onboard vs xfi?

I have just plugged my X-fi in and am not yet sure what to think.

The difference is there, just not as much as I expected, mp3s sound more real and alive with the crystaliser on with the biggest difference being in more acoustic stuff with the rock songs I usually listen to being barely noticable.

Its a more subtle difference than I expected, so I am not entirely blown away by it, although I got slightly higher benchmarks with the onboard sound disabled.
 
After another day I have noticed that everything seems a lot more controlled than before. Drums etc are punchier and also more distinct - less of a bassy mush.

I would say it is an improvement on the Azalia HD audio on my DS4, but I would be interested to compare it to the Soundstorm on my old NF7-S.
 
A bit of a tip here ....

I had an X-Fi in old system, then sold it as wasn't that impressed. Then tried internal sound on new P5-B Deluxe, not as good as X-Fi obviously - but not that bad.

Then this week bought a 2nd hand Audigy 4 Pro (make sure you get the Pro the other versions are pants) - without breakout box (which I didn't need) - for 30 pounds - which seems the going rate.

Well it KNOCKS THE SOCKS off the X-FI for sound quality. Its almost as good as my dedicated CD player when playing uncompressed Itunes. <EDIT> - actually probably IS as good as my CD player - a Sony ES CD player ...

I'm using a Rotel amplifier, and a pair of Acoustic Energy Aerolite Two speakers ..

Mark.
 
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but as I warned above the Audigy 4 Pro card is very different to the Audigy 4 you see being sold new most places. The Audigy 4 non-pro is based on the Audigy 2 with some minor changes.

Mark.
 
Got an X-Fi and G500 speakers at the same time to replace my cheaopo 2.1 on board sound set-up I was borrowing from a friend.

All I can say once I got it all installed was "WOW!!!" I was sitting there with a big smirk on my face thinking "I've got the best sounding speakers outta most people in town." Music is now ace, everything sounds really good, Gaming in the dark with the surround turned way up just simply cant be beat (COD2 and FEAR). Even though I'm a student and spent practically most of my cash on this, It was definetly worth it. DVD's damn good too.

I don;t justify getting anything more than the Xtreme music version, any higher and its a waste, unless you are serious about audio editing or just want bragging rights, just don't bother with anything more.

Final note, rememeber that your speakers should cost AT LEAST the same as your soundcard, otherwise its money down the drain and you won;t get the best from your soundcard.
 
I got fed up with the quality from all of the consumer PC speakers.

Even the Logitech Z-5500s and Z-560s weren't really that great, unless you like over-blown lumpy slow bass - which some people find quite fun.

So I lost the surround sound and went hifi amp + hifi speakers - big improvement for similar cost - all you need is a bit of physical space.

Amp currently is a Rotel RA-930 which I bought for 10 quid ! - it was a stop gap - but its actually extremely good sounding. Speakers Aelite Twos which are currently 199 from Superfi - so you can see if you don't mind loosing surround sound (I'm an avid gamer and don't miss it) - for a similar price to "decent" PC speakers - you can have something that sounds 10 times better .... - and looks superb to boot :)

Acousticenergy_AELITE_TWO_RED_CHERRY.jpg


Mark.
 
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Hmm...i'm kind in the same boat as the op. I've got a hi-fi set up ( Rotel RA-Mk11 + kef Q55 floor standers :D ) hooked up to my pc via realtek onboard. I mainly use my pc for mp3's and movies.

I was pondering over going the x-fi route but was dissuaded by forum members who recommended the "emu" (or something like that) sound cards as they were apparently much better (had dacs equivalent to the elite pro iirc).

Does that still stand as no one has mentioned them yet...
 
Well, I havent got the XFI top model, only the fatal1ty, but the sound is definately still an improvement over onboard as I said, not to mention, instead of using my Creative Itrigues, I now have a Cambridge A5 Amp and Mission 751 Speakers on thier way. May keep the back, sub and middle speakers left attached to my pc, but my PC will generally be set to 2.1 audio and the creative stuff turned off except for movies. Should sound a lot nicer :D
 
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