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Creative's X-Fi Will Pimp Your Ride

Paul Lilly — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:15:06 -0600

Tuning and tweaking cars and PCs are two hobbies that are often likened to each other because of the many parallels, and thanks to JC Hyun Systems, the two even share some of the same DNA. That's because the South Korean car audio supplier has just developed the first automobile infotaiment system using Creative's X-Fi technology.

"I believe all motorists seek to enjoy music and videos of the highest quality when traveling in their cars," JC Hyun Systems said. "They expect the same high standards of entertainment experience they enjoy at home, something which most car audio or car infotainment systems in the market have been unable to match so far. By integrating the state-of-the-art Creative X-Fi audio technology to the RUNZ CI-7100, I am confident that we can propel car infotainment enjoyment to the next level and set the standard for next generation systems to come in the near future."

The svelte looking RUNZ CI-7100 Dash-Car Navigation Device comes with a 7-inch display with an 800 x 480 resolution, an Intel dual-core 360/300MHz processor, MMSP2 MPEG video hardware engine, SiRF III GPS chipset, and Creative's X-Fi audio processor with support for CMSS-3D and 24-bit Crystalizer. Other features include an SDHC card slot, Bluetooth, iPod 30-pin socket, USB host, and support for a variety of media formats, including MP3, WMA, OGG, WMV, MPEG4, DIVX, and XVID.

Can't Hear Jack

The Maximum PC Staff — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:45:04 -0600

I finally took the plunge and built my own rig. Everything worked fine until I plugged my Boston Acoustic Digital BA735 speakers into my EVGA 680i motherboard’s onboard outputs: Nothing happened. I received no sound at all. I tried the same speakers with a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer card and got the same result: zilch. Am I missing something here?

—Rich M.

The BA735s can’t be used as digital speakers—at least not with your hardware. The Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer supports optical out, not coaxial digital audio. And your EVGA 680i also supports only optical SPDIF out. The Doctor believes that the BA735 speakers support only coax SPDIF in for its digital mode. You can’t run optical digital-out to a coaxial input.

Fortunately, the speakers have an analog port. You should buy a standard 1/8-inch cable and connect the analog-in port on your speakers to the green audio-out of your soundcard or motherboard.

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION Are flames shooting out of the back of your rig? First, grab a fire extinguisher and douse the flames. Once the pyrotechnic display has fizzled, email the doctor at doctor@maximumpc.com for advice on how to solve your technological woes.

Decoding Creative's Drivers

The Maximum PC Staff — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:21:57 -0500

I used to be able to connect my Xbox 360 to my Audigy Platinum and have it decode the 5.1 signal. However, in my new X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion soundcard, it looks like Creative disabled this feature in the drivers. Is there any way around this to get my computer to decode 5.1? This feature was supposed to be one of the card’s selling points.

—Curtis Leong

Creative Labs said the loss of the feature was not intentional at all. A spokesperson explained, “It has come to our attention that, in the process of upgrading from Windows XP to Vista and installing driver updates for certain Creative soundcards, Dolby Digital and DTS decoding functionality may have been impacted for some customers. Creative has now created separate drivers that are specifically designed to re-establish these functionalities.

There are two revised versions of the drivers, one for Audigy and one for X-Fi products. For Audigy products, the new driver addresses DVD audio functionality for products in which it existed before the Windows Vista upgrade (on Vista 32-bit versions only). The new Audigy driver also addresses compatibility issues for 64-bit systems that have 4GB or greater amounts of memory. Both new drivers require Windows Vista SP1. The beta version of these drivers was made available during the week of May 12. The final release version of these drivers will be made available in late July or early August.” 

EMAIL THE WATCHDOG If you feel you’ve gotten a raw deal and need assistance setting a vendor straight, email the Dog at watchdog@maximumpc.com. Please include a detailed explanation of your problem as well as any correspondence you have sent concerning the issue.

Creative Announces X-Fi Notebook Soundcard. Again.

Paul Lilly — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:12:24 -0500

Creative this week unveiled its Sound Blaster X-Fi Notebook, which as the name implies is an add-in soundcard for (cue the drum roll) notebooks. But wait, doesn't Creative already offer an X-Fi geared towards road warriors? The answer is yes, and the X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook has been available for some time now, but this re-release sports a slimmer profile, a new color scheme, and the ability to transmit wirelessly.

