Creative Labs SoundBlaster X-Fi 2 discussion thread

[Keitosha]

After the fiasco @ the CL forums regarding Daniel_K's modded drivers, rumors are that CL is preparing the X-Fi 2 for (a real soon?) launch.

The only indications for the X-Fi 2 is that Daniel_K was offered an X-Fi 2 (according to his own words) to settle the case and that CL has got the certificates for the X-Fi 2 for XP / Vista.

Is there any other info about the X-Fi 2? Like it being released in the PCI or PCI-e (which i hope) format?

Discuss here what you think/expect of the CL X-Fi 2.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/Keitosha/x-fi_2.jpg

A real X-Fi fan!
http://www.2dayblog.com/images/2006_october/xfi_2.jpg

[>HyperlogiK<]

As an aside, weren't Azuntech complaining that PCIe was a much worse bus for sound cards than PCI because it was very noisy by comparison?

Beyond a really improved Crystalizer and CMSS-3D I'm not sure what extra features could improve the X-Fi, sure it could benefit from better components (power filter cap and output stage) but other than that it is pretty awesome.

[Jayws]

Uhg, I don't really care if they're releasing an XFI 2 series. I wont be buying. The current XFI's have been bad enough for me to look elsewhere than Creative.

[nd4spdbh2]

DOLBY DIGITAL ****ING LIVE PLEASE..... all CL has to do for us people who bought their product is simply roll out a driver update with DOlby digital live pack... as the X-FI can do DDL case and point.... Auxentech X-FI prelude ... they get drivers from creative.

[Douken]

DOLBY DIGITAL ****ING LIVE PLEASE..... all CL has to do for us people who bought their product is simply roll out a driver update with DOlby digital live pack... as the X-FI can do DDL case and point.... Auxentech X-FI prelude ... they get drivers from creative.

+1

[>HyperlogiK<]

Oh yeah I wasn't really thinking about the sucky drivers, the X-Fi hardware or at least the EMU20K is awesome though.

[Keitosha]

Oh yeah I wasn't really thinking about the sucky drivers, the X-Fi hardware or at least the EMU20K is awesome though.Yep and i'm also wondering what Creative will do next now that EAX is crippled due to the DirectSound3D HAL removal in Vista. Will they develop OpenAL further and/or rename it to EAX HD6.0? (go figure)

The EMU20K1 is an awesome chip, hell i even love the Audigy 1 (when paired with Daniel_K's drivers, it really makes any Audigy shine again). The only thing that CL needs to improve are the components, like better capacitors and OpAmps.

IMHO the Prelude is what the initial X-Fi should be.

[vixro]

I love my prelude. :D \o/

[nd4spdbh2]

IMHO the Prelude is what the initial X-Fi should be.

I couldnt agree with you more... the Prelude has great components and pretty good drivers with many features....

[Socket eh?]

Beyond a really improved Crystalizer and CMSS-3D I'm not sure what extra features could improve the X-Fi, sure it could benefit from better components (power filter cap and output stage) but other than that it is pretty awesome.

Better DAC and ADC implimentation would be awesome. Even the Elite Pro had terrible wave form in recording compared to a $150 recording card. I don't expect Lynx quality or anything for $300 but come on...

I couldnt agree with you more... the Prelude has great components and pretty good drivers with many features....

Faulty Mic and no front panel held it back from being a savior.

[wingman99]

I was thinking of a new sound card i have audigy 2 with a sub and 4 speakers should i stay with what i have.

I do have a new mother board with AC 97 it does not sound good at all and the rear speakers don't seem to do much is this common.

I like to play games and watch movies.

[wingman99]

Uhg, I don't really care if they're releasing an XFI 2 series. I wont be buying. The current XFI's have been bad enough for me to look elsewhere than Creative.
What problems did you have.

[Jayws]

Aside from a few issues with Vista drivers (I haven't stuck with Vista though), there also isn't any support for linux drivers. At least not the last time I checked, this could have changed.

In XP I have issues where sometimes when I boot the sound card just isn't detected. I put the thing into my new rig with a clean install on the newest drivers and this still happens. The audio console is a pos as well, the speakers that I have aren't the best and they get a little washy on the bass. When I try to change the signal quality (eg. 48KHz to 96KHz) and EQ in the utilities that Creative provides, the settings decide to reset to default occasionally. I also haven't determined this last problem for sure, but I could swear that it's causing my games to choke. When I'm playing something like CoD4, TF2 or Crysis I occasionally get these "hiccups" where the sound stutters. Background music and game sound both do this and sometimes the system locks for a brief second... Incredibly annoying.

[Keitosha]

Better DAC and ADC implimentation would be awesome. Even the Elite Pro had terrible wave form in recording compared to a $150 recording card. I don't expect Lynx quality or anything for $300 but come on...



Faulty Mic and no front panel held it back from being a savior.Sorry, but i've hooked the front panel (AC'97) on my Prelude and the sound works fine as well as my mic. You mean the original CL Front Bay?

[Socket eh?]

Ya, no break out box. Going from a 1/4" cable to 1/8" adapter is not ideal and only allows for a max of two inputs, plus having a remote is so key.

Not everyone has had problems with their mic inputs, but a lot of people have.

[Prodigious]

Better DAC and ADC implimentation would be awesome. Even the Elite Pro had terrible wave form in recording compared to a $150 recording card. I don't expect Lynx quality or anything for $300 but come on...

QFT. All the fancy processing in the world is meaningless when the card's components limit it to mediocre analog output/input quality. that's really all I want from an x-fi successor. Spend some damn money on decent dacs.