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 Electronics : Creative Sound Blaster X-FI Platinum FATAL1TY Champion Series (eng/fr) |
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Rating:  - Sound management beyond expectation
Yes, this sound board is "all that and a bag of chips!!" It lives up to and performs, AS PROMISED, in the features and specifications, and provides several "perks," often seemingly found by accident.
In addition to the outstanding x-fi clarity and sound-enhancing capabilities (all of which are phenomenal), the board has "side-benefits."
Having the ability to choose from 3 different "listening modes" and by using its OWN power connection to the computer power source the board fully utilizes its independent processing power (and ram memory!) FOR sound production, without slowing down or impeding the computer's other tasks. This means that it truly compliments and supports listening to cds, dvds, internet-radio, streaming-videos, sound effects, EVERYTHING, in a full and concentrated way that enhances sound in ways I never knew were possible outside a professional sound studio.
One untouted but truly amazing feature is its ability to calibrate and recall one's accustomed volume levels associated with headphones, computer background sounds, and music-based sounds (cds, radio, dvds) SEPARATELY. I can be listening to a cd at a good volume through my speakers. When I decide to plug in my headphones into the i/o interface in the front, my PREVIOUS headphone volume level is RECALLED, so that the louder volume I was listenting to on the speakers is NOT carried over to the headphones. But rather, the lower volume I had PREVIOUSLY used for the headphones is remembered and stored! WOW!!
I know that in and of itself, this is not a "deal breaker" but it is an example of how sophisticated this board is, and that there are "additional treasures" I find, due to its technology.
I can program the computer alarm sounds at a certain level INDEPENDENT from the volume level of music. The music can be loud, the alarms and the sound soft; amazing!
And the remote control's functionality is just the icing on the cake. Sitting at the computer, listening through headphones, and adjusting their volume is a breeze. Right, you say, so what? Well, if you decide to take your headphones ACROSS THE ROOM (either hard-wired or infra-red) and you suddenly want to ADJUST the volume for a new song, or a new track, with the remote control, you just stay where you are and "push the button" on the remote. NO NEED to walk back over to the computer to adjust the sound. Or more simply, if you use your computer sound system as an entertainment center for your room/house, then the remote can control almost EVERYTHING, as it would for a TV, DVD player, VHS, normally would: from your chair and not from the computer.
This board, even at nearly $200 was "a bargain at twice the price." Now, at less than $140, I can only RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY.
If sound is important to you (games, musical-voicing, instrumental clarity, vocal purity) then THIS is the board for you. If you're not an aural afficianado but just enjoy good sound then THIS is the board for you, too! You'll get to hear all that you never knew you were missing.
Rating: - Real Sound
Okay so I am not a gamer and don't need shoot em up sound BUT>>>>>>>I am an audiophile and love my music. This card makes it seem so real. The realism is there and if that's not good enough for you try out the many adjustments you can make using the audio panel.
Don't really have any cons for this card but I do wish Creative would let well enough alone when it comes to their software. I saw nothing wrong with the older EAX panel and for that matter Media Source player.
Rating: - Great Product
Very nice sound card, lots of options in drivers. Great sound quality, especially when you going from built-in sound card to this one. Increasing volume does not give noise, like on built-in one. Plus front control for earphones and mic. Works under linux systems.
Rating:  - Creative X-FI Platinum FATAL1TY - High Power Sound Front and Back
Creative's Sound Blaster X-FI Platinum FATAL1TY series gives you high-end audio performance for your gaming or media center PC. All of the elements combined provide you with a total high end audio experience.
The card has 7 independant channels in addition to the subwoofer, making it capable of 7.1 surround sound configuration. Of course you will need a 7.1 speaker set in order to take advantage of this.
The card has 64MB of onboard memory that enables it to process even the most complex audio sequences. From a physical perspective, the rear connectors are high quality. High quality cables are necessary in order to take advantage of high quality ports, so don't skimp there either!
The signal to noise ratio (SNR) is listed at 109 dB, meaning the noise distortion level is very low at about 1 percent. Systems can have up to 5% and still be certified.
This card is 24bit and provides some nice sampling rates (96kHz ADC & DAC or 192kHz DAC).
Ample ports are also provided via the front console I/O Drive. In addition to line-outs for front, rear and center/subwoofer speaker channels, there are line in ports for standard audio/microphone in, auxiliary in, and cd in. Headphone jacks are there as expected. There are also optical and coaxial ports available both in and out. NICE!!
To accomodate the I/O Drive you will need at least one free drive bay, which means that this set is best for a tower or media center enclosure if you intend to keep your DVD drive installed.
The remote control comes with batteries and has all the standard functions you would expect. There are also 2 MIDI adapter cables included, just in case you don't have spares.
Creative chose not to include some legacy ports here. It's hard to fault them on that, especially at these prices. Installation is pretty standard for those who regularly build or upgrade PCs, but average users will want to get help here.
Creative's claim that the X-Fi Crystalizer will make MP3s sound better than CDs is an exaggeration. It's like comparing apples and oranges. This may make your music files sound better than other systems, but anything that's been digitally mastered and non-compressed should sound better when played on the same system. Don't get me wrong, it still sounds great. Just have realistic expectations and don't replace your home audio system just yet.
Overall, if you demand high end sound for gaming or media center applications, this is the set for you. Enjoy!
Pros
+ Front and rear ports
+ 7.1 surround sound capable
+ Nice high-end sampling rates
+ Solid connectors
+ Nice remote
+ Nice price point
Cons
- Space eating software
- Installation time / difficulty
- Legacy ports missing
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