SOUNDBLASTER X-Fi: After Hi-Fi comes Xtreme Fidelity
Written: Dec 28 '05 (Updated May 10 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: EAX 5, CMSS-3D (headphones), Crystalizer, excellent driver consoles
Cons: Limited inputs and outputs without front panel, relatively expensive
The Bottom Line: Goes way beyond integrated sound the same way graphics cards do, it's up to you if you need it.
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| theuerkorn's Full Review: Creative Labs X-Fi XtremeMusic Sound Card |
One of the most revolutionary products for personal computers little more than 10 years ago might very well have been Creative's Soundblaster (in times where so-called gaming computers like Commodore's Amiga outperformed the PC by far). Many years later, graphics cards took center stage and sound cards barely are any more than an afterthought. Typically only enthusiasts spend the extra cash over and above the integrated sound chip most motherboards come with. In an attempt to reinvent itself, Creative revamped its Soundblaster line and improvements are more drastic than ever before. X-Fi stands for eXtreme Fidelity, and the new Soundblaster is all about that ... the extreme audio experience.
WHY?
Alright, the integrated chip of most modern motherboards can handle 5.1 or even 7.1 channel surround sound without major problems and often even sounds very good. So why spend the equivalent of a good motherboard on another sound card that takes up one PCI slot and on paper doesn't seem to offer more than the "same" (2.1, 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound)? While that's not too far from the truth in general terms, the X-Fi series may provide more than a subtile difference.
To be honest, the two main features that caught my eye are exclusive to the X-Fi technology: 3D sound for headphones and Crystalizer technology to significantly improve sound quality for mp3 music. The number of channels is relatively unimportant to me as I typically use headphones or a 2.1 active speaker (JBL Creature). Along those lines, however, is another improvement the Soundblaster has to offer. The integrated sound chip of my ASUS A8N SLI Deluxe motherboard doesn't support EAX 3.0 and EAX HD which are required for positional audio in many games.
FEATURES
Installation: The ExtremeMusic edition mounts into one PCI slot and does not require any additional wiring (i.e. external power plug as seen in PCI-E graphics boards like the ATI x1800XL). Mechanically and electronically there is not much to worry about, even the software installation is very smooth. Plug card in first (power off!) and then the CD once you booted the computer back up. The driver installs without a problem, but be aware that you still have to run the setup from the CD to install all the panels and extra software that comes on the CD.
Rating: *****
Connectivity: Using the basic X-Fi ExtremeMusic edition, there isn't too much to hook up in order to install and use this Soundblaster. That's good for initial setup, but you will find out easily that this card doesn't support the typical front panel as found in many PC towers. In fact there is not even a standard connector for that purpose. However, the Soundblaster sports a proprietary connector for the optional front panel (a.k.a. I/O Drive. (The Platinum edition has the panel included.) The actual outputs are standard fare besides the AD_Link (26 pin) connector for linking to the optional X-Fi I/O console. The so-called FlexiJack mini jack (Digital I/O / Line In / Microphone) is the only input and 3 mini jack outputs provide up to 7.1 speaker configuration (Front / Rear / Side / Center / Subwoofer). Further, there is a standard AUX_IN line-level analog input (4-pin Molex connector) on the card to feed a CD signal directly to the card for example. However, if that's too limited, look into the Platinum edition which also sports optical inputs and additional controls. This is also required to have headphones and speaker connected and functional. [see end of review for updates]
Rating: ***--
10,000 MIPS: The X-Fi claims a total of 10,000 Mips (million instructions per second) computing power. While that's some serious math (AMD's Athlon64 X2 4200 reaches about 18,000 mips), it must be noted that a DSP in general functions differently than a typical main CPU and is better suited for signal processing (hence the name) and obviously sound is an excellent application. The ten thousand Mips are a little bit puffed up as it is the accumulative power of the specialized sub processors (i.e. filter engine 200 mips, sample rate converter 7,000 mips, tank 440 mips, DSP 1,200 mips etc.). However, it enables your PC to perform sound operations that otherwise would consume a high percentage of even modern dual-core CPUs. Compared to the Soundblaster Audigy 4, the X-Fi claims 24 times the computing power of the not too bad predecessor.
