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Your cart is empty.3.8 out of 5 stars
- #874 in External Sound Cards
Product Description
The Creative Xmod USB sound device makes music and movies sound better than studio quality with X-Fi technology. It restores details and vibrance your music and movies lost during compression, making them richer and fuller, and expands stereo sound into virtual surround sound with headphones or stereo speakers. Plus, it works with both PCs and Macs and is truly plug-and-playo software installation neededo you can plug it in and start using it right out of the box.
From the Manufacturer
Why settle for basic, built-in sound from your stereo speakers or headphones? Get ready to turn all of your MP3s into your own personal concert and hear your movies in virtual surround sound. Immerse yourself in audio that surrounds you. X-Fi is the new audio standard from Creative that makes your music and movies way better. X-Fi technology breathes life into songs. It restores detail and expands the music to surround sound.
The X-Fi Crystalizer restores audio
elements lost during compression How it Works
The X-Fi Crystalizer identifies the audio elements that have been restricted/damaged during compression and selectively re-masters them. The X-Fi CMSS-3D converts basic stereo content into multi-channel in real-time to deliver incredible virtual surround over two speakers or headphones.
Instant Xtreme Fidelity
This little device packs a big punch, and it's always ready. 100% plug-and-play, there are no drivers or software to install. Connect instantly to your notebook, PC or Mac, or even your MP3 player. It's that easy to get Xtreme Fidelity sound for crystal clarity and amazing surround sound.
Make Your MP3 Music Sound Better Than Your CDs
Hear it all - crisp cymbal crashes, wailing guitar solos and deep, rumbling bass, thanks to the Xmod. It intelligently enhances the highs and lows, restoring detail and vibrance to your audio.
Stunning Surround Sound From Your Stereo Speakers
Now, you can enjoy virtual surround sound through your stereo speakers with the Creative Xmod. Expand your stereo MP3 music and digital movies. Voices are centered in front of you. Ambient sound appears all around you... just like a live performance.
A Headphone Experience That's More Immersive Than Ever
Hear the difference even with headphones. X-Fi CMSS-3D expands music from your headphones outwards, so that it sounds like you're surrounded by multiple virtual speakers. You'll feel like you're sitting in with your favorite band, or that you've been dropped into the best seat in the movie theater.
What's in the Box
Xmod, earphones, USB cable and user's guide
E. A. Shore
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2009
I listen to music. I listen to music all day long. My taste ranges from Death Metal to Mozart, Indie Rock to Ragas. I've spent quite a bit of time listening to different recordings on a wide variety of equipment. I have recorded live music with high end professional equipment, blah blah blah...that's my bio background. This said, I'm no "audiophile". I like good sound but purism and esoteric nonsense and magic cables and psychoacoustibabble annoys me.So, my brand new laptop has a bit of a problem with pops and crackles as a result of interference with the internal wireless network adapter. Pops and crackles are not OK with me. Already owning a Creative USB sound device for years (1st gen USB audio) I saw this device at $20 and couldn't resist. The old device works fine but is older, featureless and clunky but sounds good enough.So. How good is this little white thingy? Well. Plug and play worked perfectly on XP Pro SP3. It works moments after being plugged in, that is always a good first step. The device itself is well made, feels solid and has a nice volume knob. The volume knob controls the Windows sound level instead of being just a resistor in-line it is a digital control(kind of audiophiley). The real story is that it sounds great. Really does the trick. It is a clear USB sound device with a punchy headphone jack. No stuttering, no noise, it works great.OK, the big question. The magical processing switches. Usually I'm a flat levels fella. I fiddle with tone only when truly necessary. If content is too thin or too heavy I'll fix it. So this thing has two switches. The "Crystalizer" and the "3D" options.The "Crystalizer" is a clever piece of technology and is not in something I've heard as a plug-in for winamp or otherwise. It does real-time digital processing of the high end. It's effect is not subtle. Digital music is all a trick anyhow. Sampling the analog world and spitting it back out into the analog world. There is no "pure". This trick is a good one. Creative engineers did a good job. Dull MP3s have a more fluid realistic and, most of all, listenable sound. It sounds nice. I like it. If the music already sounds great, the Crystalizer seems to just step back and makes little or no difference. The money is in 128kbps mp3s which sound way better...it shines 'em up real good.The "3D" is just fancy echo. Kind of cool if you have headphones on and want to watch a movie. But in the end, it does reduce clarity and isn't a serious feature in my mind.So. At the current prices if you need a USB sound device, this is a great option.One last thing. The big knob is great. Big old grab and turn knob....nice in an age of buttons and tiny little wheels.
gamer
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2007
I like music and so when I saw this product and some good reviews, I thought this will enrich my listening experience. Well, I am not disappointed with it but I thin k there are better options. The price for the product is too high on what it is suppose to do.I tried Xmod on logitech 2.1, klipsch 2.1 speakers(good speakers) and bose headphones with and without the crystalizer and CMSS on Xmod. I tried variety for format and sources of music from PC and ipod. I got consistent results which I would like to share.First, Crystalizer does improve quality, CMSS has no significant effect on sound. I found sound more lively always when crystalizer is turned on, so much so that I wonder why there is on/off button. After researching various music scenarios, I found that it depends on what kind of music you are listening and what your speakers/headphones are! I got the best results for Bose headphones with concert kinda music with lot of people singing and lot of musical instruments.What the Xmod is doing is basically boosting some frequencies that it think it should. What they say 'restores audio elements lost during compression' is very vague. I was able to reproduce same effects with a good sound card (creative Xtreme music) setups. Even with Sony's audio studio there was so many custom things I could do to song much better than Xmod. So my question is why would you buy this if you can get some good music software or good sound card for less price. Yes, for listening from a source like ipod, it is an option. But then you loose portability. By the way, this is bigger than ipod and needs USB power source. You carry this on one pocket and ipod in other and carry laptop with USB attached to this, who wants to do that?I don't know what creative was thinking when they designed this. I don't know why they gave headphones with this and not gave power source other than USB.In short, I do not feel this very useful tool for music fans. It is certainly not for casual listeners.
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