Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio PCIe - Page 12 - Conclusion

The Verdict

The X-Audio is, in many ways, a step back from the X-Fi line using and old chip with its old problems, and it seems to me a little dishonest.  This is not to say that there aren’t any good points to the Xtreme-Audio PCIe, but repackaging an Audigy card as an X-Fi not only defiles the X-Fi brand, but it's also sketchy marketing. Creative is nothing if not creative when it comes to marketing. Anyway, I still think Creative is proud of the Xtreme-Audio PCIe, for it is a solid product, with good engineering, stable drivers, and even a little sense of humor behind it.

The Xtreme-Audio PCIe inhabits a segment of the market that is in the 'sweet spot' where you get a lot of bang for the buck.  The question that I ask myself is, would I buy one?  If I ran Vista and did not want to spend a lot of money, I would be very happy with this card. It is a sizeable notch above an integrated sound card, and the PCIe is just a nice bonus. There was a sticking point for PCIe in our nForce 4 motherboard, which didn't recognize the Xtreme-Audio.  But for more recent Intel and nForce boards, I would go for it.  For WinXP, the X-Audio ain’t too bad.  But keep in mind that this really is an Audigy with built-in PCI Express, and just rebadged as an X-Fi.  So, you're better off spending a little more and getting a true X-Fi, like the XtremeGamer, or if you're concerned about audio quality, an X-Prelude, than this card.

Audio performance in games is slightly mixed.  Where it was slower, but still nipping at the heels of its competition, it was actually more pleasing to use. In Battlefield 2142, for example, the X-Audio was slowest, but did produce the best immersive experience.  With Bioshock it was just middle of the field though, where Auzentech's X-Meridian won the day.  In Call of Duty 4, the X-Audio was again middle of the field, but at least it was a better than our Intel integrated job, subjectively speaking.

For music and DVD's I liked the X-Audio well enough, but it didn't do anything particularly special.  It did provide a strong bass, but the top end could use a little more, uh, shine.  It does come with the Crystallizer, so if you want to spice up your music, you can do that.  I think the Crystallizer is better suited for mobile environments than for home listening, but I certainly wouldn't stop you from listening at home. 

Music has been in recent years a lot about lawsuits. Instead about what it truly is: expression of emotions we don't have words for. What ever you can do to keep listening, keep listening.

Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
Info: Creative
Price: $65.46

Stuff that is Always at the End
Special thanks to Creative and Phil O'Shaughnessy for sending us the X-Audio. Very special thanks to Hilbert for his incredible patience, and all the while, showing me how it’s done.  Special thanks, with clusters, go to Jason O'Connell, Alden Jenks, and Jeff Fisher, at SFCM for giving me thier time and expertise.

• http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=208&product=16770
• http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/selling/selling-it-january-2008/selling-it-ov.htm
• http://www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/akm/en/product/ak4359/ak4359.html
• http://www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/akm/en/product/ak5358a/ak5358a.html
• http://www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/akm/en/product/ak4388/ak4388.html
• http://www.st.com/stonline/products/literature/ds/2181.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gain-bandwidth_product
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sample_rate_conversion
• http://www.playreaction.com/?p=viewarticle&articleid=146a3089-0666-4621-9cae-14ae34251bb7
• http://gizmodo.com/357908/the-biggest-star-wars-collection-in-the-galaxy
• http://xkcd.com/

This review dedicated to Jr. and Jon.  This review brought to you by the word futatsu.  As in, biru o futastu kudasai!