Reviews of Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi

1. 
   Domingo

   Reviewing 2.18.0004 (Jul 31, 2008)

   This fixes the SPIDF issue from the beta drivers, so now Vista users have full surround-sound capabilities and usage of an SPDIF out for bitstream audio if they wish.
   I still wish they'd include the subwoofer control from the Console Launcher program (you'll still want to DL that program use a subwoofer for non-Dolby/DTS items) but as a driver, this is about as good as you could want.
   It's amusing that it's been a year and a half and we only now have the same performance and features that the XP X-Fi drivers have had for years. Yes, Vista is different...but like every other driver mishap, it's not like Vista snuck up on anyone.
2. 
   vithos

   Reviewing 2.18.0004 (Jul 30, 2008)

   2.18.0004 on Windows XP SP3 just blasted my headphones with static and other horrifying sounds at an extremely unsafe volume. If you're going to try this version, be ready to unplug your equipment to avoid damage.
3. 
   Domingo

   Reviewing 2.18.000 Beta (Jun 26, 2008)

   The nice thing about these is that they bring back 5.1 positional sound for everyday apps like WinAmp and WMP11. However they completely break the SPDIF-out as a result. I've got mine hooked up via a multi-out, so VLP can still play DVD's in surround, but if you were using any other method...this is no good.
   I still think the normal 5.1 support outweighs that for my everyday use, but if your PC is your main movie player and you use a toslink or coax...skip these.
4. 
   tokyo654321

   Reviewing 2.18.000 Beta (Jun 4, 2008)

   They work I guess, but it's all kind of redundant. I will hopefully be removing my X-Fi card soon, ebaying it, and getting an Asus or M-Audio to replace it. Creative taught a great lesson in how to piss off your consumer base.
5. 
   Fafner76

   Reviewing 2.18.000 Beta (Jun 4, 2008)

   Guess one has to be happy to just see the Decoder options up again in Vista, but...at least with PowerDVD, DD/DTS decoding doesn't work at all. When setting up PowerDVD to SPDIF out to use the soundcard's decoder, video becomes choppy and there is no audio at all!
   It's beta, but what's the deal if the main feature doesn't work? Maybe something will change on next release, due 2010...

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