Creative Releases Super X-Fi Headphones

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 01/17/2019 10:09 AM | source: | 21 comment(s)

Creative announced the launch of the follow-up to the Creative SXFI AMP - the Creative SXFI AIR series. Comprising the SXFI AIR and SXFI AIR C, these are the very first headphones featuring built-in Super X-Fi technology, delivering the listening experience of a high-end multi-speaker system, simply through a pair of headphones.

"After the SXFI AMP, it was a natural next step to develop headphones with built-in Super X-Fi technology. With the SXFI AIR series, users can now enjoy the magic of headphone holography, complemented by the best of our headphone engineering. The SXFI AIR is meant to pave the way for the headphone industry to adopt Super X-Fi into all future headphones," said Sim Wong Hoo, CEO of Creative Technology.

Movies, music and gaming experiences are completely redefined with the SXFI AIR series. Simply by pressing a button, audio from movies can now be relished in all its full cinematic glory through these headphones, eliminating the need for a multi-speaker setup. Likewise, listening to musical tracks on the SXFI AIR series will ignite the feeling of attending a live concert performance. Offering seamless compatibility with PS4, Nintendo Switch, Mac or PC, the SXFI AIR series redefines the gaming experience through its expanded soundstage, bringing users into the game's cinematic environment, presenting them with a real-life holographic audio experience, as good as the real thing.

On top of the Super X-Fi technology at the heart of the SXFI AIR series, the headphones also stand out with its 50mm Neodymium drivers that are tuned to deliver audio that is powerful while maintaining extreme accuracy, which is an absolute essential for music and movie enthusiasts.

SXFI AIR

The SXFI AIR connects seamlessly via Bluetooth and USB to numerous platforms, ranging from mobile devices to PC and Mac to Nintendo Switch and PS4. Users can personalize their listening profiles through a mobile app, and upload them onto the SXFI AIR.
The versatility of the SXFI AIR also stands out with its wireless connectivity, providing ease of compatibility with iOS and Android devices. When connected via USB, the SXFI AIR offers low-latency 7.1 audio which is great for movies and games, especially on the PC and Mac.
The SXFI AIR also operates as a standalone music player via microSD card for various formats including MP3, WMA, WAV and FLAC.
Additionally, the SXFI AIR comes with a touch-control earcup, where users can easily switch between tracks and adjust volume with simple finger sliding actions.
The SXFI AIR features mesh fabric earcups with built-in memory foam pads that conform to the user's head, and are highly breathable as fabric dissipates heat more easily.
The SXFI AIR also comes with customizable RGB light rings, which allow users to choose from 16 million colors to make the headphones truly their own.

SXFI AIR C

The SXFI AIR C is an entry-level USB headphone with Super X-Fi aimed at gamers. It does not support Bluetooth, touch-controls and SD card.
Designed to augment the gaming experience further, the SXFI AIR C features a detachable ClearComms microphone that is specifically tuned to reproduce strikingly natural vocals, allowing for flawless communication between gaming team-mates or friends. The ClearComms microphone is also an accessory option for SXFI AIR.

Pricing and Availability
The SXFI AIR C USB is available at GBP119.99 on Creative.com. For more information, visit this page. The SXFI AIR is available for pre-order at GBP149.99 on Creative.com, and will ship in end January 2019.

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Valken
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#5628672 Posted on: 01/17/2019 10:59 AM

I had the Creative WOW 2.4 GHZ wireless headphones. Loved the performance despite the size. Until it broke... did not survive a launch across the room by a baby...

This is using Bluetooth... isn't that AAC encoding or full 7.1 DTS passthrough via bluetooth?

I hope you get a sample to test Hilbert.

I've been looking for a new pair or 2 wireless headset for a while now. Currently using a 50 Cent Sync Wireless with 2.4 GHZ transmitter - works great but cannot get a new or replacement set.

So far all the bluetooth tested headset sounds compressed to me for some reason.

rl66
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#5628687 Posted on: 01/17/2019 11:35 AM

Nothing can be compared to wired headphone (but ok it's less practical too).

Moto_Life
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#5628839 Posted on: 01/17/2019 04:25 PM

I have been thinking about getting a bluetooth headset to use with my receiver at night when watching tv or a movie and i dont want to wake people, Might be interested in this one.

Mufflore
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#5628988 Posted on: 01/17/2019 11:40 PM

If it was capable of "delivering the listening experience of a high-end multi-speaker system" it wouldnt be £150.
I'm all for good tech but not BS.

