[Stangs55]

http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer...818/index.html

This will definatly be my next card seeing that I use my computer for 75% gaming, 25% audio.

EDIT: Has anyone heard anything about when this line will actually be released?

 

[Jazper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stangs55 http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer...818/index.html This will definatly be my next card seeing that I use my computer for 75% gaming, 25% audio.

toms is notorious for biased reviews

 

[SnooP_WiggleS]

true but i'm not gonna argue with those RMAA stats. finally no resampling issues and decent dynamic range!

http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer...e_x-fi-17.html

 

[YW_Slayer]

Where's our man from Hannover? The NDA must have ended by now.

Impressions!!

 

[james__bean]

I think I'm going to get this but I'm a little torn between which version to get. I already have an EMU so this would be purely for gaming. I wonder if there will be driver troubles like there are with the audigys.

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Those results look very promising. If Creative can get over the early driver troubles when the X-Fi finally hits store shelves, then I will be tempted to say "Finally! A gaming sound card which does not suck for music!"

 

[YW_Slayer]

The review actually seemed reasonably balanced (especially in relation to the card's advantages for gamers) apart from a few paragraphs of PR drivel and some questionable graphics that seem to have been ripped directly from Creative sources..

I'll probably just get the Fatal1ty model as I spend most of my time gaming.

 

[Stangs55]

Quote:

Originally Posted by james__bean I think I'm going to get this but I'm a little torn between which version to get. I already have an EMU so this would be purely for gaming. I wonder if there will be driver troubles like there are with the audigys.

Same...but unfortunatly after reading that the top of the line X-Fi Elite Pro "has higher-quality converters and thus provides the best audio performance", I think they made up my mind for me @ $400.

 

[sanne]

honestly this card does not impress me much at all. with every new iteration creative somehow manages to creative even more bloated drivers, which will no doubt be even more unstable. i suppose if your a gamer this card is pretty much your only choice, and it's good to see that the card will have decent SQ. but the prices are just too exorbitant at this point, way too much for a soundcard.

 

[thomase]

Its only $30 more than the HDA Mystique, which is the other card that people are clamoring over at this point. I'd trade the HDA's Dolby Digital Live support and $30 for all of the other features of the X-Fi, considering that I don't use a receiver but I do play games with headphones which would benefit from CMSS-3D and EAX 3/4/5.

 

[Soundstorm]

Weighted signal-to-noise ratio: 94.6 dB(A)

Thats a weak performance, even cheaper cards can hit 96dB theoretical limit at 16/44 with lesser components, and the Elite Pro with premium DAC and components can't even do that?

Weighted signal-to-noise ratio: 112.4 dB(A)

At 24/96, thats all it can do? Man the 0404 and 1212M blows it away. Save yourselves $399 and just get a 0404 for $99 or 1212M for $199.

 

[Edwood]

I have a Dolby Digital Receiver at the heart of my Home Theater.

So until Creative adds real time AC3 digital encoding, no thanks.

My HDA Digital X-Mystique will have to do until then.

-Ed

 

[YW_Slayer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwood I have a Dolby Digital Receiver at the heart of my Home Theater. So until Creative adds real time AC3 digital encoding, no thanks. My HDA Digital X-Mystique will have to do until then. -Ed

That is what is putting me off.

Maybe I'll just get both.

 

[korben_dallas]

http://www.fixup.net/products/benchm...mu%201212m.htm
http://www.fixup.net/products/benchmarks/1212m2448.htm
http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer...04/emu-06.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer...e_x-fi-17.html

X-Fi 16 Bits/44.1 KHz
Frequency response (40 Hz - 15 kHz) : +0.01, -0.07 dB
Weighted signal-to-noise ratio: 94.6 dB(A)
Distortion: 0.0008%

E-MU 1212M 16-bit, 44 kHz
Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB: +0.03, -0.20
Noise level, dB (A): -96.4
THD, %: 0.0008

E-MU 0404 16 Bits/44.1 KHz
Frequency response (40 Hz - 15 kHz): -0.11, -0.06 dB
Weighted signal-to-noise ratio: 96.4 dB(A)
Distortion: 0.0013 %


X-Fi 24 Bits / 48 KHz
Frequency response (20 Hz - 20 kHz): +0.01, -0.19 dB
Weighted signal-to-noise ratio: 112.6 dB(A)
Distortion: 0.0005%

E-MU 1212M 24-bit, 48 kHz
Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB: +0.02, -0.20
Noise level, dB (A): -113.6
THD, %: 0.0008

E-MU 0404 24 Bits/48 KHz
Frequency response (20 Hz - 20 kHz): +0.13, -0.16 dB
Weighted signal-to-noise ratio: 111.2 dB(A)
Distortion: 0.0010 %


Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundstorm Weighted signal-to-noise ratio: 94.6 dB(A) Thats a weak performance, even cheaper cards can hit 96dB theoretical limit at 16/44 with lesser components, and the Elite Pro with premium DAC and components can't even do that? Weighted signal-to-noise ratio: 112.4 dB(A) At 24/96, thats all it can do? Man the 0404 and 1212M blows it away. Save yourselves $399 and just get a 0404 for $99 or 1212M for $199.

Blown away? By price only. The 0404 & 1212m don't have 1/4th of the other features of the X-Fi Pro, which makes up the difference in cost.

 

[GotNoRice]

I think my EMU 0404 + Audidy2 ZS combo is pretty solid. I'd like to know how the X-Fi and the 0404 compare, sound quality wise.

The drivers look pretty lame though, and the whole thing about it being "3 soundcards in one" and having to switch between modes just seems dumb. I don't want to have to hassle with a control panel 100 times a day as i switch between activities.