I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

[megawhompertoo]

Ok, I just bought an X-Fi extrememusic sound card off ebay ($65 shipped) from a reputable seller.

According to the reviews, this card does twice the number of voices as my current Audigy 2 zs, and it has some other features that I would like to use, like the optional break-out box when one comes up on ebay for a reasonable price.

My question is whether or not I'm going to hear a nice improvement in sound, or if I should have just stuck with my 2 zs. I use a good 4.1 (yes, i said 4.1) stand alone speaker system or 5.1 headphones. I may look into a center channel after I get the x-fi in, though. Anybody know how I could cheaply convert a powered subwoofer pushing 4 channels into a 5 channel setup?

[=98=]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

Oh yes, i upgraded from a Audigy 2 and i can say the best thing about the X-Fi is the Crystaliser effect. This helps make sound more direct and revives poor quality music. I don't really notice 128 instead of 64 voices, but thats because i only have earbuds.

[megawhompertoo]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

thx for reply. was especially looking for responses from folks who went from the audigy 2 to the x-fi.

it just struck me that since i got a pretty good deal on this one that if i don't notice a big change, i could pro'ly ebay it again and not lose any money.

we'll call my foray into x-fi-ness an experiment.

(problem with that is that i've already posted my 2 zs for sale. :) )

[=98=]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

Its definitely worth keeping over your ZS. It'll mean that you will be able to run high sound quality in newer games like Crysis.

[JoeG]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

I guess I'll be the malcontent here. I went from a soundblaster Live 5.1 to an X-fi XtremeGamer. I notice ZERO diffrence in sound quality. No change in large stereo speakers or headphones. It even has an optical out - That I cant get to work. The optical out doesnt even show up in the soundblaster utilities.

The good part is that it isn't any WORSE than the 5.1... it just doesnt add a thing either.

[Stillhouse]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

I noticed a difference in quality going from an Audigy2 ZS to X-Fi. I was able to hear things in CDs and DVD-A that before I could only pick up on my dedicated home audio setup. Playing BF2 on Ultra High sound is a world of difference, picking out enemy positions just by sound is much easier. I'm not too impressed with the Crystallizer though, you can get the same if not better results with eq settings. Everybody's ears are different though, so no one can really tell you if you'll hear a difference or not. The quality of your speakers and headphones will have a big role too.

[megawhompertoo]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

'thx for all replies. going to give 'er a go and see what happens.

[BoloMarkXXX]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

I have the X-Fi extrememusic & am very happy with it, I use all 3 modes & like all the features.

[System]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

hmmm...

I use to use Mobo sound realtek 97 (the lowest you can go) on a 2.1 system and could hear everything. Yeah, footsteps behind me and voices you name it.

I bought my Creative X-fi sound card, unfortunately it had to be a fatal1ty as it was the only one available for me at the time (wanted the plantinum) and upgraded my speakers to 5.1 and the difference is not much??? I can admit It does seem better but for the price? nah... But thats me, not you.

Idunno, I'll be deaf before I reach 20 though because i constantly blast musik into my ears so...

I will agree that the 3 modes you get are awesome. Musik sounds better than before thats for sure so in game sounds must be more crisp to my burned out ear drums =P

[bspun3D]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

i have a xfi extreme gamer pro and i love the card now when action is happening to the left or the right u can really hear the difference. songs play a lot better and the games sound great. i love it.

[Lamri35UK]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

I have Fatal1ty Pro Gamer and can now have BF2 sounds on the Ultra High setting. Took me a while to get used to things like when I'm laid up sniping, the sound of the GRASS MOVING in the wind used to make me think someone was crawling up to knife me

[signa]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

'thx for all replies. going to give 'er a go and see what happens.

so what happened ?

[BoloMarkXXX]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

I have to add this, my old sound card was a SB GamerX Live! (in my spare parts box now) used it in 5 different boxes it was a great card sounded great but the my X-Fi blows it away.

Ingame those &^$@*& birds that popup on the old card they would startle me every once in a while now they scare the bejesus out of me every *$@%* time.

[megawhompertoo]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

so what happened ?

they loaded it onto a ups truck in CA three days ago.

stay tuned.

edit: this'll finally give me a reason to check out that new map they released a few days ago. i don't think i've played BF2 since the end of open beta for LOTRO.

[megawhompertoo]

Re: I need to stop reading tech reviews. Just bought into X-Fi...did I waste money?

Unit dead on arrival.

Going back. May or may not get another.

Edit: W00T!!! Reseating PCI cards FTW.

I reseated it twice, then plugged my 2zs back in...and didn't detect it. Changed pci freq to auto from 33mhz (don't think it had any effect), swapped the x-fi back in...and !!!BINGO!!!.

Going to try the new bf2 map tonight.

Edit 2: I snuk (ha-ha) in 2 rounds of kark b4 heading back to work. I can tell the difference btwn my old audigy 2 zs and the new x-fi. It isn't mind blowing, but definitely worth the $30 IF I can sell my old one. :) If not, then I'm out $60 on the best audio I've ever hear from a pc...but I'm not dissapointed.

And yes, I apologized to the seller after telling him I wanted either a refund or a same item cross-shipped. Sometimes even tweaks jump the gun.