X-Fi, Windows 8.1 and iTunes

mrochester · 14 Feb 2015 at 13:42

Hi all

In Windows 7, when listening to music using iTunes the computer outputs this to the front and rear speakers (as I have it set in the X-Fi control panel). However, in Windows 8.1, despite having exactly the same setting, my music will only come out of the front 2 speakers.

Can anyone tell me how I get it to obey my X-Fi settings and play over both the front and rear speakers?

Many thanks

M.

rids57 · 14 Feb 2015 at 15:55

True to form, Creative haven't bothered to update any of their drivers for Windows 8.1, for any product it seems. :rolleyes:

So the closest thing is Windows 8 - are you using the latest driver from this list?

http://support.creative.com/kb/showarticle.aspx?sid=61105

ps. I couldn't narrow it down any further because I don't know which flavour of X-Fi you are using.

mrochester · 14 Feb 2015 at 22:00

rids57 said:
True to form, Creative haven't bothered to update any of their drivers for Windows 8.1, for any product it seems.

So the closest thing is Windows 8 - are you using the latest driver from this list?

http://support.creative.com/kb/showarticle.aspx?sid=61105

ps. I couldn't narrow it down any further because I don't know which flavour of X-Fi you are using.

Thanks for the help. I have an X-Fi XtremeMusic, which does have 8.1 drivers (the very same driver as for Windows 7, which I also have installed). It's just the surround sound doesn't work in Windows 8.1 in iTunes whereas it does in Windows 7.

DinAlt · 16 Feb 2015 at 12:26

Hi mrochester,

Firstly check that 5.1 is selected in control panel as well as the XIFi settings - if set yo 2.0 there it will it will overwrite the setting.
Secondly - make sure that windows 8.1 is seeing your XiFi properly (mine used to periodically forget I was connected by line out and assume i was using the optical out (admittedly I think this was in Windows 7 not 8), if in doubt I recommend installing the modded drivers from PAX which always seemed to give better results than the original Creative ones for me.

Good luck

mrochester · 17 Feb 2015 at 21:12

I've checked and all of the settings are setup correctly (5.1 set everywhere). If I play music in VLC, it plays out of all of the speakers; it's only when I use iTunes that it's 2.1. The same version of iTunes in Windows 7 plays 5.1.

Phil2008 · 21 Feb 2015 at 07:20

When I tried windows 8.1, I used the same drivers as I had for window 7, plus the THX and console panel. Everything seemed tobe working fine.

rids57 · 21 Feb 2015 at 15:29

I still don't see why you are choosing to use a six year old driver when there is a Windows 8.1 driver from March 2014.

http://support.creative.com/Product...laster&prodID=14066&prodName=X-Fi+XtremeMusic

Surely the first thing to do in situations like this is to ensure you are using the most up to date drivers.

Phil2008 · 21 Feb 2015 at 17:58

rids57 said:
I still don't see why you are choosing to use a six year old driver when there is a Windows 8.1 driver from March 2014.

http://support.creative.com/Product...laster&prodID=14066&prodName=X-Fi+XtremeMusic

Surely the first thing to do in situations like this is to ensure you are using the most up to date drivers.

Because like with meny people that own X-FI cards they have loads of problems. I havent had a single problem using these drivers from 2009. If it aint broke dont fix it.

The only real problems I have had is when I used 4gb of memory with windows 7, I got interference through the speakers, but when I upgraded to 8gb that went away.