Home > Consumer Reviews > Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1
Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1
See it at Amazon.co.uk for £52.39Average Customer Rating
(4.0 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First | + ShareDo not buy if you have Windows 7 - or a netbook
(1 out of 5) by A. Wilson on Nov 25, 2009 (London)I bought this with the intention of plugging it into my Acer Aspire Revo nettop allowing me to listen to dolby digital surround through my surround sound amp. I was beset with problems from the start. Firstly the driver from the creative site is still only in beta. To follow that the creative software refused to acknowledge the device was plugged in and when I finally got it working it didn't output in 5.1 surround despite me trying everything - I only got a working test through Windows' own speaker check - the creative software didn't work.
To top it all, I tried watching online video and the sound crackled when I used the optical output and when it wasn't doing that, it slowed right down making the motion jerky. From what I can see, this device is basically a software suite and the box is just a glorified volume control with a few ports on it - the computer's processor is doing most of the work, which is not good when you're using an Intel Atom processor, struggling with full screen flash video.
Basically, avoid this if you're running an Atom processor or Windows 7.
To top it all, I tried watching online video and the sound crackled when I used the optical output and when it wasn't doing that, it slowed right down making the motion jerky. From what I can see, this device is basically a software suite and the box is just a glorified volume control with a few ports on it - the computer's processor is doing most of the work, which is not good when you're using an Intel Atom processor, struggling with full screen flash video.
Basically, avoid this if you're running an Atom processor or Windows 7.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Does what it says mostly. Does work in vista/7 32 bit and 64 bit
(4 out of 5) by Maximilian Power on Nov 13, 2009Firstly this product does work in vista and windows 7, however it is likely that when it first came out there were compatability issues preventing it from working properly or at all, hence the reviews about vista incompatability, creative arent exactly quick to release up to date drivers for things but the x-fi surround 5.1 works now.
I bought this as sort of a side-grade, i got into using a headset as well as my Z5500s and the xonar U1 as cool as it is dosent have enough ports for both, i just got fed up unplugging/replugging stuff into it so i figured i would check this sound card out since it can have everything plugged into it at once. Overall i found the following pros and cons.
PROS:
- Stylish, this was the first thing that struck me when i opened it up, it looks good, better than its precessor the audigy 2 nx which looked a bit retro.
- Multiple ports, it can support the typical 3.5mm cable in stereo or 5.1 (comes with an adapter for the large red/white ports found on the back), it has an optical output, it also has seperate headphone/mic ports on the side and a "line out" port between them. So its got plenty, it lacks the coaxial and optical out found on the audigy 2 nx however it has large red/white ports in place of the usual green 3.5mm one which the audigy 2 nx had, i dont know what to make of that to be honest i imagine it allows hi-fi systems to be plugged into it to use the crystalizer or something? Im just guessing, i dont know what those plugs are about or why they put them there instead of a green 3.5mm.
- Remote that actually works. Never got the audigy 2 nx's remote working, you can play/pause and mess with the volume and crystalizer settings from far away :) However i cant skip tracks/movies, i managed to get WMP to fast forward a song but not skip, this is likely due to the windows 7 beta drivers im using from creatives website because with the drivers on the CD the remote never worked at all.
- Sounds decent, i cant tell if theres a massive difference between this and my old xonar U1 or even audigy 2 nx but theres no loss in quality thats for sure. MP3's do sound a bit better with the crystalizer but i could probably achieve the same effect by messing with any other sound cards graphic equalizer settings. For the record im using logitech Z5500 speakers.
- Runs off the USB cord! Hoorah! The audigy 2 nx needed a power cord with a small brick in addition to the big fat USB cable to hook it up to the computer, the x-fi surround 5.1 has a smaller mini usb port on the back and is powered by that.
CONS:
- Creative software is a bit sluggish, same as the last time i used it, you have to use this in order to get the most out of the card, although it will work with windows drivers without any of the creative software but you wont get the crystalizer or anything doing that just basic sound. Im used to the xonar U1's quicker more lightweight software.
- Only a small complaint here, it was mentioned earlier but the remote wont skip in WMP, it will do everything else except skip, it can actually even close WMP or switch between programs but it cant skip. I put this down to the beta drivers for windows 7 i assume it will be fixed when the final release comes out.
So overall its a pretty good product, a few niggles but its good stuff. It should be noted that i had some interference with the headset when the card was positioned near my phone, a wireless BT verve specifically, took me a while to figure this out but i moved the phone away from the card and its fine now. Thought i would mention that here since it dosent really qualify as a "con" as other cards would probably experience the same thing, and it might save someone some time.
I bought this as sort of a side-grade, i got into using a headset as well as my Z5500s and the xonar U1 as cool as it is dosent have enough ports for both, i just got fed up unplugging/replugging stuff into it so i figured i would check this sound card out since it can have everything plugged into it at once. Overall i found the following pros and cons.
