Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD USB Audio System with Phono Preamp

Great sound, easy to use, only down side is apparently it stops working after Windows 10 update 1803. This update deprecates driverss. Not a problem as it works a treat under Linux. (Phone stage doesn't work under Linux but doesn't mater as I use my Hi-FI amp to convert to line in).

Nicely presented easy to use and effective. It does what it says on the tin.

I was looking to start archiving my extensive vinyl collection and had put it off until I could find a cost effective way to do it and keep the quality reasonable.Enter the SB X-Fi HD USB - complete with phono preamp and headphone amp.I've only done a couple of albums so far and the quality is pretty good.It's going to be a while until I've finished, so we'll see how it fairs.

Xonar U7 sounds cleaner and more accurate, being native 44.1khz and a newer/better DAC probably helps.The X-Fi has more power but it's noticeably muddier, and doesn't have 44.1khz support so windows uses it's own re-sampler which apparently isn't very good.Topping NX4 DSD which I also have sounds the cleanest and also has a powerful amp, but it's a portable DAC/amp that runs off battery with no mic input so isn't really comparable.

Set up with a Surface 3 and dock. It's bus-powered so no need for a power supply. Downloaded the Win10 drivers from Creative's website (the supplied "Media Toolbox" software on CD is Win10 compatible already). No issues with playback through 2.1 speakers or headphones. Not an "audiophile" so can't say whether it's a distinct improvement over the normal Realtek HD Audio or not. But, the primary reason for buying the X-FI was for recording, which the Surface isn't equipped to do.However, had a massive issue with mains hum from the phono/line-in socket, making recordings noisy. Played around with a few settings and different RCA cables, switched to the record player's built-in preamp rather than the one in the X-Fi... etc. Finally, it dawned on me that the Surface dock uses a two-pin (fig8) power lead - i.e. no earth. Once the X-Fi was plugged in to the Surface tablet directly, running on battery, all the sound disturbance disappeared. So, who do I blame, Microsoft or Creative?

Easy plug and play. Good sound- both on speakers and headphones. And then it just stopped working. No power light. PC didn't recognise it. Switched USB cable, tried different USB port - made no difference. Nothing on the Creative web site that relates to this problem. Just over 6 months since I bought it - so a mountain to climb to send it back. Very, very disappointing - and appalling value for money!

I had been using built in audio and a SWANS M10W Bookshelf Speaker and Subwoofer, 2.1 bought off Amazon. I had previously been using optical on an Maudio unit. The one that buzzes on analogue - great apart from that.So bought this unit to get back to digital sound out as the Swans unit had been a bit disappointing especially at the bass end but all round really despite positive comments about it some places. The soundblaster unit has transformed it. I'd have to agree now that the Swan unit is very good at it's price point - easy to do far far worse. Just goes to show how bad some pc sound hardware really is.I run Linux and no problems so far. Need a new battery for the remote for the Maudio stuff but the signs are all will work once that is sorted. Pity they use a remote on this particular model really.My tastes in sound are clarity and lack of colouration. Might be worth mentioning that as tastes vary.No chance to look at how well the mic input functions yet but would hope Soundblaster have got that right.John-

Worked great for a month and a half, despite software EQ being not the best in general, Creative's software is very good, with many options. However, it took me the best part of a week to figure out why my mic was not being picked up (none of the software options are actually explained at all. My biggest gripe is that a month after I bought it, this has suddenly quartered its output volume, for no reason, just turned windows on one morning (there had been no update since the last time I used it). Incredibly annoying and disappointing from a product from a 'reputable' brand who you're giving a decent quantity of money. I have searched the internet for a fix to this but it would seem nobody has a clue.