XFi & Cambridge DTT3500

Sallermas · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:50

I recently upgraded my Sound Blaster Live 5.1 Platinum to an XFi Extreme Music, I was partly hoping I could still attach the front break out bay to the new card, but no joy, just what I expected!

What I didn't expect is this, it isn't compatible with my DTT3500 speaker system!!! I have looked around the forums and on Creatives site, and there are lots of people in this position. Best of all, Creative new about this issue, but didn't bother to let the public know, what are they playing at?

Does anyone have any advice or workarounds for this problem, or do i just get rid of the card on Ebay? :confused:

Btone · 4 Jun 2006 at 11:30

in what way "not compatible" i hve my xfi attached ok to my dtt3500digital ok . iam using the digital out on the back of the pci card going to the digital din port on the 3500, works well

Sallermas · 6 Jun 2006 at 13:06

DTT3500 Incompatibility

Then you have the same problem as me whether you realise it or not. I am also connected digitally and it works to a fasion. Digital connections come in two standard forms, optical and coax. They both give you exactly the same result, the only difference is the medium (material) through which the signal travels. The thing to remember about digital is that for ordinary, uncompressed sound (audio/music), it will only carry a stereo signal. So, if you like to use CMSS with your music, or you try the speaker test function, optical/coax is useless as you only hear the front left/right speakers. Put simply the DTT3500 are incompatible with the XFi cards.

See below, or have a hunt around on the net.

http://forums.creative.com/creative...aster&message.id=34209&query.id=275126#M34209

http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=soundblaster&message.id=12170

http://forums.creative.com/creative...aster&message.id=26889&query.id=275196#M26889

Btone · 6 Jun 2006 at 15:01

not saying you wrong , it looks like you read a lot more about it than me. all i know is that when i do a speaker test via the xfi control pannel i get a nice lady voice tell what speaker it is coming from all 4 speakers, and just white noise from the sub
i know when i watch a vid i get the full effect off all the speakers
and when i play a game what supports it i can hear the effects move from behind me to my front and from front to rear.
so it seems to be working all right for me

fish99 · 6 Jun 2006 at 16:35

X-Fi only outputs stereo through digital (regardless of speaker), unless the source is already multi-channel encoded (DD/DTS etc from a DVD).

Btone · 10 Jun 2006 at 19:50

so which sound system is fully compatible with the xfi

Phil2008 · 10 Jun 2006 at 20:14

The "HDA Digital X-Mystique 7.1 Gold" or "HDA Digital X-Plosion 7.1 DTS" card cos there Dolby Digital Live certified, and when using the digital out it decodes any surround sound to all 5 speakers.

Btone · 10 Jun 2006 at 21:18

thoes are sound cards, iamlookink a speaker system that will take full advange of the xfi sound card

james.miller · 10 Jun 2006 at 21:25

any speaker system that'll will conect via analogue connections, basically.

Phil2008 · 10 Jun 2006 at 22:57

digital connection are useless with the xfi and most cards cos you only get output from 2 speakers unless your watching a dvd.

Phil2008 · 10 Jun 2006 at 23:04

Sallermas said:
Put simply the DTT3500 are incompatible with the XFi cards.

That mean all cards are incompatible with the DTT3500 using digital connection then, accept for the "HDA Digital X-Mystique 7.1 Gold" or "HDA Digital X-Plosion 7.1 DTS"