X-Fi can't output 5.1 over optical for games!!
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This is the whole reason I kept my Nforce2 board so long with it Dolby Digital encoding on-the-fly 
I finally upgraded to a core2duo as i have got married and normally use headphones if i play games, so have moved the amp downstairs for use with the plasma.
Matthew
I finally upgraded to a core2duo as i have got married and normally use headphones if i play games, so have moved the amp downstairs for use with the plasma.Matthew
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Scougar said:This is the whole reason I kept my Nforce2 board so long with it Dolby Digital encoding on-the-fly
Matthew
there are c2d boards that have dd and dts encoding you know...
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any boards with the realtek alc882d/m and i think h as well, such as my asus p5w dh deluxe support DDLive (alc882m). boards with the alc889a codec support dts connect as well as DDLive. if your going to make any purchases just double check that particular board first.
anyway yes, its the same thing as the HDA x-mystiques/x-plosions, nvidia soundstorms ect. actually the DDLive encoding on my motherboard is a lot better than the soundstorm's DICE (DICE is what it used to be called) and yes, it works for everything, gaming included.
even so, the best is still an x-fi over analogue if your interesting in multi channel gaming
anyway yes, its the same thing as the HDA x-mystiques/x-plosions, nvidia soundstorms ect. actually the DDLive encoding on my motherboard is a lot better than the soundstorm's DICE (DICE is what it used to be called) and yes, it works for everything, gaming included.
even so, the best is still an x-fi over analogue if your interesting in multi channel gaming
ive owned X-FI cards, and an X-meridian and i find the meridian streets ahead of the creative cards, (i actually really liked the X-FI cards, until i heard the meridian at work),
as for gaming, the x-fi cards with the later versions of EAX is usefull for playing FPS games (if you take them very seriously that is) as the EAX pinpoints sound events well, but earlier EAX also pinpoints sound, just without the filters associated with later iterations,
now for other types of games, PLIIx achieves ambience and spot effects with aplomb, and for real imersion, headphones are far superior, and in this respect the Dolby headphone technology with the auzentech cards is (in my opinion) better than creatives CMSS-3D, (tho both technologies are good!) and the analogue output on the meridian is far superior, and so sound thru headphone is better!
aside from gaming tho, the X-FI is hoplessley outclassed by auzentechs meridian!
Why?
the analogue inputs and outputs are in a different class, using far superior opamps, dacs etc, and the DDLive, DTSInteractive, encoding in conjunction with the spdif (combo coax optical) input, output, is fantastic, with a quality surround system at the other end, any audio signal from 2 ch, to 7.1 ch, is instantly converted into a DD, or DTS bitstream, for decoding by a external 7.1 system, and the quality is excellent, also the single cable for all signal types is very handy!
basically the ONLY reason to buy an X-FI is for EAX5, because the auzentech card simply does everything else better! and the auzentech drivers are a breath of fresh air next to the creative ones, small and functional, rather than bloated, and style over substance!
also the X-FI connectivity is useless, they use custom connectors, (3 and 4 pole 3.5mm jacks), and combine outputs and inputs on the same connector, eg spdif out, line in, and mic connection, and you can only use one at a time, (the spdif will only output bitstream passthru signal,) unless of cause you buy one of their little but expensive I/O modules.
and the only way to output (true) multichannel audio is thru a creative custom cable, only available from creative)
the auzentech card uses standard connectors thruout, so you can make, or have made any cables you need, or buy quality cables off the shelf, to any length or spec!
anyway im gonna stop with the speech, but to reiterate really the only reason to buy a X-FI card, is if you can not live without EAX5, but remember a propper 5.1(or 7.1) game encoded with DDlive or DTS interactive, and played thru a quality 5.1(or 7.1) system, will ALWAYS be much better than any version of EAX, be it 2, 3, 4 or 5!
and thats that!
as for gaming, the x-fi cards with the later versions of EAX is usefull for playing FPS games (if you take them very seriously that is) as the EAX pinpoints sound events well, but earlier EAX also pinpoints sound, just without the filters associated with later iterations,
now for other types of games, PLIIx achieves ambience and spot effects with aplomb, and for real imersion, headphones are far superior, and in this respect the Dolby headphone technology with the auzentech cards is (in my opinion) better than creatives CMSS-3D, (tho both technologies are good!) and the analogue output on the meridian is far superior, and so sound thru headphone is better!
aside from gaming tho, the X-FI is hoplessley outclassed by auzentechs meridian!
