Creative Labs USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Audio System SB1090 by Creative
|
List Price: Our Price: $44.49 You Save: $15.50 (26%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
|---|
Digital camera reviews of Creative Labs USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Audio System SB1090
Digital camera Review: Change USB Speed Option to Solve Lags!
Summary: 3 Stars
Under 'Creative audio control panel,' be certain that 'high speed' (2.0) is checked, and not 'full speed' (1.1). This may or may not solve lag and other commonly cited audio issues. That said,
I do not like this sound card. In fact, it's not really a sound card at all. More truthfully, it is a (large) software suite connected to a big volume knob. As far as I can tell, and from what I have read and seen in task manager), all of the real work is done with your computer. Well, this shouldn't be too much of a problem on modern machines, right? I mean, aren't the days of needing external chips to alleviate workload on the CPU long gone and irrelevant?
Maybe. But the fact is that I feel that I could have attained the same, cheap audio tricks via any number of winamp plug-ins, equalizers, et al. What I wanted was a superior external DAC than the noise coming from my onboard RealTek 'high definition' audio. The truth is that I can tell no difference between the two outputs until I turn on the effects of the x-fi, which are really annoying to a music purist. They produce listener fatigue and unwelcome distortion (music was not meant to be heard in simulated surround, and 'crystalizer' can get downright 'screechy').
The simulated surround or EAX is fine for watching movies and playing games, though. But if you are primarily a music buff and have decent speakers, I advise looking elsewhere.
There is good news, though. While Creative has a history of not supporting older cards on a newer OS, there is a functioning beta driver for Windows 7 already at their site. You won't be experiencing what thousands of people did when trying to use their XP cards on Vista, etc. However, the overall performance of the card is sluggish both on my XP install and my Win 7 beta. Adjustments are cumbersome and opening the severe bloatware of sound options is unacceptably slow even on fairly well-equipped hardware. I'd consider this a fluke of my install, but on two separate disks, and with two different OSes (XP and 7)? No. It's just bloated.
I got this new for virtually nothing, but I'd still not buy it again because I can honestly achieve the same effects by using the EQ of the iTunes, Mediamonkey, etc. Again, this is nothing but a ton of sound software that happens to have a physical body. You can do better for not much more money. However, as a solution for a broken onboard chip / output jack, this is an economical solution. But even then I'd almost recommend one of those USB thumb drive-type cards as they won't take up unnecessary desktop space or clutter your install with a ton of software that, btw, takes 20 minutes to install).
If the x-fi surround were anything but a fancy software suite, I'd rate it higher. Sorry. Just trying to save someone the grief if they are looking for a music solution. That's what these reviews are for.
Digital camera Review: Clean clear sound for laptops
Summary: 4 Stars
I picked this up due to background noise in an XP Pro laptop I'm using as a HTPC, the sound quality is about a million times better. It would be nice if it had RCA jacks for the rear and center/sub outputs instead of mini-jacks. It will output LPCM *stereo* over the optical SPDIF interface, but it won't surround encode for you, so to get surround gaming buy plenty of interconnects. I assume it will pass through already encoded surround from DVDs, but thats not functionality I need. The headphone jack does a very good job driving headsets, much stronger than the on-board ports, prior to this I was looking at adding a headset amp (which cost more than this whole unit).
Oh yeah, and did I mention bass management with adjustable crossover point? Nice.
Digital camera Review: Creative Labs SB1090 USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Audio System
Summary: 5 Stars
As a musician who bought an XLR mic and found out his sound card is to weak to support the quality i must say THIS WAS THE PERFECT SOLUTION!!!! I'm currently using a laptop, and i must say the sound quality is less than desired (as with any laptop) but this sound card can solve all the problems you have with that. It uses a 2.0 USB port to make your sound crisp and clear (also depending on your speakers) if your a musician like me it can help make your recording smoother, and even increase the sound quality in that. If your having sound problems with your computer, or your just looking for better sound don't look around this is the product for you, it's overall price+quality compete with some of the higher priced soundcards. It's light weight, has a glossy look and feel to it, and it comes with a heavy duty micro USB to USB cable. I'd give this product a 5 out of 5 for it's compact look, amazing quality, and price. You won't find better for under $100Digital camera Review: Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this sound card because my computer was having difficulties running my Sennheiser PC350 Premium,, Around-the-Ear Gaming Headset w/ Noise Cancelling Microphone Dual 3.5mm Connectors headphones. The sound would often lag for the first few seconds when Rhapsody or Windows Media Player 11 switched songs. I was also having trouble running Teamspeak and other applications and had a lot of sound difficulties associated with that.
Once I got this sound card, installed the software, and got it running properly, my experience has been amazing. The audio is crisp out of my headphones and I no longer have the issues that my integrated sound card had.
I also purchased the Creative Inspire T6160 5.1 Multimedia Speaker System, and these sound great with the card.
I have no regrets in purchasing this sound card, it works very well.
Digital camera Review: Creative Labs USB Sound Blaster X-Fi 70SB109000000 Surround 5.1
Summary: 5 Stars
I moved to take a new job. When I left, the sound worked fine on my desktop PC. However when I set it up at the new location, there was no sound. I tried everything, updating drivers, reinstalling sound devices, but nothing.
I finally decided that my sound card was bad. I ordered Creatives USB sound blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 and WOW! The sound came back and is now way better than before. I would highly recommend this for a great external sound card.