PROS:
- Stylish, this was the first thing that struck me when i opened it up, it looks good, better than its precessor the audigy 2 nx which looked a bit retro.
- Multiple ports, it can support the typical 3.5mm cable in stereo or 5.1 (comes with an adapter for the large red/white ports found on the back), it has an optical output, it also has seperate headphone/mic ports on the side and a "line out" port between them. So its got plenty, it lacks the coaxial and optical out found on the audigy 2 nx however it has large red/white ports in place of the usual green 3.5mm one which the audigy 2 nx had, i dont know what to make of that to be honest i imagine it allows hi-fi systems to be plugged into it to use the crystalizer or something? Im just guessing, i dont know what those plugs are about or why they put them there instead of a green 3.5mm.
- Remote that actually works. Never got the audigy 2 nx's remote working, you can play/pause and mess with the volume and crystalizer settings from far away :) However i cant skip tracks/movies, i managed to get WMP to fast forward a song but not skip, this is likely due to the windows 7 beta drivers im using from creatives website because with the drivers on the CD the remote never worked at all.
- Sounds decent, i cant tell if theres a massive difference between this and my old xonar U1 or even audigy 2 nx but theres no loss in quality thats for sure. MP3's do sound a bit better with the crystalizer but i could probably achieve the same effect by messing with any other sound cards graphic equalizer settings. For the record im using logitech Z5500 speakers.
- Runs off the USB cord! Hoorah! The audigy 2 nx needed a power cord with a small brick in addition to the big fat USB cable to hook it up to the computer, the x-fi surround 5.1 has a smaller mini usb port on the back and is powered by that.
CONS:
- Creative software is a bit sluggish, same as the last time i used it, you have to use this in order to get the most out of the card, although it will work with windows drivers without any of the creative software but you wont get the crystalizer or anything doing that just basic sound. Im used to the xonar U1's quicker more lightweight software.
- Only a small complaint here, it was mentioned earlier but the remote wont skip in WMP, it will do everything else except skip, it can actually even close WMP or switch between programs but it cant skip. I put this down to the beta drivers for windows 7 i assume it will be fixed when the final release comes out.
So overall its a pretty good product, a few niggles but its good stuff. It should be noted that i had some interference with the headset when the card was positioned near my phone, a wireless BT verve specifically, took me a while to figure this out but i moved the phone away from the card and its fine now. Thought i would mention that here since it dosent really qualify as a "con" as other cards would probably experience the same thing, and it might save someone some time.
good sound
(4 out of 5) by Mr. F. Pirjoleanu on Nov 6, 2009 (uk)i will rate this with 4 stars because is not as good as an internal one but it`s still working very good "for an external sound card"
Top Notch
(5 out of 5) by N. Smith on Oct 20, 2009This is an excellent piece of kit, using Vista, works a dream, sound is excellent
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
A great product for laptop users
(5 out of 5) by Mr. Igor Jasa on Oct 17, 2009 (Canterbury , England)having owned this product for about 2 months, i can honestly say its quite amazing.. for those who (just like me) decide to use this for laptops and surround speakers , it's the best product out there (imo)
Although there have been sum reviewers who for whateve reason said it slows ur computer down (cos it connects vis USB) ive barely noticed.
to be more specific:
Sound: extraordinary, crystal clear - especially in combination with a good set of speakers (e.g.Creative)
offers full 5.1 surround support, has 7 outlets for various speakers and devices: 4 for speakers ( L, R, Rear, C/Sub) and 3 additional (very useful ones) - headphones, mic , line-in
includes a convinient volume and remote control.
The only slight fault this device potentially causes is that from time to time , the sound goes dead for about 3 seconds ( especially when you mess with settings in Windows - might be drivers problems , dont know)
But in spite of this, it's a decent product that no other sound blaster can beat (especially in this price range and considering this card is external, its a no.1 choice for laptop users
Although there have been sum reviewers who for whateve reason said it slows ur computer down (cos it connects vis USB) ive barely noticed.
to be more specific:
Sound: extraordinary, crystal clear - especially in combination with a good set of speakers (e.g.Creative)
offers full 5.1 surround support, has 7 outlets for various speakers and devices: 4 for speakers ( L, R, Rear, C/Sub) and 3 additional (very useful ones) - headphones, mic , line-in
includes a convinient volume and remote control.
The only slight fault this device potentially causes is that from time to time , the sound goes dead for about 3 seconds ( especially when you mess with settings in Windows - might be drivers problems , dont know)
But in spite of this, it's a decent product that no other sound blaster can beat (especially in this price range and considering this card is external, its a no.1 choice for laptop users