News 19 years later, X-Fi is still kicking — Creative announces Super X-Fi Gen4 audio profile, leverages AI for head and ear mapping

[Admin]

Creative Technology announced that it will be releasing a Super X-Fi Gen 4 audio profile for its compatible USB headsets, earbuds and other audio devices where the company claims it uses AI for optimization.

19 years later, X-Fi is still kicking — Creative announces Super X-Fi Gen4 audio profile, leverages AI for head and ear mapping : Read more

 

[Neilbob]

I have a sneaking suspicion that slapping on some AI buffoonery and marketing won't return Creative Labs to the prominence they once enjoyed.

 

[35below0]

I have a sneaking suspicion that slapping on some AI buffoonery and marketing won't return Creative Labs to the prominence they once enjoyed.

Maybe releasing drivers for their older cards like the X-Fi Elite would help a little. /s

There is no way. id Software could not return to their own prominence. Blizzard can't.
It's gone. New gems and new garbage have taken over.

The only thing that lasted forever and stayed on top... Photoshop?

 

[brandonjclark]

Lately I hooked up an old Logitech z5500 system, in which I've replaced all the speakers (except the integrated and required 10" sub) with Pioneer Andrew Jones Edition Surround Sound speaker system (Gen1).

I'm happy with my sound quality, but I DO miss the idea of Creative's XFi "Crystallizer", even if the sound improvement was only a trick.

So, I looked into what the modern equivalent would be since all research shows that internal sounds cards are just not worth it anymore.

What I came up with was a list of reasonably-priced external DAC's, which typically are used by streamers.

Is this what you guys have found as well?

Are external DAC's really the BEST thing to be plugging my Z5500 into, or does it's internal amplifier more than suffice?

 

[thestryker]

I've used this with my planar headphones and it's actually a decent bit of technology if you can jump through all the hoops to get it working right. I'm used to 5.1 on my gaming setup and while it's not going to be an equivalent it does a better job than pure stereo.

Lately I hooked up an old Logitech z5500 system, in which I've replaced all the speakers (except the integrated and required 10" sub) with Pioneer Andrew Jones Edition Surround Sound speaker system (Gen1).

I'm happy with my sound quality, but I DO miss the idea of Creative's XFi "Crystallizer", even if the sound improvement was only a trick.

So, I looked into what the modern equivalent would be since all research shows that internal sounds cards are just not worth it anymore.

What I came up with was a list of reasonably-priced external DAC's, which typically are used by streamers.

Is this what you guys have found as well?

Are external DAC's really the BEST thing to be plugging my Z5500 into, or does it's internal amplifier more than suffice?

Do they support 5.1? It's been a couple of years but when I was looking for external options for my Z5500s there was nothing remotely affordable that did. Hopefully things have changed, but personally ended up getting a Sound Blaster X4 and it has been as good as my old Audigy Platinum from way back was.

 

[eichwana]

I still have the x-fi sound core 3D sound card, I picked it up second hand more then 10 years ago and it’s still better than anything I’ve heard in my price range. It’s actually spoiled me: Bluetooth audio sounds flat and lifeless next to it to the point where I can’t enjoy a wireless headset anymore.

Could I find something comparable or better? Probably, but I spent £30 on this.