Creative Releases USB 2.0 Sound Stick X-Fi Go!

[malware]

Creative on Friday announced the introduction of Sound Blaster X-Fi Go!, a USB 2.0 flash device with 1GB of built-in memory that also serves the role of a fully functional sound blaster. Sporting a sleek and distinctive black finish, the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! is incredibly lightweight (less than 20g) and compact. It is compatible with USB 2.0 computer devices and features many of the sound enhancements found in other X-Fi sound cards, like X-Fi Crystalizer that restores details lost during compression of MP3 music or movie files and X-Fi CMSS-3D that expands the stereo signal into virtual surround over 5.1 speakers or headphones. The Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! also supports Creative EAX Advanced HD 4.0 which provides a better and more realistic gaming experience for users. The 1GB onboard memory is there to store the essential software for instant simple installation on any notebook or desktop PC without the need of a CD, you just plug in the X-Fi Go! and enjoy it. The included software has drivers for both Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista as well as some bonus software that includes Creative Karaoke Player, Creative Mediasource 5/Organizer and Creative WaveStudio. The Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! will be available in Singapore at the end of August 2008 at a suggested retail price of $79.00.



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[Wile E]

If it can do 5.1, how do you hook up the sub, center and surround channels?

 

[PP Mguire]

It dosent do 5.1.

X-Fi CMSS-3D that expands the stereo signal into virtual surround over 5.1 speakers or headphones.

 

[Wile E]

X-Fi CMSS-3D that expands the stereo signal into virtual surround over 5.1 speakers or headphones.

CMSS-3D expands 2 channels over 5.1 channels to give surround effects to stereo sources. It still requires surround speakers or headphones.

 

[tkpenalty]

I need one of these for the EEE PC , or my own system since im using some ancient relic sound card.

 

[Mussels]

CMSS-3D expands 2 channels over 5.1 channels to give surround effects to stereo sources. It still requires surround speakers or headphones.

wrong tech. this downmixes it, or fakes 5.1 over 2.0 sound. its old tech, been around for years.

Its really just them saying that in order to trick people, creatives dodgy marketing all over again (its no different to how with most games you can still hear noises 'behind' you when using headphones)

 

[Wile E]

wrong tech. this downmixes it, or fakes 5.1 over 2.0 sound. its old tech, been around for years.

Its really just them saying that in order to trick people, creatives dodgy marketing all over again (its no different to how with most games you can still hear noises 'behind' you when using headphones)

The way I read it, It takes a stereo source, and plays it over 5.1 speakers. You are thinking of HRTF, as far as I know.

 

[Mussels]

yeah thats what its doing. its getting 5.1 sound and dumbing it down.

I see the sentence you're referring to "into virtual surround over 5.1 speakers or headphones." but i think the 5.1 is completely virtual as there is no jacks for it.

edit:

X-Fi CMSS-3D expands stereo MP3s, digital movies and games into virtual surround over speakers or headphones.

Somehow i think the text got corrupted/misquoted when it came here to TPU

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I think it will make a quick and easy way for people to use a seperate headphone/mic.If you have a seperate soundcard in your pc,9 times out of ten,they dont have connections for the cases headphone/mic sockets.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

If this was cheaper then it would be worth getting for a gaming laptop.

 

[Baum]

i think it worth nothing as there are more than 1 USB Soundcards around!

1 Stick Version like this and several others that are more "dongle" like and all are cheap so what's the point in this?

X-Fi Driver Support? LOL

What i wan't and others is a real 5.1 USB Soundcard wich is STICK like with more than one jack to get 5.1 on Laptops with analog 5.1 Systems and real 5.1 Headphones like Speed Link sell's

i know that threre are Laptops like mine with 7.1 Intel HD audiochip but the often run on spdif/coax digital out so no analog speaker and i won't use an 5.1 Amp+Speakers on my Noti

as long as this hole is present there's no way for me buying usb sound card's (5.1 but too big)
or sound sticks (2 Speaker)

I own a creative pci express sound card for Laptop but the 5.1 "breakout box" isn't avalible in germany it's more rare. (and it wasn't included!!)

 

[Zehnsucht]

I'm still waiting for the day when game developers use the same technology as the virtual haircut.

http://onemansblog.com/2007/05/13/get-your-virtual-haircut-and-other-auditory-illusions/

Use with headphones. Enjoy!

 

[truehighroller1]

So I wonder if when USB 3.0 gets here they will probably come out with a real 5.1 stick because they will have all the banwidth they need?

 

[TheGuruStud]

Creative makes actual 5.1 usb sound cards. Why would they make it/anyone buy this shit?!?!?!?

Sure, it's BW starved, but it has to be better than this.

 

[PP Mguire]

It wasnt misquoted. It states clearly it takes a stereo signal (which is your output) to make it virtual surround on a 5.1 system.

 

[Mussels]

It wasnt misquoted. It states clearly it takes a stereo signal (which is your output) to make it virtual surround on a 5.1 system.

the TPU quote mentioned 5.1 speakers, while the VR zone mentions "speakers" (without mentioning the AMOUNT)

 

[Wile E]

the TPU quote mentioned 5.1 speakers, while the VR zone mentions "speakers" (without mentioning the AMOUNT)

That might be where my confusion is coming from then. That's why my original post. The news article here says 5.1 speakers, but I only see a single stereo output.

 

[kwchang007]

Does this actually have an X-fi chip in it or is it just like driver stuff?

 

[TheGuruStud]

Does this actually have an X-fi chip in it or is it just like driver stuff?

probably the audigy se chip, i mean x-fi extreme audio

 

[kwchang007]

probably the audigy se chip, i mean x-fi extreme audio

Well you never know, usually these things don't have a dedicated audio processor onboard.

 

[TheGuruStud]

Well you never know, usually these things don't have a dedicated audio processor onboard.

Then it will be really chewing through the CPU, I guess, not to mention USB hogging up cycles, too.

 

[kwchang007]

Then it will be really chewing through the CPU, I guess, not to mention USB hogging up cycles, too.

Yeah, hmm well I don't think USB has enough power to run a sound processor?

 

[Mussels]

Yeah, hmm well I don't think USB has enough power to run a sound processor?

i have a USB 1.1 sound card, its an external sound blaster live 24 bit.

It runs out of bandwidth running 5.1 + 24 bit however

 

[kwchang007]

i have a USB 1.1 sound card, its an external sound blaster live 24 bit.

It runs out of bandwidth running 5.1 + 24 bit however

Got it....it's just if it didn't have like an actual processor in it, that wouldn't be worth the money, at all.

And huh, I thought it would've ran out of bandwidth earlier, I mean USB 1.1 doesn't have alot of bandwidth, guess I'm wrong there.

 

[Mussels]

USB soundcards should be looked at as a way of adding outputs to a limited system - particularly laptops. The external one i have has coax and optical SPDIF outputs - handy on a USB device.