Creative X-fi notebook Sound Cards.

I'm looking to get a sound card upgrade for my new Asus M50VM laptop so that I can set up my 5.1 surround speakers and I notice that Creative offers several possible solutions.

I'm not sure what the best to go with is.

They have a Express 54 sound card, they've just released an Express 34/54 version of it with wireless capabilities. But I'm also debating whether I might just be better off getting a USB X-fi. Does anyone have any experience with any of these components?

 

but why through USB ?

 

What are you using it for? For most uses, the integrated audio should be suitable. Personally, I find Creative overcharges for only a decent product.

 

I will be using it for gaming, as well as surround sound capability.

I recently moved out and my laptop is my only computer, I have a set of 5.1 speakers which are currently nothing more than expensive paper weight.

I also own a pair of Sennheiser HD280 Pro headphones so I'd like a sound card that can take advantage of them.

 

For 5.1 I guess creative will be ok. Because with 5.1 then your not going to be listening to music with nice headphones(the 280's are "ok"), and IMO creative doesn't build enough quality products now days for me to buy them for music.

 

The wireless version does not support 5.1.

 

Seriously is there any alternative to Creative product ? I'm considering to buy creative, but when I go to creative forum, lots of user are having problems and lots of the problems are unresolved.

 

i have the 5.1 surround soundblaster external sound card by creative and its pretty decent

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829118005
Here's one. I don't have it or any experience with it but its different from Creative. And I'm with you, no not buying creative's stuff. lately I've been very disappointed with them.

 

You shouldn't bother with expresscard or pcmcia sound cards; they only add onto the current SQ and reamp it; so basically only improving SQ by maybe 20-40% at most? You'd also still have the background noise that you get with the laptop sound chip.

If you want good SQ for laptops, you should go for external USB sound cards; in audiophile terms, a DAC/AMP. The Creative X-Fi X-Mod is basically a DAC/AMP but just commercialized; it works nicely actually although it's only for stereo headphones/speakers; no 5-jack input.

IMO don't go for creative; there are better options u can get for the money that would significantly sound better than the creative.

 

Thanks for the Turtle Beach recommendation. I'm tempted to buy that. But a single google search revealed this. I'm really disgusted at Creative now. But apparently they're the only solution here in Singapore.

 

Are you suggesting that usb external soundcard is better than expresscard/pcmcia soundcard?

In my current perspective, they're both doing the same thing which is getting digital data from your computer and do extra processing to increase the sound quality.

Please correct me if I am wrong. thanks.

 

I believe amps/DAC drive headphones better than an express/pcmcia sound card.

 

Buy EMU 0202.

its much better than Creative X-fi crap.

but only if u r for music.

 

Hey, where did you get that? I downloaded pricelists from hwzone, but didn't found EMU 0202. Creative online store only have EMU XMIDI 2-2.

 

Well, theres always interference from other electronics. Like with my on board, then I can hear my hard drive. And then theres how well it actually decodes the signals. Theres definately a science to it, and the ones that attempt to master it are alot better than the ones that just spam it out.

 

HERE it is.

its not actually creative totally ..its more of a professional product.

 

What's wrong with USB?

 

USB has less noise interference.

although at 96Khz + sampling the bandwidth becomes low.

 

I own an Express X-Fi Extreme Fidelity and use it to play games, watch movies, and listen to music (320kbps 44.1Khz) and its connected to a Z-5500 logitech sound system via an optical cable. Not only do i not have any problems or complaints, i can hardly see how the sound quality could get better. Seriously, unless you play the violin in some symphonic orchetra and your ears are like wine tasters tongue...

 

There's an ASUS Xonar sound card for laptops...seems like a good alternative to Creative crap.

 

How do you get a PCI-express sound card into a laptop???

Will the Creative X-Fi Express notebook sound card give true DD 5.1 surround sound via a optical cable? I also have a Z-5500 system and want 5.1 via SPDIF.

I have been using the Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS for notebooks on my Lenovo X61 but I'll be getting a X200 soon, which has a expresscard slot so I need a new sound card.

 

i Bought iBasso D2 Boa today.

its a Portable Amp + high resolution USB DAC .


its PWNS creative in every way but its for Stereo sound.

 

I hope it's OK if I tack my semi-related question onto this thread...

I'm going to be getting a VAIO SR soon, and I just bought a set of AudioEngine A2 speakers which are really nice so far. Is there anything else I can/should do - at a reasonable price (less than $50 preferable) to improve sound quality? Would a USB or Expresscard sound card do me any good or is that mostly just so that one can use a 5.1 surround system? (A2s are 2.0 only) This would be mostly for music and movies - using lossless encodes and physical discs. I figure if I'm going to buy nice speakers I should get the most out of them...

 

I would 2nd the recommendation for iBasso products. They are the FOTM at headfi.


http://www.ibasso.com/en/products/show.asp?ID=32