Two New Soundcards From Creative : Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD and X-Fi HD - Page 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by thuantran 

Hybrys, I remember reading somewhere that the Titanium HD will use a new revision of the X-Fi PCI Express chip. Whether that will make a difference in performance is another matter. I'm too exhausted at the moment so I let you do the gg work, sorry.

The 2nd version of the x-fi chip is simply the one that uses PCI-E instead of PCI, so its the exact same one as on the titanium models. The 1st version of the x-fi chip is on the old extreme music and elite pro models from 2005 which were PCI only. Its just marketing this card uses the same chip as the titanium. Still, im interested to see how it stacks up against the xonar STX which it was seemingly designed to compete against.

Everything we can all say is only a guess until either we buy it or read many reviews on it.

Hybrys might be right and buying a Forte might be better, but I am thrilled to see if the cards is worth the price they are asking for.

And if they are I will gladly pay the premium.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrys 

I'd highly suggest checking out or even testing an Auzentech Forte first.  X-Fi processor for the gaming acceleration, and some good quality parts for music.  It's available for much less than the new X-Fi.

If it were still a product auzentech brought to market I would. Also, the forte has the same problem the X-Fi has, a ground loop with most amps. The X-Fi titanium HD has rca outs, which leads me to believe they have intended for us to plug it into something like a pre amp or a headphone amp.

I'd expect 0 ground loop issues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aynjell 

If it were still a product auzentech brought to market I would. Also, the forte has the same problem the X-Fi has, a ground loop with most amps. The X-Fi titanium HD has rca outs, which leads me to believe they have intended for us to plug it into something like a pre amp or a headphone amp.

 

I'd expect 0 ground loop issues.

Theoretically, a Forte at $110 (http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=35596), then a $150-200 external DAC (fed digitally to avoid headphone amp issues) would beat any possible sound card implementation, and still offer all of the gaming advantages.

Also, both the Titanium HD and the Forte use the EMU20K2, and the Forte has more onboard RAM.  (Titanium HD has 16mbs, and the Forte has 64mbs.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrys 

Theoretically, a Forte at $110 (http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=35596), then a $150-200 external DAC (fed digitally to avoid headphone amp issues) would beat any possible sound card implementation, and still offer all of the gaming advantages.

 

Also, both the Titanium HD and the Forte use the EMU20K2, and the Forte has more onboard RAM.  (Titanium HD has 16mbs, and the Forte has 64mbs.)

So where can I buy one new?
 

Uhhh... The link in the post you quoted?

NCIXUS, the same as the link above, but for US customers, also has 50+ copies.

http://ncixus.com/products/?sku=35596&vpn=AZTXFF7105551&manufacture=AuzenTech&promoid=1031

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrys 

Uhhh... The link in the post you quoted?

I've never ordered from NCIX. I think I'd rather wait until I see it on another site I trust... I'm sure they're reputable but no experience with or about them. Anyway...

I prefer the X-fi's offering, dual RCA, with optical out. Plus that alone makes me believe it won't have that low level hum I hear now. I know the forte has it because I've read of it, and I'm not comfortable ordering it because that's the only place you can get it. Auzentech ain't even sellin' it right now.

Also, X-RAM is useful in games, but not much else... 16MB is probably enough, but I do think it's stupid that nobody where you go in creative, it's a give/take.

Also, X-Fi's cease to be X-Fi's when you use them for optical/coax/anykindofdigital out.

NCIX, or Netlink Computers, is one of the best and most trusted companies we Canadians use for parts.  It's the Canadian equiv of Newegg.  (Before Newegg started a .ca).  Heck, I've personally spent almost $10000 there over the last 8 years.

It's true that Auzentech has problems keeping stock right now; as far as the rumor goes, they're changing the EMI shielding to make the hum disappear but they're having delays doing so.  But, as for the hum, many MANY people on Head-Fi say they don't even notice it.  And, if you went from Forte --> Digital out --> DAC --> Amp, you'd eliminate the chance of the hum, and have the quality from a superior DAC.

It just makes no sense to spend $300 on an unproven card, when this card IS proven, can be had for a third the price (and that money rolled back into a better system), and is technically superior.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aynjell 

Also, X-Fi's cease to be X-Fi's when you use them for optical/coax/anykindofdigital out.

That's untrue, all DSP processing still happens when you send the digital out to a DAC.  Many people use this as a setup.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrys 

NCIX, or Netlink Computers, is one of the best and most trusted companies we Canadians use for parts.  It's the Canadian equiv of Newegg.  (Before Newegg started a .ca).  Heck, I've personally spent almost $10000 there over the last 8 years.

 

It's true that Auzentech has problems keeping stock right now; as far as the rumor goes, they're changing the EMI shielding to make the hum disappear but they're having delays doing so.  But, as for the hum, many MANY people on Head-Fi say they don't even notice it.  And, if you went from Forte --> Digital out --> DAC --> Amp, you'd eliminate the chance of the hum, and have the quality from a superior DAC.

 

It just makes no sense to spend $300 on an unproven card, when this card IS proven, can be had for a third the price (and that money rolled back into a better system), and is technically superior.

 

That's untrue, all DSP processing still happens when you send the digital out to a DAC.  Many people use this as a setup.

X-Fi's cease to process EAX, CMSS-3D, etc, once outputting to optical/coax/etc.  Apparently these features are processed in analog. But that doesn't really make sense to me, but this is what creative has told me. I personally wouldn't uprade to a forte if my x-Fi worked with an external DAC, because I'd be defeating the purpose again. The one benefit MIGHT be moving from optical to Coax... but is there really a benefit there?

Where are you reading that?  As far as my reading/research has gone, EAX processing (which includes CMSS-3D) is processed before the digital output, and is still applied.  Test it out yourself, don't rely on Creative support.

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/363893/x-fi-spdif-prelude-vs-titanium#post_4741247

From this thread they believe the Prelude can't act in this way; but the Forte might be able to.  An email to Auzentech might solve this arguement.

There's nothing conclusive in that thread.

To use eax effects with spdif you have to keep the windows sound device set on speakers. If you set it to spdif none of the stuff  like eax, eq, cmss-3d will work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmc64 

To use eax effects with spdif you have to keep the windows sound device set on speakers. If you set it to spdif none of the stuff  like eax, eq, cmss-3d will work.

And that's where stereo mix comes into play, eh?

what's stereo mix?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmc64 

what's stereo mix?

On my card there's an option: Play stereo mix using digital output. It seems to do what would be required to make this work.