X-Fi or LCD monitor?

[Garfield_]

Just found out that I got some work this summer so I can spend my current cash on either a Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic soundcard or a TCT/LCD monitor.
I currently use my onboard card and a 17" CRT monitor. I have no issues with either of them but why not buy a X-Fi card or something?

I can afford a X-Fi card right now but I'd have to save some more for that monitor if I choose to buy it instead.

So my question is, which should I buy. I am alittle more interested in that X-Fi card but I have no sound card knowledge, therefor I don't know anything about it except that it should be the best soundcard available today.

 

[Dekstar]

Just found out that I got some work this summer so I can spend my current cash on either a Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic soundcard or a TCT/LCD monitor.
I currently use my onboard card and a 17" CRT monitor. I have no issues with either of them but why not buy a X-Fi card or something?

I can afford a X-Fi card right now but I'd have to save some more for that monitor if I choose to buy it instead.

So my question is, which should I buy. I am alittle more interested in that X-Fi card but I have no sound card knowledge, therefor I don't know anything about it except that it should be the best soundcard available today.

I thin kit depends on your speaker setup. If you have good speakers/headphones that will be able to get the sound across right, then get the soundcard, but if you haven't, save and either get the card and a good pair of speakers, or just the monitor.

 

[Steven]

Get the soundcard. I have a similar model (X-Fi Elite Pro) and if you get an X-Fi we can be soundcard buddies.

 

[Garfield_]

I got decent speakers, Creative Megaworks 250D, the 2.1 version

 

[Naudian]

You could try the soundcard + a new pair of real nice headphones...

Orrr save a bit, get a less expensive soundcard and the monitor

 

[Garfield_]

Already ordered the soundcard with a pair of Logitech Precision Gaming. I know these headphones are not very good, I bought a pair of Sennheiser PC-160 for like $150 and I sent them back due to the lack of quality and decent sound. These Logitech ones only cost $30 so cant say it's a waste of money and I dont expect much

You could try the soundcard + a new pair of real nice headphones...

Orrr save a bit, get a less expensive soundcard and the monitor

A less expensive but good card would be the Audigy 4, but the X-Fi is'nt very much more expensive and it's the best out there so why not buy it instead :>

 

[SenorDingDong]

soundcard works better with awesome speakers.

 

[staticprimer]

It depends on how much money you have. If you have $500, get the moniter. If you have less than $200, get the sound card for sure. The basic version of the X-Fi is basically the same thing as the more expensive ones, just without the faceplate and some of that fancy RAM. In my opinion it is a better idea to skimp on a soundcard than it is to on a moniter, especially for an LCD.

 

[Garfield_]

As I said, I already bought it

EDIT: Second time now when I read all the bragging on Creatives X-Fi site, all these bragging makes Creative sound like a crappy company and therefor I must ask, is all the braggs really brags or are they speaking truth?

 

[The Brick]

As for the speakers, they're not making audiophile-proof stuff, but it has a great price/performance ratio. The soundcards are just awesome. The Crystalizer works really well.

 

[Reaktor4]

I have no issues with either of them but why not buy a X-Fi card or something?

Because it isnt worth the money that you could spend on something (more) useful?

 

[Garfield_]

I know people who bought the expensive versions for around $350, I only spent $150 and the company I ordered it from only charged like $50 because they made a mistake, so hopefully they wont notice that =D

 

[Reaktor4]

I just read this on the creative site:
With Sound Blaster X-Fi, all the sparkles lost during compression will be restored and remastered automatically, making your music sound even better than it did on the original CD, in real time!

 

[Garfield_]

Yeah I've read through all that a few times already. I doubt all that is completley true and this makes Creative, which is a good company seem to be a less good company. But anyhow I am sure I wont regret that I bought the card, it's still several times better than my Realtek onboard chip and the X-Fi has so much software options to play around with ;>

I'm so excited.

EDIT: Hmm, when I first bought my Creative Megaworks 250D they were the best 2.1 PC speakers (note PC speakers) and I belive they still are, though they were not too expensive and for sure worth all the money. I'd still want some more power, especially in the satellites as they are quite weak compared to the Gigaworks speakers.
And instead of buying a whole new system I was thinking about fitting a pair of Creative Gigaworks T20 with the Sub, but is that possible?

 

[The Brick]

Dude, we have the X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS and the 24bit crystalizer really makes a hell of a difference, in a good way. It's not a marketing trick, it really makes music sound better.

Edit: Compared to my own SB audigy LS (24bit).