Spets
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#5629010 Posted on: 01/18/2019 12:26 AM

Any chance on a review for the Super X-Fi dongle? I'm waiting for mine to ship out

maikai
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#5629058 Posted on: 01/18/2019 03:08 AM

If it was capable of "delivering the listening experience of a high-end multi-speaker system" it wouldnt be £150.
I'm all for good tech but not BS.
Check out the AVS review of this tech from CES. It's legit if those guys say it's legit, and they do.
However, it seems like so far most people sharing their experience with whats out there aren't satisfied and are claiming a bait and switch by creative since the measurements at CES were done with inner ear probes and not the picture method that ships with the consumer products. I too am hoping for reviews once its more widely available, specifically the AIR headphones as I am hoping to finally find something i can stand to use for surround sound gaming

MegaFalloutFan
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#5629340 Posted on: 01/19/2019 01:51 AM

If it was capable of "delivering the listening experience of a high-end multi-speaker system" it wouldnt be £150.
I'm all for good tech but not BS.

You are wrong, its not about the Headphones themselves but the Super Xi-Fi ethnology
https://us.creative.com/sxfi/

https://www.cnet.com/news/creatives-new-super-x-fi-audio-tech-is-frigging-mind-blowing/

https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/632107/ces-2018-best-products-we-saw-show/

Mufflore
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Posts: 11178
Joined: 2010-05-22

#5629347 Posted on: 01/19/2019 02:38 AM

You are wrong, its not about the Headphones themselves but the Super Xi-Fi ethnology
https://us.creative.com/sxfi/

https://www.cnet.com/news/creatives-new-super-x-fi-audio-tech-is-frigging-mind-blowing/

https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/632107/ces-2018-best-products-we-saw-show/

MegaFalloutFan
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#5629363 Posted on: 01/19/2019 04:25 AM

I have no doubt the tech is capable but to say a £150 set of headphones can compete with a high end multi speaker hifi system is rubbish.
I am a fan of what creative are doing but there is no need to lie about what their headphones can achieve.
The whole purpose of this tech is to do just that, headphones has nothing to do with it, you can buy just the encoder dongle and use any headphones.
This tech comes with app that you make a photo of you ears and upload it, AI will adjust the algorithm for your type of ears and then you upload the algorithm to the dongle, these headphones just have the dongle chip build in.

Mufflore
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#5629367 Posted on: 01/19/2019 04:55 AM

The whole purpose of this tech is to do just that, headphones has nothing to do with it, you can buy just the encoder dongle and use any headphones.
This tech comes with app that you make a photo of you ears and upload it, AI will adjust the algorithm for your type of ears and then you upload the algorithm to the dongle, these headphones just have the dongle chip build in.

You are missing the point.
They are selling a £150 headphone with this tech and are making the claim it is capable of "delivering the listening experience of a high-end multi-speaker system".
I'm not talking about the tech alone.

MegaFalloutFan
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Posts: 515
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#5629483 Posted on: 01/19/2019 05:42 PM

You are missing the point.
They are selling a £150 headphone with this tech and are making the claim it is capable of "delivering the listening experience of a high-end multi-speaker system".
I'm not talking about the tech alone.

I understand what you are trying to say but thats the whole point of this tech, to use ANY headphones, even 10$ ones and get such effect due to processing and AI

MonstroMart
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#5629540 Posted on: 01/19/2019 10:19 PM

Nothing can be compared to wired headphone (but ok it's less practical too).

It's a PC headphone. The bandwidth of most digital headphones these days is more than enough to retain the full quality of most of the media played on a PC. If you are listening to something thru from a good quality amp then yeah wired 100% but for a PC playing more often than not heavily compressed audio and video the digital wireless headphone will be good enough to retain the full already questionable quality of the content played. A 320 kbps audio file wont sound better on an affordable wired headphone it will sound equally trash on both a wired and wireless headphone. And this is not even considering the low quality of PC sound card. It's even questionable whatever a flac will sound better on a wired headphone considering the extremely low quality of PC sound card. On PC the quality of the original source is already lost before it reaches your headphone.

Andrew LB
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#5629677 Posted on: 01/20/2019 08:02 PM

You are missing the point.
They are selling a £150 headphone with this tech and are making the claim it is capable of "delivering the listening experience of a high-end multi-speaker system".
I'm not talking about the tech alone.

That claim is exactly what they are making, and while I am extremely skeptical given my experience with high end audio gear, the fact remains that a lot of reputable people have made public statements about how incredible this technology is. I just don't see so many people throwing away their reputations if it turns out they lied.

Mufflore
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#5629721 Posted on: 01/21/2019 12:07 AM

That claim is exactly what they are making, and while I am extremely skeptical given my experience with high end audio gear, the fact remains that a lot of reputable people have made public statements about how incredible this technology is. I just don't see so many people throwing away their reputations if it turns out they lied.

Like I said, I am not doubting the technology, I also believe when they say it appears as if in a room with multichannel speakers.
But given the price (ie quality) of the headphones it will be like a mid to low end set of speakers on a mid to low end DAC+amp for sound quality.
It cannot be equated to high end speakers because the headphones cannot have that capability.
I take exception to claims like this from manufacturers. Tell the truth, it will still sell well on its merit.

sykozis
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#5629735 Posted on: 01/21/2019 01:16 AM

I've read about this a few times now...still not impressed.

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