Dell XPS 1530 HDMI X-fi card questions

I just placed an order for a Dell XPS 1530 system with Soundblaster X-Fi audio card as an option

I plan to use this laptop as a HTPC

My setup is as follows:

Dell XPS M1530 (to be installed)
Denon 4806CI receiver/tuner (does HDMI switching)
Panasonic 720p Plasma Monitor
Soundblaster X-Fi card in XPS
Nuvo Essentia distributed amplifier

Question:
Do I really need the x-fi card? I am starting to doubt this given that I already possess a high end Denon. If redundant, maybe I can drop the card but I am not sure.

If x-fi card is necessary, can I use the HDMI connection to push both video and audio through the HDMI port to my Denon? Or, is it necessary for me to use both HDMI(for Video) and the Optical out on the x-fi card to push audio to my Denon(through Toslink)

thank you

 

From my experience with the card, you cannot use its features with anything but its own audio out ports. And to be honest I wouldn't recommend it bought it for my old Asus laptop since I'm a complete audiophile, the features are nice and it does make music sound richer, however I've had driver problems, meaning that sometimes randomly the music will become highly distorted and tinny, even screechy in places after minimizing a window or game, and I haven't been able to find a fix, and the music works flawlessly with the on board sound, though not nearly as good.

 

thanks for the reply. One question remains.. is this card redundant given I am connecting the XPS to a Denon 4806ci? I dont plan on using the X-fi card for music out of the small laptop speakers. Instead I will pipe digital out to my Denon and listen on thebig NHT speakers I have. Is the X-FI card redundant in that situation?

 

X fi card is good for audio processing. however you might want to mess a bit to configure both Video audio from hdmi and xfi to your Denon receiver. They will sound great. Otherwise, IF your Denon can decode 5.1 sound or whatever you're planning to use via HDMI, Xfi is now only for music out put

 

I would go to a forum that is more relevant to the Denon system. A quick look at the Denon 4806 specs leads me to believe that you can route the video and sound through the Denon system with a single HDMI cable, so you the optical out port that the X-fi card provides would be redundant.

One thinkg I am not sure of is full 5.1 support through the HDMI cable. Looking at my 1530's sound settings, I see no specific setting to set up 5.1 sound. So most likely the Denon system would convert the 2 channel sound to 5.1, which would be good enough for most people, maybe for you too.

If you want full 5.1, 7.1 support, you might want to consider purchasing the Sound blaster HD software (not the card), and get all of the features you need.

If you are worried about sound quality, the x-fi crystallizer definitely sounds better, but personally, the price/increase in quality ratio is definitely not worth it for me.

Bottom line, I think the X-Fi card is overkill. You will be able to get sound and video just with the regular integrated sound card. It really depends on what you want, if your a perfectionist when it comes to sound.

 

thanks for the reply. I dont want to pipe 2channel audio into the Denon and expect it to decode, not sure if that would be good enough or support 5.1, 7.1 or THX. Does the X-FX card decode to 5.1 or 7.1 I wonder.

I checked my invoice again and noticed Dell only charged me $30 for the sound card, so I am probably going to just leave it and try connecting the sound card to optical in of the Denon and pipe only video through the HDMI cable on the XPS. The Denon is highly configurable and takes in video or audio inputs from separate input terminals configurable at will

 

You can put an X-Fi in a XPS M1530? How? I didn't see any options for sound cards when i built mine

 

it was available as a $30 option, it gets inserted into the express slot. Dell sells it as an accessory for $75 or so

 

I love the X-Fi card, I've never had any problems with drivers and software in Vista.. it has just worked. The sound is excellent on my Logitech Z-5500 speakers over the optical out port on the card.

 

HDMI on the M1530 supports both Dolby Digital and DTS (true surround, not upmixed). Same goes for the X-fi optical out.
I kind of regret buying the X-fi card, but it was my only option for digital audio, as my Logitech z-5450 speakers don't have an HDMI input.
As your audio receiver does have an HDMI input, the X-fi is really a waste of money for you.

 

Definitely get it if you are going to listen to music or watch movies...the xps 1530 on board sound n speakers just plainly suck... also if you get the card it has its own audio jack for speakers/headphones, so you don't have to plug it into the front audio jack ( which gets in the way of your hand)

 

I keep reading reports where people complain that the HDMI port is only outputting Stereo Sound. But what your saying is quite the opposite.



I have a AV Receiver that does 5.1/7.1 OnBoard Processing, will the HDMI port on the XPS M1530 output a the standard PCM signal?

 

Sa*ad159

Please do no revive dead/old threads around 6 months old, Thank you