need help for choosing c90s soundcard!!!

well the c90s stock realtek HD audio insn't bad at all, at least it's tons better than the old AC97

but i'm looking for high end listening experience, after some research, i pretty much settled b/w Xmod(wired) and X-Fi extreme notebook PCIEX

b/c I have never used any "sound enhancing" device before so I don't have much experience about these so-called "soundblasting" "EAX" and "X-Fi" technology; however I do have very sensentive hearing and i can easily distinguish any enrichment in sound

I do enjoy listence to all type of music ranging from classical, opera to modern hippop; and i don't have much demanding in gaming. I have no demanding for Muti-channels audio either since i use headphone most the time.

So, any suggestions of which one I sould buy?? I do have some very good headphone (HD590(high end), PXC-300(noise canceling) and CX400(portable) to pair up the device.

Another question: does Xmod(the white one) supports Vista???

Thanks

 

I suggest against the X-Fi extreme notebook. There have been complaints w.r.t. sound quality and driver issues. It has a low-end DSP on the board, and compensates with (not so well-written) software sound processing.

Check this thread for more info: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=112643&page=17

Have you considered an external solution from Turtle Beach? For instance the Audio Advantage SRM is the "higher-end" card. It's not really high-end, if you're really an audiophile you need to pay more than 100 USD, but perhaps the SRM will be enough for you.

I don't have much info about the Xmod.

 

xmod is a usb powered version of the x-fi extreme notebook... at least from what i can tell

ive got a X-Fi Fatality on my desktop and absolutely love it to death

but as far as gaming and the realtek HD... it works well for me... but to each his own... i would consider looking at turtle beach for really high quality sound... also the speakers/headphones have to be just as good

 

Keep in mind the DSP on the XFi notebook is much older...

 

yeah i did looked up for it but majority of its description wss "5.1" "7.1" audio since i have no need for multi channel audio for my laptop.

 

I got the sound blaster live! external sound card from creative. I nabbed it on sale at a circuit city and I love it to death. Additional ports ftw! But the sound quality is notceably improved to my ears and I get a lot of use out of it for DJ events and my radio show. Are you looking for this sound card for a reason other than just really good sounding music?

 

Yep, that's what it's being marketed for. But I also suspect the sound is better than on the smaller Amigo and Micro versions. (I have the Amigo and the sound is OK, but not stellar -- I don't think it would make much of an improvement over your integrated audio, although it does over mine)

An external Creative solution besides the Creative XFi Notebook might also work -- I don't know much about those. I was only cautioning against the XFi Notebook.