The Audigy 2 introduced DVD-Audio playback to the PC. In practice, this means SRC is completely transparent. Creative claims that its SRC can convert 44.1kHz signals to 48kHz with total harmonic distortion of -135dB. The X-Fi still uses SRC for the same purpose, but around 70 per cent of its processing power is dedicated to executing high-quality SRC algorithms. Previous Sound Blaster cards were criticised for their reliance on sample rate conversion (SRC) to synchronise internal and external audio signals – a process that diminished the cards’ otherwise excellent audio fidelity by introducing quantisation errors. The PCI card itself has a new processor that Creative claims is 24 times more powerful than the Audigy’s chip. There’s also a X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS (£155 inc VAT), which is the same as the Platinum version but with 64MB of RAM for storing audio samples for use in compatible games, as and when they appear. As with previous Sound Blasters, a Platinum version (around £130 inc VAT) is also available with extra connections that sit in a 5.25in drive bay. Instead, there’s a proprietary connector that’s used to attach the X-Fi I/O Console – a breakout box with various extra connections and controls that comes with the X-Fi Elite Pro package (£235 inc VAT). The collection of sockets has diminished too, with the separate line, mic and coaxial S/PDIF inputs now combined onto a multipurpose socket. Disappointingly, the software bundle has all but disappeared there are no bundled games and still no DVD playback software included, although the driver can decode Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES soundtracks for 6.1 surround sound using any DVD playback software that can output audio as an S/PDIF stream. The X-Fi XtremeMusic has much in common with the Audigy series it replaces, but there are some surprising differences. So is there still any need for a dedicated sound card in a modern PC and, if so, is it good enough to justify spending nearly £100 on? These offer surround-sound outputs, and many use high-specification digital-to-analog converters to deliver impressive audio fidelity. Innovations such as EAX proved so popular – and well marketed – that they quickly became accepted standards, leaving rival sound card designers either to follow Creative’s lead, slash their prices or (more often) give up.Īs such, there’s barely any mainstream competition for this latest Sound Blaster, save for the sound chips built into modern motherboards. Sound Blaster sound cards have always led the way for audio entertainment on the PC.
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