That's right - when paired with the optional Creative Wireless Receiver, the X-Fi will have the ability to beam music to your speakers rather than remain tethered. The new soundcard supports up to 4 wireless receivers, and each one can be placed up to 100 feet away from the notebook.

The slimmed down peripheral fits into both ExpressCard 34 and 54 slots (previous version is 54 only), and brings the usual assortment of goodies to the table, including CMSS-3D, EAX Advanced HD, and Creative's Crystalizer technology. You get a pair of headphones bundled in, along with a free download of PowerDVD with full DTS and Dolby Digital decoding support.

Look for availability by the end of month, with the X-Fi Notebook priced at $80 and optional receiver commanding $70.

Image Credit: Creative and NothingButCreative

Creative Finally Releases Vista Functional X-Fi Soundcard Drivers

Paul Lilly — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:05:11 -0500

We were beginning to wonder if Creative would ever update its X-Fi soundcard drives to work properly in Vista, and after the whole Daniel_K fiasco, we were about ready to throw in the towel. For those that stuck it out, Creative has finally released a new driver package that fixes the hardware Dolby Digital and DTS decoding in its X-Fi cards running under Vista. The company also added DVD Audio playback, a feature that previously went by the wayside when upgrading from XP to Vista.

The new driver also addresses a niggling bug that causes system crashes when switching to an unsupported sampling rate in the Audio Creation Mode while Dolby Digital Live is enabled.

All X-Fi soundcards except the Xtreme Audio version are supported with the driver update.

Image Credit: Creative

Watchdog: April 2008

The Maximum PC Staff — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:22:04 -0500

Chloe, watchcorgi of the month

Can I have the price you quoted me?

Dog, I recently ordered a Panasonic SDR-H200 Camcorder from Camera Addict (www.cameraaddict.com) for $475; most other shops sell it for at least $600. I called Camera Addict and asked if the unit was refurbished; the customer service rep said it was new. I placed my order and received an email the next day asking me to confirm my order. I became suspicious after the company tried to sell me an extended-life battery for $90—the rep explained that the battery the camera comes with “only lasts 25 minutes.” The sales rep then tried to sell me additional accessories and warranties. I soon started to realize that the price they advertised was too good to be true.

The knockout punch came when the guy on the other end of the line asked me if I wanted the import model or the U.S. retail model. I said I wanted the U.S. model without any additional products or warranties, and he said my total would be $699.99. I asked him why it was so much when it’s listed at $475 on the website; he explained that the Japanese model costs $475, but the U.S. model costs $699.99.

I told the rep I wanted to cancel my order and I was asked why. I said the company was running a bait and switch. He told me I didn’t know what I was talking about and that he’d like to cancel my order. I said, ”Yes, please do that.” Today the SDR-H200 is listed on the Camera Addict website at $545, but it still says nothing about it being a Japanese model, which I assume will have menus in Japanese and may not have warranty protection in the United States.

—Chris Schutze

Chris, you’ve just run into a textbook hard-sell sales tactic that’s long been used to sell cameras and electronics online and by mail order. It works by sucking you in with “can’t pass up” pricing on the camera. Then you’re upsold on batteries, warranties, cases, and other paraphernalia of generally low quality. The vendor usually tells you, “Well, you’ll need a charger, right? And a battery—this camera doesn’t come with a battery and charger you know.” Of course, Canon, Panasonic, Sony, and other companies don’t sell cameras without batteries and chargers; unscrupulous vendors simply unbundle camera systems and sell individual components at a high price.

A classic tactic to get you to buy a camera is to advertise it at a low price and then reveal you’re buying an import model without a warranty after you’ve been sucked in.

The Dog was unable to reach Camera Addict for comment before we went to press, but the company certainly raises red flags on the Internet. At ResellerRatings.com, the store has received a six-month rating of 0.30 out of 10. The Better Business Bureau doesn’t have an individual report on Camera Addict; instead, it associates the business with Broadway Photo, a Brooklyn, New York-based company that also does business under the names A&M Photo World, Best Camera, Cameratopia, Digital Liquidators, Ghu, Millennium Camera, Preferred Photo, Prestige Camera, Quest4Cameras, Regal Camera, The Digital Expo, Tronicity, and Wild Digital. The verdict from the BBB? Bad. The BBB site states: “This business has an unsatisfactory record with the BBB.” Furthermore, “Complaints to the Bureau indicate that this firm uses high-pressures sales tactics after consumers place their orders. After ordering merchandise, consumers report receiving a phone call from the firm’s customer representatives attempting to sell additional items. Representatives allegedly try to persuade consumers to buy the U.S. warranty, as well as accessories like cables, peripherals, and software, or lead consumers to believe the product will not work if additional merchandise is not purchased. In some cases, if the consumers declined, an email was sent advising them to cancel their orders because the item was on back-order despite being listed as available on the firm’s website. Consumers also reported unauthorized charges on their invoices. When trying to dispute such charges, consumers report difficulty talking to management, claiming they are verbally abused by the company’s staff.”

