Simple sound comparison: X-Fi ($129.99) & VDA-1/VAC-1 ($349/$149) Combo

[sirnice]

After reading all the reviews (TrustedReviews, anandtech, etc...)about how great the X-Fi is, I finally picked one up at Bestbuy today to hear it myself. For those who don't like to read. Conclusion: VDA1/VAC1 wins hands down.
If you have the Audigy2 and want something for gaming, the X-Fi is worthy of the upgrade.

My current setup is the VDA-1/VAC-1(upgrade from Audigy2 Plat. Pro), Sony SA5000, Portaphile V2 ^2 (which I'm selling to upgrade to a more powerful amp for the SA5k).

This is only a very basic listening test by switching between the 2.
The VDA/VAC (V/V) combo beats the X-fi in every catagory.

Bass: V/V deeper, punchier/tighter
Mids: V/V A little more forward. Vocal is much cleaner and more detailed.
Highs: V/V sharper and more detailed.

Overall clarity on the V/V is better. Everytime I switch to the X-Fi, I can hear an immediate difference. There is an obvious loss in detail, sharpness and bass impact of the V/V. The X-Fi sounded a little dull compare the to the vivid sound of the V/V. All settings were turned off (3D, Crystalizer, EQ)

You get what you pay for I guess.

 

[skitlets]

But how does the X-Fi compare to the 1212m listed in your sig? I'm sure many are curious to know of comparisons between the two sound cards.

 

[sirnice]

I returned the 1212m back to the store. It had too many recording/professional features I don't use and doesn't work too well with games (which I occasionally play).

I did compare the sound between the VDA-1 (without the VAC-1 at the time) and 1212m. I remember liking the VDA-1 more. I only had the 1212m for about a week but I would say the X-Fi is on par with the 1212m. I can't really go into details because I don't have the 1212m now to do comparison.

Like I said before, If you're going to play games on the PC and want decent sound quality for you music, then the X-Fi is probably the do it all solution.

 

[davvy]

What would be more interesting would be to compare the X-Fi Elite Pro to the VDA-1. I suspect the DAC would still be better, but maybe the difference would be fairly small ??

 

[Glassman]

X-Fi Elite Pro is more or less 1212m in terms of analog output, other X-Fi's are more or less Audigy2's again in terms of analog output.. reason? same components used..

 

[Tachikoma]

hey, if you plug the VDA/VAC onto the x-fi's digital out, can you play games with the VDA/VAC's sound, and still keep all of the x-fi's fancy gaming support like EAX 5.0?

 

[davvy]

Quote:

X-Fi Elite Pro is more or less 1212m in terms of analog output, other X-Fi's are more or less Audigy2's again in terms of analog output.. reason? same components used..

If the X-Fi Elite Pro sounds as good as the 1212m, I am definitely buying one. But I think I will wait for a few people's opinions first.

Glassman: so do you think it would be worth modding the X-Fi Elite Pro ? People generally seem to think that the 1212m benefitted quite a bit from mods. I wonder if someone will try it ...

 

[Disiskurt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by davvy If the X-Fi Elite Pro sounds as good as the 1212m, I am definitely buying one. But I think I will wait for a few people's opinions first.

Just so you know, it costs $400 on Creative's website.

 

[glenmorangie]

i picked up a vac-1 power supply for my vhp-1 amp last night. dusty also lent me a vda-1 dac to check out. (he lives 1/2 a mile away) holy crap this thing sounds good.everything about the sound is a huge improvement...but the thing that i appreciate the most is the clarity and texture of acoustic instruments. the double bass has never sounded so deep and wooden

..the thought of going back to just using the x-fi as a source is depressing.
its not really a surprise that a well reviewed $350 dac would sound better than using the crappy amplified line out of a $129 dollar soundcard ..but i never thought it could sound this much better.
i havent heard the most expensive x-fi, but i am sure that if you wanted gaming support and fine headphone sound...getting the cheapest x-fi and a vda-1 would give much better results for less than $100 more (as long as all those extra connections arent needed).
i am a big fan of ciaudio ...my vhp-1 with vac-1 power is a beautiful thing too.

 

[glenmorangie]

"hey, if you plug the VDA/VAC onto the x-fi's digital out, can you play games with the VDA/VAC's sound, and still keep all of the x-fi's fancy gaming support like EAX 5.0?"

yes...all the x-fi's features are usable and are sent to the vda-1

i played a little bit of battlefield 2 last night on the x-fi ...the 3d positioning is incredible, everything creative labs claims it to be ...the sounds of war have much more depth and impact with no clipping of the low end like on the audigy 2. i didnt do a comparison with/without vda-1 in battlefield...maybe i will check it out tonight

the crystallizer is junk....its nothing creative claims it to be. i tried it on low and high bitrate mp3 and cd.
the x-fi does sound better for music than the audigy 2. i am guessing because of the cleaner conversion from 44.1 to 48

 

[sirnice]

[size=small][QUOTE=glenmorangie]dusty also lent me a vda-1 dac to check out. (he lives 1/2 a mile away) holy crap this thing sounds good.everything about the sound is a huge improvement...but the thing that i appreciate the most is the clarity and texture of acoustic instruments. the double bass has never sounded so deep and wooden

..the thought of going back to just using the x-fi as a source is depressing.
its not really a surprise that a well reviewed $350 dac would sound better than using the crappy amplified line out of a $129 dollar soundcard ..but i never thought it could sound this much better. [/size]

Ditto that. I think the best setup for computer would be the X-Fi (for gaming support) and an external DAC (highly recommend the VDA-1) for music.

 

[sdgserv]

Good discusion..I almost bought a VDA-1, but Oh Ho Nooooo somebody sold it

 

[Tachikoma]

Now that I've had confirmation that my upgrade plan will work... *starts plotting an evil plot to own all things audiophile*

 

[glenmorangie]

robbing convenience stores for dac money?

 

[Tachikoma]

That would be so bloody small time =P I'LL PWN/CONQUER THE WORLD THEN BUY/TAKE EVERYTHING I WANT MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Alright done ranting =P wonder when will someone post a microDAC vs VDA-1 comparison...