X-Fi and the Elite Pro: SoundBlaster's Return to Greatness
by Derek Wilson on August 30, 2005 11:59 AM EST- Posted in
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Quantitative Analysis: RMAA 16-bit / 44.1 kHz
RightMark Audio Analyzer is the best tool that we have right now for determining solid numbers that describe the precision and capabilities of sound hardware in our labs. We are able to measure many of the interesting electrical characteristics of the hardware by running RMAA, which captures the output of a sound card playing a test file and analyses the recording. Unfortunately, the electrical characteristics of the recording hardware come into play when using RightMark. By using quality recording equipment, we can still get a very good idea of the hardware's capabilities. For a more in-depth look at what we are looking for in our RMAA tests, check out this page on our electrical analysis of sound hardware.The best way to see what's going on is to dive into the numbers.
| Test | Echo Audio Gina3G | SB Audigy 4 Audio | SB X-Fi Audio |
| Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB: | +0.04, -0.09 | +0.13, -0.36 | +0.01, -0.07 |
| Noise level, dB (A): | -94.3 | -94.5 | -94.7 |
| Dynamic range, dB (A): | 94.1 | 94.1 | 94.6 |
| THD, %: | 0.0057 | 0.0033 | 0.0008 |
| IMD + Noise, %: | 0.0079 | 0.0081 | 0.0054 |
| Stereo crosstalk, dB: | -94.9 | -93.3 | -97.0 |
Frequency response of the X-Fi is much better at 16-bit 44.1 kHz than the Audigy. In fact, we can see that the frequency response curve is even flatter than the Gina 3G here. The SoundBlaster X-Fi Elite Pro posts better numbers any card we've yet tested in our labs at this very heavily used bitrate.
When looking at the graphs, note that the X-Fi is able to post these numbers while maintaining consistant performance in each test. The only tradeoff we see is in stereo cross-talk, which just shows a trade off at high frequencies rather than low.
Frequency Response
Noise Level
Dynamic Range
THD+N at -3dB FS
Intermodulation Distortion
Stereo Crosstalk
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NovaPolice - Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - link
Yeah, I'm somewhat curious as to how the crystalizer does in comparison to Qsound's methods, Qsizzle, Qrumble, and Qexpander, which I have enjoyed for a while. Probably the best candidate for comparison would be the envy24(with-some-tricks)-based PSC724 Ultimate Edge. Of course.... that thing only costs 30 bucks at outpost, and philips is kinda bad at releasing drivers.I wish Qsound Labs would create some kind of hardware chip. Some kind of alternative to the various successions to EAX. Their expander kicks ass.
Or it would be nice to see something with Creative's hardware power combined with Qsound's algorithms.
flexy - Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - link
>>>i highly doubt it. Better save your money and invest in better speakers [if not already]..this is really all bunk. ALL they can sell is features and irrelevant addons/gadgets/specs...specs which are only relevant MAYBE for hardcore pro-musicians. But then i dont know any pro-musician who does his recordings on a creative card :)
>>>
Btw, i also highly, highly doubt that for listeining to music/mp3s etc. people will notice a difference (towards the better) with a VERY old AWE32/64 card compared to any of the newest cards out right now. I remember actually that years agomy AWE64 had this certain "punch" to her which i liked...and i cant even necessarely say that for listening to music my current Audigy2 is noticeable "better"...but then this is a long time ago :)
Anyway...leave 'em the fun to sell their products with dumb marketing terms....and as stated elsewhere...hope that the OEM/lower end cards will be much cheaper. (For what it's worth)
Calin - Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - link
I found also that my Creative Sound Blaster 16 (ISA card, with 2x4W amplifier on card) sounded more "musical" (let's say I consider it better sounding) than the newer Audigy 2 gamerCalin
Wellsoul2 - Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - link
I went from SBLIVE to Chaintech VIAEnvy to Audigy 2 ZS.It would be nice to have a card good in games and music.
Subjectively I think the Audigy 2 ZS better with MP3's and games than
the Envy Card.
Also I've found that the software makes a big difference.
Anyone notice that Itunes free player sounds much better than Windows Media Player or
Creative Player? (With any audio Card)
I really liked the ViaEnvy sound but it really won't do games well.
flexy - Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - link
i never use the creative software, neither do i use itunes.If i want to have highest quality sound then i use foobar2000 with kernel streaming or foobar/winamp with direct asio (plugin) output. I dont think there's anything better right now (in terms of player/output/quality)
Parak - Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - link
Seconded, would love to see a matchup of this card versus Envy24 solutions.imaheadcase - Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - link
"Creative informed us that cards should be shipping as of last week, but we still can't find them online or in stores. Even Creative's own site lists the X-Fi line up as pre-order. We will have to check into the availability of these parts as we certainly don't want the recently ATI disease (“paperlaunchitis”) to spread to the rest of the computer industry. "Actully you can order it on creative site, I see you can do it as i type this. Also can purchase it at Best Buy, they have dozens of them on display. There are 3 online retailors that have it listed. Was this artical typed out a week ago or something? lol
I will sum of this card for everyone: Wait a few months, and you can get it for a little over $50 for cheaper one. The high end card are pretty much same as cheaper one, you just get some extra CRAP with it. Pretty much %90 of the stuff on card is useless to the average user. This is essentially a Audigy 5 card...go go marketing from creative :P
HardwareD00d - Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - link
I saw an X-Fi card in Best Buy last week (Phoenix AZ, US) Looked pretty neat and I had just heard of them, so I was surprised to see it on the shelf so soon.missleman - Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - link
All that mumbo jumbo doesn't look like it will have any real use for me.HardwareD00d - Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - link
Tom's Hardware seemed to really like this card. They were much more impressed by the sound than Anand was.http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20050818/inde...">http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20050818/inde...