Over the past three years, the BBB has logged 929 complaints regarding Broadway Photo and the stores associated with it. The company has taken steps to resolve some complaints though, but 200 customers have reported being dissatisfied with the fixes offered.

How can you avoid these kinds of “deals”? First, the old mantra continues to be true: If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Companies that employ these tactics know that greed is a powerful emotion. The chance to get a $1,800 camera for $900 from a seemingly legit store can get normally rational consumers to throw caution to the wind. The next time you get excited about a great price, stop and consider why the product is so cheap. You should also make sure you make your purchase with a credit card—not a debit card—with good purchase protection. Some cards even offer their own extended warranties. Make sure you read the fine print concerning the item you want to buy, as well. Watch for excessive shipping and handling fees, and pay close attention to restocking fees and return policies.

And obviously, the Dog doesn’t recommend shopping at Camera Addict, Broadway Photo, or its associated stores. Woof.

Why isn’t it Free for Me, Too?

While the Sound Blaster X-Fi gets free ALchemy drivers, Audigy and Audigy 2 owners must pony up $10 to get Windows Vista hardware support.

Dog, the March Vista Tips story said that ALchemy drivers for X-Fi and Audigy owners are free. They’re not—at least, not that I know of. Creative Labs is charging owners of its Audigy cards $9.99 to download ALchemy and enable DirectSound3D in Windows Vista. I don’t think consumers should have to pay for the fix. You should let readers know that the Audigy download will cost them. If you can get Creative to do the Audigy ALchemy program for free, I would love to know.

—R. Gardner

The Dog looked into this and, indeed, we incorrectly stated that Creative Labs provides Audigy and Audigy 2 ALchemy drivers for free for Windows Vista. Only drivers for the X-Fi series of Sound Blaster cards are available for free. Why isn’t ALchemy free for everyone? The Dog asked Creative and was told: “As a gesture of appreciation to the users of our current soundcard line, which is X-Fi based, we absorbed the cost of development for ALchemy, so our customers could experience the full benefits of hardware-accelerated audio in legacy DirectSound game titles. ALchemy’s popularity of more than a million free downloads inspired users of our previous-generation Audigy-based cards to contact us about a solution for the issues of legacy DirectSound game titles running on Vista. We redirected some of our engineering resources to develop an independent version of ALchemy for Audigy, while still absorbing the majority of the development cost while passing on a nominal fee to customers.”

The Dog thinks that giving away the driver would certainly make people happy, but $10 really isn’t an exorbitant fee if legitimate costs were involved in its development. That you can get hardware audio acceleration in Vista on a four-year-old soundcard should actually be applauded (even if the cost is $10), as most hardware vendors would have dumped you in the river.

EZ Video, Hard to Contact

I have been trying to find a video converter that will allow me to watch Real Media files on my cell phone, a Nokia 9300. I downloaded and paid for EZ MPEG To RM Converter at www.ezvideotools.com. It seemed like a professional site, but I was wrong. As far as I can tell, the site is still running and will still take your money with PayPal but will not send the registration name or code required to use its software beyond the trial period of 15 videos.

I emailed the company three times and never got a response. I also paid for Easy Video Converter, which was supposed to convert any video format to any other format. I did get a code for it, but of course, it didn’t work as advertised.

Please know that this is not about the money. It’s just the principle of the thing. I know that I won’t get my money back, so at least let me get what I paid for.

