Should i buy? Creative Sound Blaster X-FI Xtreme Music 24I

[PimpingBox]

Hello recently i just got enough money for a Creative Sound Blaster X-FI Xtreme Music 24BIT Sound Card, but i'm deciding wheter or not to get one for my current speakers.....i enjoy the speakers i have now...but NOT ENOUGH! i am like a music freak, the sound from it is just not clear enough like to the ultimate perfection.
btw my speaker is called LOGITECH Z-2300 SPEAKER SYSTEM 2.1 200WRMS 400W 8IN SUBWOOFER THXz! :D

[gvblake22]

Those speakers (although a 2.1 configuration) actually look very nice and are quite powerful. I am assuming you are using onboard sound now? IF so, you will definately see a difference using the X-Fi with those speakers. Just be aware that there are a lot of driver utilities installed with the X-Fi and they will take up a fair ammount of memory. I mention this because you are using Windows XP Professional with only 256MB of RAM, which is prettymuch the minimum requrement for Windows XP. So adding the X-Fi will increase the amount of memory useage and subsequently, the amount of virtual memory needed, so there is a very good chance your system will actually run slower with the X-Fi, but it should still sound much better.

Just remember that your music will only sound as good as it's quality. So if you have a bunch of music you ripped with high compression (low quality), the X-Fi won't do a whole lot for it and it won't sound a whole lot different. But since you say you are a music freak, I'm sure you've got plenty of high quality music to listen to. In which case, you will be happy with the X-Fi.

[PimpingBox]

wow thx ...cause i just had doubts when that "GUY" at LODON DRUGS told me that u needed top of the line speakers for this....and some people told me it would be a waste if it wasn;t a 5.1 + speaker system...or a decent headphone..

oh nice knowing that a good sound card will require some memory =P

(btw using aopen cobra thingy sound card probably worth under $25 CAN)

[gvblake22]

Well, that "GUY" is on the right track suggesting you have decent speakers to accompany the X-Fi.

I still think you will probably notice a difference with the X-Fi, but it's full potential won't be completely realized without a very nice speaker system (powerful 5.1). If you splurge for the X-Fi, you will still want to consider a nicer speaker system for later on down the road to take advantage and get your money's worth out of the X-Fi.

Your other option right now would be to buy a nicer speaker system now and save up for the X-Fi (or some other nicer sound card) later on. But really, that is a very nice 2.1 system and should definately sound nice with an X-Fi or other high end sound card.

[PimpingBox]

8) I just bought the soundcard today... and I would say that it made alot of difference! I'm really impressed wtih it. Thanks alot Blake for your review, it really helped me make the decision on whether I should buy it or not.

[drew and not u]

congrats, and glad to hear you like it. I love mine. Moving from my old SoundBlaster Live! 24Bit to my x-Fi Xtreme music made an incredible difference.

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by PimpingBox

8) I just bought the soundcard today... and I would say that it made alot of difference! I'm really impressed wtih it. Thanks alot Blake for your review, it really helped me make the decision on whether I should buy it or not.

Awesome! I'm glad you like it. Feels good to really be able to tap into the full potential of your speakers doesn't it :thup:

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Eventually when you rack up the money, consider going to a 5.1 setup. If you're cheaping out, go for the Z-5300s, commonly found quite under $150. The Z-5500s can be found under $230.

The other setups, like the Klipsch Promedia 5.1s, cost more, at $300ish. The Klipsch sound better and have better mid range, but lack any digital inputs. The Z-5500s have an optical and a coax digital input.

I don't really know if the GigaWorks S750s have any digital inputs, but they are 700W, the highest wattage of them all. It has a smaller sub than the Z-5500s, but is down-firing instead of front firing. They are the most expensive, at $329 after a $100 rebate. These are 7.1 speakers.

[gvblake22]

I think the Z-5500's are the only ones with a digital input. Even the $300 Klipsch ProMedia speakers don't have it (kinda lame if you ask me).

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

I know, I totally agree. The best one in the pack doesn't have any digital inputs.

BTW, any specific reason why you still run SP1?