 

[Garfield_]

Well compare the X-Fi with a damn onboard soundchip then

 

[The Brick]

What is there to compare?

 

[Reaktor4]

Dude, we have the X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS and the 24bit crystalizer really makes a hell of a difference, in a good way. It's not a marketing trick, it really makes music sound better.

Yeah and putting a gsic chip on your cd player makes cds sound better.. not. The crystalizer raises the noise floor, reduces dynamic range, causes distortion etc. Youre better off saving your money and turning the volume up a little.

 

[The Brick]

raises the noise floor, reduces dynamic range, causes distortion etc

On small ubercrap cheap speaker, yes. I tested it myself (listening, not measuring) on my audiophile speakersystem (custom built, awesome) and I was very pleased by the results. That's the only thing I can say.

 

[Garfield_]

Thanks for making me almost regret that I ordered it, I've read through several articles and reviews, all of them said that upgrading from an Audigy 2 SZ to X-Fi is a huge step and it's worth it for people that want better quality. And I don't even have a soundcard :O

 

[The Brick]

You'll be amazed. And from what I understood you only had to pay like $50? :| It's a gift from heaven man.

 

[The Brick]

EDIT: Hmm, when I first bought my Creative Megaworks 250D they were the best 2.1 PC speakers (note PC speakers) and I belive they still are, though they were not too expensive and for sure worth all the money. I'd still want some more power, especially in the satellites as they are quite weak compared to the Gigaworks speakers.
And instead of buying a whole new system I was thinking about fitting a pair of Creative Gigaworks T20 with the Sub, but is that possible?

I don't think it's possible. The subwoofers in the creative systems have built-in amplifiers and crossovers. There is already an amplifier in the T20 speakers, and amp on amp is a really bad thing, it makes noise and distorts alot. The crossover means that the sattelites don't get the base info, the subwoofer filters it out and does it itself. So no difference there. And I'm not even sure if the connectors are compatible.

Also, I don't know if the sattelites of the Gigaworks S750 are that much better than the ones from the Megaworks. We have the Megaworks s550 here and I agree the sattelites sound weak, but the driver is (almost) the same one as the midrange driver in the Gigaworks sattelites. If you can, try them first.

 

[Majestic XII]

I got a X-Fi Xtreme Music (the cheapest version). I dont see the point in getting the more expensive onces since all games do their sound processing on the CPU.

I went from a built-in soundcard (nForce2) and my god, you will be amazed by the quality. But like the others said, it all boils down to what kind of system you got. I payed $1250 for my setup (only 2.0) so i thought it was time to upgrade my soundcard

 

[Garfield_]

Creative Megaworks 250D is'nt any cheap or low quality shit.

 

[Lemonking]

Im getting the X-Fi today as well :O

 

[Garfield_]

Im getting the X-Fi today as well :O

Buying getting to touch it today or just ordering today?

 

[Lemonking]

ordering off zipzoomfly,then getting it in a few days,then next paycheck new speakers

 

[Garfield_]

Awesome, hopefully I'll have my card on wednesday =>

 

[Lemonking]

yeah,I was wondriong, if it will rly improve Bf2's sound.I hope so,my spesakers arent that super

 

[Garfield_]

yeah,I was wondriong, if it will rly improve Bf2's sound.I hope so,my spesakers arent that super

Trust me, you'll be totally amazed

 

[Reaktor4]

On small ubercrap cheap speaker, yes.

The opposite is true actually, as is explained in the link.

 

[The Brick]

The opposite is true actually, as is explained in the link.

It's about experience, not measuring results. The link you gave is negative about that the crystalizer makes it sound like the original recording, which is (pointed out in that article) doesn't. But IMO (note: IMO) it does sound clearer. Maybe because the treble is exaggerated, but it still is a nice effect. And you can always LOWER THE EFFECT or TURN IT OFF if you don't like it. The standard setting is 50%, but I put it to 30% because of the points you gave. Anyway, the X-FI still has the best audio output and supports all near future EAX effects, so it's worth getting anyway.

 

[Lemonking]

I orderd it...and a printer total $234.34

my dad is going to kill me

but...I deserve this its my money....but...he controls my life right now
If he finds out Im dead



edit: plus tax $250





/dies

 

[Garfield_]

Hehe I'm in the same situation, except its my mom that kills me. Even if I am 18 she gets so damn pissed of if i waste my money on expensive computer parts. So I have to order everything to my friends, dunno how they feel about that but so far no complains =)