsters around me and people its like hard to explain .

g35x · Jan 5, 2006, 05:42 PM

nah its easy 2 explain.....makes u go

kelticknight · Jan 6, 2006, 12:22 PM

looking at upgrading from audigy plat,
is there much difference between xi-fi fatal1ty and xi-fi platinum
there 70 euros difference between two,is it worth getting fatality or just platinum

GeneralClaymore · Jan 6, 2006, 04:27 PM

the fatal1ty has Xram, platinum doesnt.

kelticknight · Jan 6, 2006, 05:29 PM

is there much performance dfference,lets say in gaming and music

SeaWulf · Jan 6, 2006, 06:14 PM

Have not notice ahy difference on gaming but I do not think there are many games which take advantage of xram yet. (had A2Z) but the music sounds better especially if you used headphones. Noticed better sounds under EAX3/4 (crisper and more detail) ..this could be only in my mind ............

Shakey_Jake33 · Jan 20, 2006, 06:07 PM

Got an X-Fi XtremeMusic today, upgraded from an Audigy2 ZS and am using Logitech Z-5500's.

There's a definate quality jump here. It's not the same kind of leap as going from onboard to an Audigy2 (that was a HUGE jump - I'd not dream of using onboard now), but it's well worth it if you use your PC for music a lot.

The 24-bit crystalizer rocks, you can disable it and hear a big difference. Bit disappointed with the new CMSS3D stuff... lots added for headphones, but I find the new 'StereoXpand' mode to not sound as immersive as StereoSurround (though the former is technically more 'correct' as it puts more forground/vocal focus in front of you)... but you get to choose anyway.

One disappointment with the X-Fi compared to the Audigy2 is that they've combined the Rear and Center/Sub inputs with the Line-in/Mic inputs, much like on most onboard solutions. This basically means you HAVE to buy the breakout box, or an X-Fi Platinum or above, to use Line-in *and* surround. This won't be an issue for you though, as the Z-5500 Control Center has a line-in, but it's a sneeky thing Creative did. I notice the FireWire port has been replaced with an old-style GamePad input - can someone confirm old-style GamePads work on this?

I reckon the upgrade shouldn't be priority if there's other parts of your machine that need seeing to, but if your like me and loving your Z-5500's and wanting more, you won't be disappointed.

Jan 4, 2006, 08:03 AM	#1
sovietdoc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 121 Rep Power: 0	X-Fi: Any good for high end equipment? Okay, I know professionals are gonna laugh in my face because I consider the set of Z-5500 Digitals "high end" but anyways. I am wondering whether X-Fi Elite Pro actually sounds really nice on some high end equipment. All the reviews I read said the card was amazing, but none of them had tested it out with say Gigaworks S750 or Z-5500's. I heard people say that on the high end equipment it sounds "too bright" and hurts ears. I am wondering if thats true or not because I wanna use it for DVD Audio and as far as I know that tests our the most of your sound hardware as far as the playback quality. So anyways, does it really sound much better on the high end equipment? __________________

Jan 4, 2006, 12:45 PM	#3
g35x Hellhound Pilot Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deptford, New Jersey Posts: 1,100 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	i have an xtreme music and it sounds AWESOME in games....was reccomended to me by a friend and i thought he was crazy telling me to spend 117$ on sound but it blew me away and was worth every penny,and what dj stick said is true just mess around with settings until it sounds perfect __________________

Jan 4, 2006, 07:21 PM	Thread Starter #4
sovietdoc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 121 Rep Power: 0	K thanks guys __________________

Jan 4, 2006, 09:20 PM	Thread Starter #6
sovietdoc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 121 Rep Power: 0	Yeah, I am still not sure whether or not to upgrade from the Audigy2 eX. If creative would release a card like X-FI with DTS Live 96/24 encoding, damn, I would be the first one in line to get it __________________

Jan 5, 2006, 06:37 AM	#8
BiGBrOwNPimpsta HH's #1 Hustla and Pimp Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Dirty Dot Posts: 7,717 Rep Power: 107 System Specs	my friend's nuance system is $10k cdn, we used an optical connection to his digital reciever. we weren't able to get 96khz to work but it was amazing __________________ Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music \| Logitech Z-5500 THX 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers \| 2 Lite-On 20x S-ATA Burners \| Logitech G700 Mouse \| Logitech MX5500 Bluetooth Keyboard