Why?
the analogue inputs and outputs are in a different class, using far superior opamps, dacs etc, and the DDLive, DTSInteractive, encoding in conjunction with the spdif (combo coax optical) input, output, is fantastic, with a quality surround system at the other end, any audio signal from 2 ch, to 7.1 ch, is instantly converted into a DD, or DTS bitstream, for decoding by a external 7.1 system, and the quality is excellent, also the single cable for all signal types is very handy!
basically the ONLY reason to buy an X-FI is for EAX5, because the auzentech card simply does everything else better! and the auzentech drivers are a breath of fresh air next to the creative ones, small and functional, rather than bloated, and style over substance!
also the X-FI connectivity is useless, they use custom connectors, (3 and 4 pole 3.5mm jacks), and combine outputs and inputs on the same connector, eg spdif out, line in, and mic connection, and you can only use one at a time, (the spdif will only output bitstream passthru signal,) unless of cause you buy one of their little but expensive I/O modules.
and the only way to output (true) multichannel audio is thru a creative custom cable, only available from creative)
the auzentech card uses standard connectors thruout, so you can make, or have made any cables you need, or buy quality cables off the shelf, to any length or spec!
anyway im gonna stop with the speech, but to reiterate really the only reason to buy a X-FI card, is if you can not live without EAX5, but remember a propper 5.1(or 7.1) game encoded with DDlive or DTS interactive, and played thru a quality 5.1(or 7.1) system, will ALWAYS be much better than any version of EAX, be it 2, 3, 4 or 5!
and thats that!
Just got my X-Meridian, have to say over optical to my Yam-AX750SE amp with 4 Q-aqoustic 1020's it sounds fantastic. Dolby PL2x in games gives unbelievable directional sound.
Still playing with it, but very happy so far.
Not wanting to sound anti-creative or anything, but this card just works really really well straight out the box on Vista 64 (latest 64bit drivers from Auzentech website used, not supplied CD)
Still playing with it, but very happy so far.
Not wanting to sound anti-creative or anything, but this card just works really really well straight out the box on Vista 64 (latest 64bit drivers from Auzentech website used, not supplied CD)
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Look up the Bluegears Benspirer as well.
Fantastic card that does dts encoding over optical/coax for eax and movies.
The DAC's are great too, same Cmedia chipset as the rest.
I have it outputing to my Onkyo 805 and B&W speakers, amazing sound, no switching for dts/eax sound.
Fantastic card that does dts encoding over optical/coax for eax and movies.
The DAC's are great too, same Cmedia chipset as the rest.
I have it outputing to my Onkyo 805 and B&W speakers, amazing sound, no switching for dts/eax sound.
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ooooh another 805 owner 
hows about buying one of these:
http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=16&product=14191
can't find any prices, but looks like it would do the trick....
i had the same problem... so i sold my av reciver and brought some s750's for £150 of a well know auction site.... meaning that i didn't actually lose any money....
but trust me, the xfi (platinum edition which i got in late 2005 for £100 of a well know high street computer reatailer....that then jacked the price up £30 and has yet to drop it)
with s750's is something to behold... have never heard anything better..... (creative drivers do suck tho')
http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=16&product=14191
can't find any prices, but looks like it would do the trick....
i had the same problem... so i sold my av reciver and brought some s750's for £150 of a well know auction site.... meaning that i didn't actually lose any money....
but trust me, the xfi (platinum edition which i got in late 2005 for £100 of a well know high street computer reatailer....that then jacked the price up £30 and has yet to drop it)
with s750's is something to behold... have never heard anything better..... (creative drivers do suck tho')
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