— Lloyd Kuhnle

The Dog made numerous attempts to reach the operators of EZvideotools.com but had no success. Your problem might be lost in translation, though. The site is registered to a company based in the Qingdao province of China. The Dog also sniffed around the web to see if others have complained about the company, but surprisingly, the Dog couldn’t locate anything that set off alarm bells. Since the company actually did respond to you once, the Dog recommends that you continue to email the company for a code to activate the product. In the meantime, contact PayPal to dispute the payment. Although PayPal isn’t known to be particularly good with consumer complaints and disputes, you should at least give this avenue a try. Keep in mind that any dispute must be filed within 45 days, and PayPal is very strict about the deadline. The Dog recommends that other readers avoid EZvideotools.com’s products until he can ascertain what exactly is going on with the company. Woof.

Got a bone to pick with a vendor? Been spiked by a fly-by-night operation? Sic the Dog on them by writing watchdog@maximumpc.com. The Dog promises to answer as many letters as possible, but only has four paws to work with.

Auzentech X-Fi Prelude 7.1

Gordon Mah Ung — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:47:30 -0600

Who’d have thunk it? Long considered a dead zone, soundcards are making a resurgence. Driven by an outcry for audio that doesn’t sound like a box of snap, crackle, pop every time you access your USB ports, manufacturers are releasing new soundcards that surpass the free audio that comes with your motherboard. This month, we test an Auzentech card that uses a Creative Labs chip and Asus’s new entry into PC audio.

It used to be that if you wanted the latest Creative audio chip in your PC, there was only one way to get it: buy a Sound Blaster soundcard. That changes with Auzentech’s X-Fi Prelude 7.1 card.

The Prelude packs Creative’s top-end X-Fi DSP along with 64MB of XRAM. Auzentech doesn’t stop with the vaunted X-Fi; the card also sports higher-spec’d digital audio converters and includes both SPDIF and optical I/O ports. An added bonus is the inclusion of a standard AC97 header that allows you to plug in your case’s front-panel jack. Finally!

In a listening test using 24-bit/96kHz audio samples, two editors compared the Prelude to Asus’s Xonar D2 and both preferred Auzentech’s card.

In gaming, the X-Fi Prelude represented well. Its scores were in line with a Creative X-Fi’s, albeit slightly slower. What’s really important, though, is the Prelude’s full support for all of Creative’s proprietary EAX technologies.

So Much for that Front Panel

David Murphy — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 20:00:48 -0600

Oh, Creative. This has not been the week for you.

About a week or so ago, I came upon the startling realization that no sound was coming from my computer. It's a great feeling, especially when you haven't touched a single bit of the case for God-knows-how-long. Rudimentary physics tells us that in the absence of meddling, external stimuli, or cats, an object in a particular state should stay in that state forever. Seriously, it's science.

In theory, the same should hold true with geeky pursuits. If I haven't messed with my computer's internals, and have tread nowhere near the special cords that attach to its butt, then why -- oh why -- would sound stop coming out of my computer speakers?

I never did figure out what the problem was. I'd unplug and replug the front speaker cord, which fixed the issue a little bit and let me go back to enjoying my massive iTunes library. It was but a brief comfort. A few days later, no amount of unplugging or jiggling would give me a sustained bit of sound from the speakers. Not unless I sat behind my case and physically held the wires at a few particular angles. Alas, my cat could not be trained to do the same, so this idea was scrapped in favor of replacing the semi-functioning card.

I decided to swap my Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Awesomeness WooHah (I didn't think the name was long enough) for its fatter brother, a Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro Series (just right) sound card. The installation was as easy as a sound card installation could be, and I now get fully functioning sound from my speakers one-hundred percent of the time. Mission accomplished.

Sort-of.

For while I have fully functioning audio coming from the rear of my case, I now have front panel audio jacks that are utterly worthless. Creative, in its infinite wisdom, decided not to include any connection mechanism for front-panel case audio with the Fatal1ty series of cards. The little jack is right there on the XtremeGamer -- I almost wish I could solder it right off one card and onto the other. But alas, I will never be able to plug my headphones into the handy front part of my case. I'll now have to go behind the case each time, unplug all the speakers, plug in the headphones, then reverse the process when I'm done fragging Will and Friends in Team Fortress 2.

Sigh.

I'm not sure why Creative wouldn't slap such a useful and important feature onto a sound card. Perhaps they want to encourage more support for their proprietary 5.25"-bay i/o drives. Maybe they just hate freedom. Either way, buyer beware -- be sure to check the exact technical configuration of your sound card prior to purchase, else you might end up with a bunch of wires that now have nowhere to go. Frown.