Jan 5, 2006, 05:27 PM	#10
GeneralClaymore HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MI Posts: 434 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	G35x I see that you having fun with your extreme music. So you though i was crazy =p. I went from a A2zs and notice the improvement , when I was shocked. I didnt expect this much improvement. I love the 3d Headphone mode, and I love the way my games sound now. In mmos I keep jumping as I turn around becase people sound like there standing right behind my chair in Project Entropia its like there talking at the back of my head. Then the surrounding freak me out because i can hear all monsters around me and people its like hard to explain . __________________ Source: x-fi titanium hd 2x LT1124ACN+ 2x LT1115 > Matrix M-Stage V2 /w 2x LME49710NA> DT880 pro 250ohm

Jan 5, 2006, 05:42 PM	#11
g35x Hellhound Pilot Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deptford, New Jersey Posts: 1,100 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	nah its easy 2 explain.....makes u go __________________

Jan 6, 2006, 12:22 PM	#12
kelticknight DriverHeaven Knight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: EIRE{great for black stuff ,bulmers cider and Munster rubgy Posts: 1,095 Rep Power: 0	looking at upgrading from audigy plat, is there much difference between xi-fi fatal1ty and xi-fi platinum there 70 euros difference between two,is it worth getting fatality or just platinum __________________

Jan 6, 2006, 04:27 PM	#13
GeneralClaymore HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MI Posts: 434 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	the fatal1ty has Xram, platinum doesnt. __________________ Source: x-fi titanium hd 2x LT1124ACN+ 2x LT1115 > Matrix M-Stage V2 /w 2x LME49710NA> DT880 pro 250ohm

Jan 6, 2006, 05:29 PM	#14
kelticknight DriverHeaven Knight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: EIRE{great for black stuff ,bulmers cider and Munster rubgy Posts: 1,095 Rep Power: 0	is there much performance dfference,lets say in gaming and music __________________

Jan 6, 2006, 06:14 PM	#15
SeaWulf HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Burbs of Philly Posts: 102 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Have not notice ahy difference on gaming but I do not think there are many games which take advantage of xram yet. (had A2Z) but the music sounds better especially if you used headphones. Noticed better sounds under EAX3/4 (crisper and more detail) ..this could be only in my mind ............ __________________ Double Secret Probation Additional system information Titanium X FI PCIE 2 LG H55L DVD+RW (IDE)

Jan 20, 2006, 06:07 PM	#16
Shakey_Jake33 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 80 Rep Power: 0	Got an X-Fi XtremeMusic today, upgraded from an Audigy2 ZS and am using Logitech Z-5500's. There's a definate quality jump here. It's not the same kind of leap as going from onboard to an Audigy2 (that was a HUGE jump - I'd not dream of using onboard now), but it's well worth it if you use your PC for music a lot. The 24-bit crystalizer rocks, you can disable it and hear a big difference. Bit disappointed with the new CMSS3D stuff... lots added for headphones, but I find the new 'StereoXpand' mode to not sound as immersive as StereoSurround (though the former is technically more 'correct' as it puts more forground/vocal focus in front of you)... but you get to choose anyway. One disappointment with the X-Fi compared to the Audigy2 is that they've combined the Rear and Center/Sub inputs with the Line-in/Mic inputs, much like on most onboard solutions. This basically means you HAVE to buy the breakout box, or an X-Fi Platinum or above, to use Line-in and surround. This won't be an issue for you though, as the Z-5500 Control Center has a line-in, but it's a sneeky thing Creative did. I notice the FireWire port has been replaced with an old-style GamePad input - can someone confirm old-style GamePads work on this? I reckon the upgrade shouldn't be priority if there's other parts of your machine that need seeing to, but if your like me and loving your Z-5500's and wanting more, you won't be disappointed. __________________ CPU: Intel Core2 Extreme X6800 2.93GHz RAM: 2GB (2X1) GEiL DDR2 800MHz CAS4 GPU: OCUK GeForce 7900 GTO SILENT 512Meg Motherboard: Asus P5W DH Deluxe Sound Card: Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic Speakers: Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1 Case: Antec P180 Black PSU: Seasonic S12 600W