M11x USB Soundcard

For me. Being able to hear every footstep in games counts. This little accessory makes my M11xR2 a complete gaming package. No need for worrying about audio taking up valuable CPU performance as well as the quality of sound a dedicated card offers. Honestly I don't know how I gamed on the go without one of these..
SteelSeries – SteelSeries Siberia USB Soundcard
I can honestly say 7.1 audio on the go is off the chain... Onboard is mud compared to this...

 

how is it compare to creative lab ones?

the price sure is very tempting.

 

If you are refering to this...
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro USB Sound Card powered by THX TruStudio | Creative Labs Online Store
I have no clue. I know that the X-Fi chipset is a damn good sound chipset (Have the Azuntech X-Fi on my desktop gaming rig) so if this is X-Fi it must be good as well... But I am not sure it features 7.1 audio and only 44.1 Hz while steelseries has 48 Hz (just a little better quality i think - but depends on what you are doing... I look for gaming/general music.. some people use for production etc..)

 

well i'm a 'sound wh-re", mostly music, and some gaming.

that creative usb card is only using software to emulate 'better' sound, yet the steelseries one got it's own processor ( so their review / spec says). I might give it a try just for that.

 

I use the Razer Megaladon. It's a headset with a USB 7.1 sound card. Works great on my desktop and works great on my laptop but it's HUGE. So I only take them on trips with hotel stays. But if this is small enough and works just as good with a much smaller set of headphones it could be the perfect lunch break solution...

EDIT: Saw it in the video. Buying it now.

 

Looks awesome, but not in stock on international site

 

I like it because it works on any computer. No need for drivers/etc. just plug and play virtual 7.1 surround sound. Also inline mic audio control is great since m11x doesn't have that dial OSD function..

I know they've already sold out before in North America and I bet they will sell out again... I've been reading reviews on this little sound card and apparently it just as/if not better quality than a $300 sound card.

 

I'm looking for an external USB sound card. I don't need virtual surround, I just want very high quality output for my 2.1 sound system. Like the ASUS Xonar Essence STX, which is perfect for high end headphones. ...but for USB 2.0.

I don't care about gaming performance or enhancement, just music. I wouldn't mind using Zune on my laptop with my Bose QuietComfort 15's instead of having to use my Zune HD. I want to keep it under $100. Also, bus powered is a must.

Does anyone here have experience with the X-Fi Go! Pro? ($32.98 with free BlueAnt V1x earpiece (was $130!) >.> )

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102036

Or the X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro? ($77.67)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102035

Or the *gasp* X-Fi HD? ($104.67)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102032

 

I own the X-Fi Go pro, and do use it when performing as a DJ in a situation where I can have a MIDI device control my software, and all my main output sound can come straight from the laptop. I do this weekly for my radio show. Good card, and nice and affordable. Sound improvement no doubt from the realtek HD.

 

Is there a noticeable difference in CPU load when using a USB sound card? I'm curious now...

 

I am seriously looking at one of these.
FiiO E7 USB DAC Headphone Amplifier - FiiO Headphone Amplifiers - Summary

 

hei... i actually have the X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, i got lucky and piced it up in an exchange and it is seriously sweet.,.. on top of everything it has an optical output which makes it great for mixing with my home sound system.. games are soooo freaking cool

 

TBH, its only really noticable if you have a slow CPU. You would definatly benefit if you have the C2D model... Me having my i7 OC'd @ 3.0 GHz has no problems... BUT! the quality of sound is as if I compared SD TV to HD TV but in sound - if that makes any sense..

As for those pricey cards you linked... As I said before... The Steelseries usb sound card is equivalent to a $300 sound card

 

I second the E7. I haven't had the pleasure of using one yet, since I have a Asus Xonar Essence ST and couldn't justify dropping more money on audio equipment. I've heard nothing but good things for its price range for hi-fi music.

 

why don't you just get some USB headphones like the logitech G35s?

 

If this question is being asked of me, it is because I already own very good speakers and headphones that trounce the G35's sound quality. Infected Mushroom, Deadmau5, Pendulum, Skrillex and Dub Step genre music are extremely demanding.

