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USB Sound "Card" suggestions

post #1 of 20
4/14/11 at 3:57pm
Thread Starter 
I recently bought a pair of Shure SRH840's to use when i listen to music on my hi-fi or laptop. I love the Shures, they sound great, but i know, that my laptops onboard sound is not doing them justice. I would like to purchase a USB sound card to improve the quality of my audio.

I have a Dell Studio 1555 running Windows 7.

I have looked at the following 2 options. The price of both are within my budget of about £80-90

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=creative+usb+sound+card&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=14477361060386358704&sa=X&ei=S3inTducI8SwhAeysZ3iCQ&ved=0CDMQ8wIwAA#

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=creative+usb+sound+card&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=3496087111295140964&sa=X&ei=S3inTducI8SwhAeysZ3iCQ&ved=0CDcQ8wIwAg#

Has anyone used them? What are they like? What is the difference?

I usually listen to 320k vbr mp3's or Apple Lossless in iTunes.

What are the alternatives?

I appreciate any help. I do apologise if this is in the wrong section.

Thanks
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post #2 of 20
4/14/11 at 7:29pm

If gaming isn't a necessity, then the X-Fi HD USB is definitely the way to go, with higher quality parts than the X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro. Overall, it's a superior DAC, but lacks the gaming features Creative soundcards usually have, in favor of higher SQ.

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post #3 of 20
4/15/11 at 8:01am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for your reply.

Gaming is not a necessity. Yeah, i play games occasionally, but music is my priority.

Are there any other sound cards out there that can beat x-fi HD or any creative option in a similar price range?
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post #4 of 20
4/15/11 at 10:31am
Thread Starter 
The more i read up about creative products, the more i get put off. Not all reviews are bad, but from what i have read, Creative aren't really that great...

Would i be better off with a uDAC-2 or a

What is Creative's build quality like? How long could i expect it to last?

As you can probably tell from these questions, i'm a n00b when it comes to audio equipment.
Edited by gurpswu - 4/15/11 at 11:12am
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post #5 of 20
4/15/11 at 10:48am

I wouldn't touch uDAC 2 with a 10 yard stick biggrin.gif seems to have far too many issues for my taste.

 

If you play games that use little to no audio hardware features, you should go with the X-Fi HD USB, as it is indeed a very nice sounding external DAC, build quality is alright, and if you treat it right, breaking down won't come from the outside.

 

There are good reviews, bad reviews, and reviews that are bad due to people not knowing how to install Creative products, as there are guidelines for that.

 

And don't worry about that, everyone starts up from scratch, but we're here to learn and help each other.


Edited by Roller - 4/15/11 at 11:05am
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post #6 of 20
4/15/11 at 12:33pm

I have been enjoying my X-fi HD USB. It sounds great and has mic input. It really is difficult to find a good dac with a mic input. I highly recommend it.

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post #7 of 20
4/15/11 at 7:37pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you again for your replies.

I will probably make an order for the x-fi HD on the 18th.

What about the fiio E7? Has anyone used this and the X-FI HD?

What do they think of them respectively?
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post #8 of 20
4/15/11 at 10:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gurpswu View Post

The more i read up about creative products, the more i get put off. Not all reviews are bad, but from what i have read, Creative aren't really that great...

Would i be better off with a uDAC-2 or a

What is Creative's build quality like? How long could i expect it to last?

As you can probably tell from these questions, i'm a n00b when it comes to audio equipment.


Well Creative is slow with distributing Drivers for their equipment, but their new line of sound cards and accessories are actually amazing and the built quality is better than previously known. The recent sound cards that they have come up with are true competitors to asus.

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post #9 of 20
4/16/11 at 9:11am
Thread Starter 
Okay...i should say i'm running Windows 7 64 bit....will that cause problems? or does it support both?
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post #10 of 20
4/18/11 at 6:41pm
Thread Starter 
Okay, just bought the creative X-FI HD USB from ebuyer for £85. With free next day delivery.

I can't wait to check it out!!! Finally moving away from onboard sound biggrin.gif
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post #11 of 20
4/18/11 at 6:48pm

Do post feedback on your experience with it, and I think you'll notice quite a difference between your onboard and the X-Fi wink.gif

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post #12 of 20
4/19/11 at 4:57am

I've been enjoying my X-FI HD since the holiday's. Right now, I use it for USB to S/PDIF, S/PDIF to USB, DAC,  and ADC  functions. It's nice for digitizing vinyl, and getting digital to my digital pre/pro. I run it through 64 bit Windows 7 up-sampling to 24/96. Experiments with all manner of media indicate indistinguishable sound no matter what the source/conversions when compared to SACD.


Edited by sterling1 - 4/19/11 at 10:35am
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post #13 of 20
4/20/11 at 7:24am
Thread Starter 
Hello again. I got it through the post this morning. Plugged it in, and worked straight away. But i decided to install the creative drivers too.

I am really happy i chose to get this. Music just sounds amazing through this. I can't believe i've been listening to music from onboard sound for over a year.

I plugged my Shure SRH840's into it, and they also sound much much better.

I have also used the headphone port on the x-fi to connect it to my hi-fi speakers. I'm using a jack to RCA cable which goes into the hi-fi amplifier which is connected to some old JVC S-40 speakers.

Should i buy an RCA to RCA cable instead though and use the line out?
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post #14 of 20
4/20/11 at 3:46pm

Your route should be USB to X-FI HD,  and White & Red RCA line outs from X-FI HD to L and R  tape inputs, or other unused RCA  inputs, except phono, at your integrated amp.

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post #15 of 20
4/21/11 at 10:10am
Thread Starter 
It works the way I did it too, but i'm going to get the RCA to RCA cable like you said. Thanks alot smily_headphones1.gif
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