Rating: *****
24bit Crystalizer: This technology resamples existing mp3 music and attempts to fill in data that has been eliminated due to high compression mp3 algorithms. Think of it as a histogram with lots of bars and gaps instead of a smooth curve. The gaps represent lost data and the Crystalizer fills in those gaps. In reality it's not that simple, but the result is quite impressive. Apparently the computing power is nicely used to reverse-engineer sound waves and restore them based on predictive algorithms. That the output is so good, may be a result of the 7,000 mips of the X-Fi sample rate conversion processor. At the same time the X-Fi reduces the load on the main CPU, which otherwise would have a hard time to do the same via software. As with most things, hearing is believing and you won't trust your ears when downloading a clip from the internet -- just now with crystal clear audio. (The difference is even quite noticeable with non-compressed WMA files as found on normal Music CDs.)
Rating: *****
X-Fi CMSS-3D: Sounds cryptic, but may be one of the best features the new Soundblaster has to offer. What it means is simply that the computing power is used to simulate 3D surround sound via headphones like Sony's MDR-XD300. You may have thought that's "impossible" -- until now. Realistically, humans have two ear drums ("stereo") and the directional information comes from different physiology soundwaves encounter depending on which way they hit the ear. The brain then processes those subtile differences in timing and actual sound in what we understand as 3D positioning. Ear phones cut the ear physiology practically out since they're stationary at a very specific angle. CMSS-3D pretty much prepares the sound to match your brain's processing and recreate true 3D information. Sceptical? Try the 3D demo (in the driver) once, and you will be a believer! (This technology is independent from the actual headphone design.) A stereo speak system (i.e. 2.1) doesn't recreate 3D sound but the X-Fi doesn't stop there. In this mode it creates the surround sound found in typical stereo, just that it's freely adjustable.
Rating: *****
ASIO 2.0: Another cryptic feature, this standard allows compatible software to access multiple I/O channels from compatible hardware. ASIO recordings with latency as low as one millisecond, up to eight different hardware effects, 24-bit SoundFont sampling, and 3DMIDI for amazing flexibility and recording results. The X-Fi allows to even overlay up to 8 effects in real time, and shows off the power of the chip as is was not possible with the Audigy 4 incarnation of the Soundblaster. In addition it allows hardware monitoring of channels for easier multi-channel recording. For most users, this feature might be less important.
Rating: ****-
EAX: The Soundblaster X-Fi supports up to EAX 5.0 for incredibly realistic gaming audio! The improvements in 5.0 come from 128 voice support, EAX MacroFX, EAX PurePath and Environment FlexiFX and so on and so forth. You get the idea. Creative's own EAX is one of the most accepted sound technologies in today's gaming world. If a game supports it, the X-Fi can also simulate positional audio even over headphones. Nevertheless, many games typically support only 2.0 or 3.0 and we will have to wait a while to see 5.0 support anywhere.
Rating: *****
Software: There are plenty tools included to play and record media and even edit sound waves. This is all fine, but the most significant feature is still the included driver and user panel. The latter sports 3 distinctly different modes: Gaming, Entertainment (movie) and Audio Creation. This is not only 3 sets of preferences specific to each mode, it's also 3 different interfaces specifically tailored to each mode. For instance, the Audio Creation mode is by far the most elaborate with controls similar to a audio mixer allowing very fine adjustments. On the other hand, the game mode is relatively simple with focus on tweaking gaming relevant parameters (typically toggle CMSS-3D and so on). The interface resembles Macintosh OS-X looks (except for the gaming mode), and is both elegant and stunning with the silver brushed interface and blue display.
Rating: *****
Integration: Thanks to the more than 10 year legacy of Soundblaster technology, the support by both operating system and applications (games) is almost mandatory -- at least in the PC world. (Not sure how that extends to the Macintosh.) Most games support and automatically recognize the EAX support. The 24bit Crystalizer is configured in the driver and application independent, hence very transparent. The CMSS-3D draws its positional information from EAX and allows to prepare multi-channel data for headphones.
