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MikeEnRegalia View Drop Down
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Points: 21138 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Experiment for audiophiles (and sceptics)
    Posted: April 01 2006 at 05:25

I'm really happy with my current setup and those among you who have

  • a computer with reasonably decent speakers
  • optionally: a way to connect the computer to a hifi system
  • some money to spend on possible improvements of their listening experience

... might want to try this:

  • buy a Creative X-Fi soundcard. The entry model should do fine, it costs around $100/100 EUR.
  • install the soundcard
  • Use the Windows Media Player to rip a CD in WMA Lossless format (make sure that the device settings for the CD drive are set to "digital extraction" and "use error detection").
  • Play the audio in the Windows Media Player (or Winamp or whatever player you prefer)
  • Open the Creative Audio-Console and activate the "Crystallizer".

I'm have been using the X-Fi for a few weeks now and I really like the improved sound quality ... and I'm sure that you'll like it too. The difference is comparable to that between a musical CD player and a cheap one - the X-Fi does most of the things that the musical players do (24bit upsampling/expanding).
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Flyingsod View Drop Down
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Points: 564 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2006 at 22:37
I admit Ive never even heard of this but it sounds like something that could easily be done in software. Assuming the cpu is fast enough. Wish I had money to just try things like this all the time. 
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VanderGraafKommandöh View Drop Down
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Points: 89372 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2006 at 23:19
Is this sound card suitable for something like CuBase Mike?

When I eventually upgrade my machine, I plan on getting CuBase and some kind of synth and of course, I'll need a decent sound card for it.
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MikeEnRegalia View Drop Down
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Points: 21138 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2006 at 04:50

Flyingsod: The card has a very powerful chip which is optimized for these calculations, like a graphics card is optimized for 3d graphics.

Geck0: Yes, it comes with low latency ASIO drivers and the D/A converters are high quality. You might want to buy one of the extended versions though which include a big panel with lots of interfaces.
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VanderGraafKommandöh View Drop Down
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Points: 89372 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2006 at 04:57
Ah thanks, I suspect by the time I get round to even thinking about upgrading and getting a keyboard, there'll be a new model out anyway.  I've never had a good soundcard, infact, I've never had a good computer!  I'm living with my SoundBlaster Live 24 at the moment.

Edited by Geck0
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MikeEnRegalia View Drop Down
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Points: 21138 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2006 at 05:15
^ The X-Fi was just released half a year ago. I think it will be around for the next 3-4 years ...
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goose View Drop Down
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Points: 4097 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2006 at 10:47
Is the crystallizer not the part which performs multiband compression? If so, I don't think it's what audiophiles are after (or me, for that matter )
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MikeEnRegalia View Drop Down
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Points: 21138 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2006 at 11:42

Originally posted by goose goose wrote:

Is the crystallizer not the part which performs multiband compression? If so, I don't think it's what audiophiles are after (or me, for that matter )

There are sources which say that it does multiband compression - I don't know, and Creative won't tell. But I only trust my ears, and they say that it sounds better than the source. You can also adjust the level of the effect, and I'm comfortable at 50%.

Of course I'm not suggesting that you trade your hi-fi system for a combination of computer, X-Fi and cheap speakers. I'm only saying that those of you who have cheap (or even decent) computer speakers might enjoy them more when using the X-Fi. If you are a computer gamer then the X-Fi is a must anyway!
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Flyingsod View Drop Down
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Points: 564 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2006 at 21:53
I guess I should give them a new shake but I really really despise Creative. SOrry to pick your brain as I'm sure I could find out by websurfing but is this crystalizing tech only good for cd's, mp3's or should it enhance all audio.. even wavs?
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Mikerinos View Drop Down
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Points: 8890 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2006 at 22:10
Originally posted by Geck0 Geck0 wrote:

Ah thanks, I suspect by the time I get round to even thinking about upgrading and getting a keyboard, there'll be a new model out anyway.  I've never had a good soundcard, infact, I've never had a good computer!  I'm living with my SoundBlaster Live 24 at the moment.

I use that too.  I remember my default one broke and I bought it because it was cheap (like $15).  I'll probably upgrade my soundcard one of these days...

Now for a few (stupid) questions:

Would a SoundCard effect headphones about the same as speakers?

What do you think would be better, upgrading a sound card or upgrading headphones?


Thanks.

Edited by Bluesaga
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Ghandi 2 View Drop Down
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Points: 1494 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2006 at 00:33

Eh, my $40 CD player (and the headphones which came with it) has always been fine for me. I would rather put that money towards a CD player anyway; hearing nice sound at my computer doesn't do me much good :S
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DeepPhreeze View Drop Down
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Points: 261 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2006 at 20:16
Why not just but the SACD/DTS albums themselves?
I mean, if you've got the 5.1 or 7.1 system you might as well be getting true surround sound out of the deal...

You haven't experienced DSoTM or WYWH until you've heard it in DTS :)
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MikeEnRegalia View Drop Down
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Points: 21138 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2006 at 04:16
^ The X-Fi can decode SACD/DTS albums, and I love the sound.
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DeepPhreeze View Drop Down
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Points: 261 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2006 at 12:20
Originally posted by MikeEnRegalia MikeEnRegalia wrote:

^ The X-Fi can decode SACD/DTS albums, and I love the sound.


It really is the closest thing to vinyl
Except of course my vinyl collection
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