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New Creative Zen X-Fi is out! (in Asia)

post #1 of 37
7/10/08 at 3:47am
Thread Starter 
I hope I'm not the only one excited about this.
Creative ZEN X-Fi - Built with X-Fi technology to attain the highest quality in music playback.

The 16/32gb versions have Wi-fi as well. The 8gb doesn't. I'm in Japan and am thinking about picking one up. The 16gb goes for about $210 here. When I saw the first pics a couple of weeks ago I was underwhelmed. But now I'm kind of excited. I was about to have a friend pick up a Sony A728 in the States for me, but I'm wondering now. Doh!

I just wish the buttons were not there and that the screen was bigger. 16:9 resolution would have been cool.

(I'm not breaking rules by posting that link, right?)
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post #2 of 37
7/10/08 at 4:01am
With the exception of the IM'ing feature it seem like an OK device. I hope they jacked the volume up a bit and that the X-Fi clears up the muddiness in the bass. SD integration will be the same though - nonexistent.
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post #3 of 37
7/10/08 at 4:31am
Any ideas on how the wi-fi is going to work? Is it like the Zune's wireless sync? Or is it like the iPod Touch's fully capable version?

Google came up with nothing helpful. ^^

Edit: Nevermind, IM'ing with a 9-key? As useless as my PSP's chat features.
Was praying for a touch-screen to chat with alongside good sound quality.
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post #4 of 37
7/10/08 at 5:24am
Here's 2 links. The first is Creative Singapore's store & the second is cnet Asia:

Creative ZEN X-Fi - Built with X-Fi technology to attain the highest quality in music playback.

Introduction - Creative Zen X-Fi debuts in Singapore - CNET Asia

epiZENter.net has a lot more info (they get the inside scoop pretty often!!!).
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post #5 of 37
7/10/08 at 5:27am
Also some pics on cnet Asia:

Creative Zen X-Fi (16GB; Wi-Fi) Photo Gallery - Music & Play - CNET Asia
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post #6 of 37
7/10/08 at 9:15am
I hope they stuck a more powerful amp into it, the bass isn't weaksauce and the EQ actually does something this time around.
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post #7 of 37
7/10/08 at 9:46am
Thread Starter 
So does anyone have experience with Creative's X-Fi stuff? I have an old sound card that fits in the PCMCIA slot of my laptop that sounds just fine (but not as nice as the Toshiba T802 I tried out). I'm just wondering because it's my impression that the Sony's have technology that's supposed to do basically the same thing as X-Fi. Basically fill in the gaps, the areas where too much was taken out in the compression process.

And I'm wondering how the new PMP will sound with the Victor HP-FX500's I just bought. I was planning to use them with a new Sony. Did the old Zen have plenty of bass?
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post #8 of 37
7/10/08 at 12:31pm
gimmick. if that much processing power is in an audio card: it is processed audio, not orginal audio. at least this time it looks nice. still no gapless? why the wait?
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post #9 of 37
7/10/08 at 4:36pm
I hope they did something about the mediocre sound quality. The last two Zen generations have been really disappointing w.r.t. SQ. Creative used to be at the top, but now they're just meh.
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post #10 of 37
7/10/08 at 5:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by phyrefly View Post
I hope they did something about the mediocre sound quality. The last two Zen generations have been really disappointing w.r.t. SQ. Creative used to be at the top, but now they're just meh.
According to objective tests they're pretty much at the top.

.
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post #11 of 37
7/10/08 at 6:47pm
I think that the Zen is underrated here even though I personally do not its sound signature. It isn't overly bassy or sparkly at the top or especially warm; the midrange is too emphasized for my liking. Lower the mid-range, lessen the bass roll-off, and I would love it.
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post #12 of 37
7/10/08 at 7:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ILikeMusic View Post
According to objective tests they're pretty much at the top.

.
That's a ridiculous test. Yeah, the Zen and iPod Classic sure beats the Clip in SQ...

My Zen Xtra sounds much better than the Zen Vision and Zen line. Creative's great SQ stopped somewhere around Zen Touch/Sleek.
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post #13 of 37
7/10/08 at 7:17pm
How is it a "ridiculous test"? Because it conflicts with your opinion?
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post #14 of 37
7/10/08 at 7:24pm
Quote:
That's a ridiculous test.
Objective measurements of THD, s/n, frequency response, etc., are actually pretty meaningful, or at least more accurate than purely subjective statements that vary all over the place based on the bias of a particular listener. The latter makes for a better definition of ridiculous.
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post #15 of 37
7/10/08 at 7:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by applebook View Post
Because it conflicts with your opinion?
Find me some one on Head-Fi that thinks otherwise. I'd much rather go with the subjective opinions of many users than an objective test done by a subpar website.
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