Rating: *****
SUMMARY
If you questioned if a discrete sound card is necessary even in the year 2005 or 2006, the X-Fi may give more than one argument why the answer is indeed a screaming YES. While I use headphones only, the 3D rendition of games like Call of Duty 2 is amazing and if you didn't know differently you could simply forget it's not real. Of course that requires a good speaker system or headphones.
At $130 for the entry level the improvements come at a relatively high price: less than a graphics card but similar to a whole motherboard. Then again, current specials bring it down to below $100 and that may be much easier to swallow. It gets more expensive once you decide on the Platinum edition (w/ I/O Drive) and so on and so forth. (More than $400 for the Elite Pro certainly push the monetary envelope.)
Either way, installation is easy, support is great and the audio improvements as well as real-time effects make strong arguments for the X-Fi. It's the most powerful Soundblaster ever, and not only by a small margin. If all the tech lingo doesn't mean much to you, just be assured that high-end audio as provided by the X-Fi technology indeed does improve sound quality and at the same time takes significant load off your main cpu. Demanding games and especially audio applications will see the biggest benefit, while others may not be as significant.
When deciding for the entry level XtremeMusic version of the Soundblaster X-Fi, be aware that Creative currently does not offer an upgrade option to purchase the X-Fi I/O Drive separately. [see end of review for updates] (This front panel is needed when using headphones and speakers. It's included in the Platinum version, along with a remote control.) The optional Digital I/O module is no match and realistically one would have to buy a whole new X-Fi Platinum card ($199). I hope this changes sometime as I am apparently not the only one. According to customer service, Creative Labs is getting numerous requests to make the so-called I/O Drive available as an accessory. [see end of review for updates]
© 2005, Thomas Theuerkorn
ONLINE RESOURCES
Manufacturer home page
- www.creative.com
- X-Fi I/O Drive Upgrade
- Sony MDR-XD300 headphones
- JBL Creature active speakers (2.1)
- Asus A8N SLI Deluxe motherboard
- AMD Athlon64 X2 4200 processor
- ATI Radeon x1800 XL graphics card
- Call of Duty 2 game
X-Fi Demos
- www.soundblaster.com/products/x-fi/demo/
UPDATE [15.Mar.2006] - Creative now offers the "Soundblaster X-Fi I/O Drive Upgrade" for $79 direct at their online store (us.creative.com). The upgrade adds "Platinum" components like the front panel (w/ head phone jack and additional audio inputs and digital I/O) and the remote control. There are no changes in the audio card electronics.
Caution, the remote only works if the front panel is in clear sight. It will not work with housings with a front door that hide the front panel -- unless you keep the door open.
UPDATE [26.Apr.2006] - Despite the X-Fi supporting all variants from Creative's own EAX (upt to version 5), when pairing the Soundblaster with Logitech's QuickCam Fusion the driver for the camera (version 9.5.0) seems to override settings in the Soundblaster console and practically disable hardware acceleration (including EAX support) in games. I observed problems in Call of Duty 2 (choosing EAX 3 reverts automatically to 2D Miles), F.E.A.R. and "Condemned: Criminal Origins" (EAX 2 disabled). In fact, this appears to be a know issue as it showed up in a few forums. Disabling the USB device for the camera will fix the EAX problem (but naturally render the camera unusable).
UPDATE [28.Apr.2006] - Logitech responded and naturally did not take responsibility for the EAX problem above. After more investigating it turns out that Skype (version 2.0.90) offers an option to "allow to change your sound (hardware) settings". With that enabled, EAX could not be recognized despite the Soundblaster console stating otherwise. Disable this setting in the preferences, and the problem goes away while allowing access to both EAX and the QuickCam Fusion.
UPDATE [10.May.2006] - Possible problems with the Beta driver went unnoticed until I tried "Ghost Recon: Advanced War Fighter" (Ghost Recon 3). The game would simply come up with a blank screen and soon after crash with a Windows error message. Ubisoft wasn't much help as they ran through the obvious display driver issues and all the usual suspects. Just reinstalling the officially released X-Fi driver 2.07.004 didn't fix anything, but removing the driver and rebooting before a driver reinstall finally solved the puzzle. (The beta apparently had some residual effect on the driver despite a reinstall. The only way I found to prevent that was completely removing the driver and reboot to finalize the removal.)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 96
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