X-Fi vs Hardware audio mode

Re: X-Fi vs Hardware audio mode

It's hard to tell if you're not tuned into that sort of thing. I've found that things like accurate positioning of grenade hiss and someone walking up behind me are more apparent with 128 voices and a quality set of headphones. For me the slight performance hit is worth getting a few more audio cues, it really makes a difference in close quarters fighting I think.

[Minmaster]

hmm independent of the audio mode, it's the audio quality that controls the # of voices, not the mode. hence, X-Fi w/ high will yield same # of voices as hardware w/ high, no?

[=98=]

I think it lets you hear 128 sounds as opposed to 64 of hardware mode. It's a gimmick to increase Creative's sales.

[Minmaster]

I have X-Fi xtreme gamer edition, and i really can't tell the difference in audio between X-Fi and Hardware mode, using high audio quality and EAX enabled. what are supposed to be the differences and are they detectable by non-audiophile ears? i ask because i recently tried using hardware over X-Fi mode, because i have a hunch that it actually improves game performance and stability over X-Fi mode on my setup. upon trying to figure out the advantages of X-Fi mode, i have come to realize that there is nothing. i am using a 5.1 speaker setup.

does anyone feel the same way or can someone make a case for using X-Fi mode? perhaps it's really noticeable over headphones than speakers?