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Hotrodding the X-Fi: A Layman's Guide (No 56k)
Apr 13, 2007 at 10:39 AM Post #391 of 2,194
Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX /img/forum/go_quote.gif
So can you guys who have done the Cap replacement mod tell me what you guys hear now that you installed the better quality cap?


Mine is still settling in which is very noticable by the response of certain frequency ranges varying quite a lot, apparantly the nonpolar ones will take even longer to settle then regular BG's.
So I wont even try to judge it just yet. What I *can* say however is that the basses seem more present without being louder, the sound seems more organic and things that are supposed to be silent are really pitchblack silent now.

As I said i'm not gonna judge a cap thats still setting in, but it is very clear that the change of capacitor has a very noticable effect on the sound, so if that's what you were wondering: yes it does make a noticable difference.
 
Apr 13, 2007 at 12:36 PM Post #392 of 2,194
Digikey seems to be a really fast company. They have already shipped the capacitors to me. They'll get the LM4562's in their store on 19. April.
 
Apr 13, 2007 at 3:36 PM Post #393 of 2,194
Quote:

Originally Posted by x99 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Black gate caps going out of production is ROFL because the boy has cried wolf too many times. The big distributors said it last time too... and the time before that... and before that.


I went to Groef audio again today to get a few more blackgates of various capacities and ask what the deal with BG is.
Apparantly the problem is that the people making them are all far in their 70s and just cant go on. 2 years ago they already wanted to quit but decided to go on a bit longer due to 'pressure' from the hi-fi community. Apparantly they never passed their skills/techniques on to a younger generation.. So who knows maybe they will ressurect again in some form but for now production HAS stopped with no future plans.
 
Apr 13, 2007 at 4:34 PM Post #394 of 2,194
Quote:

Originally Posted by phalanger /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I went to Groef audio again today to get a few more blackgates of various capacities and ask what the deal with BG is.
Apparantly the problem is that the people making them are all far in their 70s and just cant go on. 2 years ago they already wanted to quit but decided to go on a bit longer due to 'pressure' from the hi-fi community. Apparantly they never passed their skills/techniques on to a younger generation.. So who knows maybe they will ressurect again in some form but for now production HAS stopped with no future plans.



Lol- I'm pretty sure that can't be the reason....it's not like the capacitors are handmade
blink.gif
 
Apr 13, 2007 at 5:09 PM Post #395 of 2,194
Yeah I don't know either nor pretend to
smily_headphones1.gif
but i figured i'd pass along what the main dutch importer had to say about it. It's a bit weird story indeed, but I got a few spares anyway just incase.

Btw shorting out the decoupling caps gave me a mixed feeling about the result, though it's nothing specific i can point out and may entirely be psychological, but it gave me the impulse to turn the volume down. So I ended up unshorting 2 of them again.
I think I will just replace the decoupling caps (have we established by now that this is what they are there for or?) by better ones instead of shorting them. Would Blackgate NP 22uF 6.3v decoupling caps be a good choice or do i need 16v ones? Its 5V that runs through the card or no? (yes im n00b'ish)
 
Apr 14, 2007 at 5:21 AM Post #399 of 2,194
Quote:

Originally Posted by GloryField /img/forum/go_quote.gif
is there a non-creative card that is cheaper, and can obtain the same sound as the X-Fi elite pro?


What exactly are you after and why do you want the same sound as the X-Fi Elite Pro? Do you need surround sound?
 
Apr 14, 2007 at 6:00 AM Post #400 of 2,194
Quote:

Originally Posted by cotdt /img/forum/go_quote.gif
What exactly are you after and why do you want the same sound as the X-Fi Elite Pro? Do you need surround sound?


I was thinking about something along the lines of Auzentech Xplosion, or something in the $80 range. I will be using it with an Audio-Technica ATH-A500, no surround sound.

Currently I'm on a really old sound blaster, about to order an X-Fi, or a different card.

What is your view on the breakout box and the 5.25" module. Are they of any use other than coolness, and easy access?
 
Apr 14, 2007 at 6:03 AM Post #401 of 2,194
Quote:

Originally Posted by GloryField /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I was thinking about something along the lines of Auzentech Xplosion, or something in the $80 range. I will be using it with an Audio-Technica ATH-A500, no surround sound.

Currently I'm on a really old sound blaster, about to order an X-Fi, or a different card.

What is your view on the breakout box and the 5.25" module. Are they of any use other than coolness, and easy access?


If you don't need surround sound, then you should consider getting an external DAC. The Zhaolu 2.5A is the best option, IMHO. And the breakout module might be convenient, but they degrade sound quality.
 
Apr 14, 2007 at 6:14 AM Post #403 of 2,194
Quote:

Originally Posted by GloryField /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Is it also OK for gaming, positional sounding-wise, for fps games? I do about 25% music, 25% fps games, and about 50% of games where position don't matter


for 3D positional gaming, the X-Fi is your only option because it has a DSP that processes 3D sound. But for general gaming, just get whatever sounds good. What is good for music is good for gaming.
 
Apr 14, 2007 at 6:33 AM Post #404 of 2,194
Thanks, I think I'll go for X-Fi elite pro then, if it has decent SQ after mod. Also since it's on sale for $160 after a $70 rebate, with free shipping. However, I've never soldered before, and I have none of the equipments, any tips on how I would go about soldering it? I ordered a sample of 3 LM's already, haven't ordered blackgate yet
 
Apr 14, 2007 at 7:08 AM Post #405 of 2,194
Quote:

Originally Posted by GloryField /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Thanks, I think I'll go for X-Fi elite pro then, if it has decent SQ after mod. Also since it's on sale for $160 after a $70 rebate, with free shipping. However, I've never soldered before, and I have none of the equipments, any tips on how I would go about soldering it? I ordered a sample of 3 LM's already, haven't ordered blackgate yet


$160 is a great deal for the elite pro- creative must be looking to come out with a new sound card very soon...

I'm very happy with the sound quality after the mod- it's much better!
 
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