While my Zune HD and the ASUS DX from my former desktop provided sufficient detail, the M11x's output is muddled. (Which is to be expected from standard on board laptop audio.)

 

not sure if that was mentioned.

 

Or get a set of SteelSeries headphones that come with the USB soundcard. This is the one I got about 6 months ago, that comes with a 7.1 USB Soundcard, and it works great.

SteelSeries – SteelSeries 5Hv2 USB

I can use them with or without the USB soundcard so when I need the USB port for something else (since there are only 3), I can still use the headphone port.


Stain

 

Some people already have headphones thats why I linked just the sound card... For example I use my Sennheiser HD 555's with this sound card and its way better than my Siberia v2s or 5Hv2s

 

Very true, it is good to have a couple of options

 

I went with the first one, the X-Fi Go! Pro USB. I should recieve it by the end of the month. I'll let you know if it eliminates the blow outs, both high and low.

 

Just got the Steel Series Siberia. This thing gets LOUD. With the onboard audio I'd max out the volume and still have a hard time in a noisy environment. Plugged into the Siberia I have to lower the volume almost all the way.

Anyway, my games sound great and I can hide this little thing in my backpack. The only negative is the usb cord. Doesn't have to be so long. I have to hunt for a shorter one or maybe one of those retractable ones...

Thanks OP.

 

Problem with USB sound cards is that they eat CPU. Most likely if you try a before and after in games you will see fewer FPS with them plugged in.

I would love to see some benchmarks if you guys don't mind.

Best Wishes, StevenX

 

I'll run a few. Here are my Steam games:
http://www.irsmurf.com/forums/notebook/steamgames.png

Let me know what you want most.

 

Smurf- far cry 2 or anything else is fine. Far cry is easy because it has built in benchmarking.

Thanks so much for your effort!

STevenX

 

I wasn't benchmarking but I didn't notice a hit on FPS. I was tooling around in the new beta campaign for Left 4 Dead 2 and played Dragon Age 2. No issues.

 

That doesn't make sense... The point of a USB sound card is to TAKE load of the CPU onboard audio... Thats strange that you actually see a performance decrease... I havent done any benchmarks but I am confident that I do not lose performance... I am awaiting those benchmarks from Smurf because now I am a little curious

 

I agree with Steven.


From my experience, USB sound devices eat up your CPU. I don't know why exactly, never really researched it. (surround usb sound is junk)



I'll leave my high-end sound stuff on my desktop.

 

@Massiv et all-- The problem with Windows vista and 7 is that support for hardware acceleration (directsound) was dropped. So that's why "usually" if you plug in an express card or a usb card it slows the machine down ever further than internal as now you have another device chained and eating cpu to process extra bandwidth.

It may not be much.. maybe 1 to 2 percent but most of the time that equals loss in FPS. I want to see some before and afters in the express cards but that's another forum.

Good luck,

StevenX

 

Well, you guys got me thinking so I picked up the USB XFi-Go Pro! Here is my review...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-blaster-x-fi-pro-pro-review.html#post7321543

 

That is because USB host controllers use CPU cycles to process data. They do not do onboard traffic processing, like a disk host controller (e.g. RAID controller) does.

Yes, a USB sound card may use CPU cycles. But I think that there are two important things to point out:

(1) Higher CPU utilization does not automatically equal lower framerates in games. It will only equal lower framerates in games if a game is CPU limited (which most games are not) and maxing out the CPU.

(2) Lower framerates does not automatically equal a poorer game experience. In many cases, the whole point of an external sound card is to get superior sound effects (e.g. CMSS3D Headphone virtual surround mode on Creative Labs X-Fi sound cards). The increased immersion from convincing surround sound in headphones far outweighs the miniscule hit to CPU utilization.

The improved immersiveness from #2 is hard to measure, because it isn't something that can be quantified in benchmarks and represented as a number / score.

 

Good points Kent!

 

yeah well said kent and steven I like the guide you have accept I wish you went with the Steelseries I think youd like it a tiny bit better