X-Fi Sound Card, Buy or No Buy?

[vegettoxp]

Hey Guys, I just wanted to get your guys opinion on if I should bother wasting money on the Creative X-Fi Sound Card. I am building a new system and I am looking into other sound cards, expecially the upcoming Asus's Sound Card. I have a Audigy 2 ZS right now (Running on Vista) and creative has done a horrible job on the drivers and from what I have been ready, there drivers for the X-Fi Sound Card are not good either. So if you guys can comment on this topic, It would be really helpful.

If you guys have any other sound cards that I should look into, please share them with me. I use sound cards for Games/Music/DVD/ and Mix Music.

THX!:woot:

P.S. Fusion:banana: :woot: :banana:

[RADCOM]

X-fi is the best soundcard I have had, the crystaliser does actually make mp3s sound better.

[[XC] Angstrom]

I really like the front I/O panel that came with my X-Fi fatality, but the drivers are horrible. For gaming, it's a great tool (except when the popping and crackling starts, urgh), but I don't buy into the Crystalizer, CMSS and equalizer for music anymore.
The way I see it, the sound engineers knew how the music should sound - I do not. I have since turned off everything (including equalizer) on my X-Fi except a little bass boost, and the sound is MUCH more satisfying and accurate.

The I/O panel drives my HD595s very well, but I wouldn't say that the X-Fi is spectacular for music. For games though, it's great - as long as there are no conflicts with the drivers (Quake 4 caused some problems).

[afireinside]

Crystalizer and CMSS are CRAP. The x-fi is a good sound card for gaming but if you have decent audio equipment and are willing to pay more for higher quality, I'd wait for the auzentech x-fi.

I've had a first gen x-fi xtreme music since october 2005 and have yet to have a driver issue or any crackling.

[gr8golf]

I'm happy with mine - no crackling or popping, the drivers seem fine in XP, not as great in Vista x64. I like the front panel connector.

[Frostbyte]

I love mine as well. Great card.

[jamiet757]

mine is also great, better than the crappy onboard soundmax that asus gave me!

[theteamaqua]

no difference .. personally i like headphone better

[ScythedBlade]

afireinside = obvious troll

Okay, the crystalizer and 3d surround is indeed ultimately kick ass. But without those two, x-fi loses to x-meridian ...

and no comparing barcelona to a conroe .... aka, what the troll did ...

[Anemone]

It's a great card. No crackling. I like CMSS and EAX HD.