Your $79 elegant solution

ohbythebay

ohbythebay

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Recently, I posted how easy it was copy LP's to your computer without spending $1900 on a gizmo. Well, I think I have proven it can be easy and quite good in SQ...but what about those who want to incorporate into their system..just have to have that extra piece of gizmo ?

I give you this.

Sound Blaster X-Fi HD - Sound Blaster - Creative Labs (United States of America)

Very versatile. You can choose to use your REC LINE out always plugged in and ready, it will take optical in, it will even act as a phono stage if you directly connect your turntable (MM only). Plus, you have the advantage of it going in via USB (bypass any existing sound card) at 24/96. High grade audio components. All for $79

I would have ordered already but have to decide how I want this to work out. My Surface Table is the original RT so it doesn't like new drivers and such like the regular surface does...I have small laptops...Probably going to go for it no matter what...

Told you I would come through...LOL

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No this product has been around for at least 2 years. I have one and it isn't that good. I would not use it for digitizing vinyl or a phono stage personally, but to each their own. Better can be had for around the same price.
 
Can you elaborate ? I just ordered one ? I would think it has to be as good if not better than my straight line solution (utilizing the existing sound card input) and has the advantage of using a laptop and completely bypassing any soundcard..Just USB.

So what was wrong with it ?
 
ohbythebay said:
Can you elaborate ? I just ordered one ? I would think it has to be as good if not better than my straight line solution (utilizing the existing sound card input) and has the advantage of using a laptop and completely bypassing any soundcard..Just USB.

So what was wrong with it ?
Click to expand...

I inferred that he didn't like the sound of it.
 
ohbythebay said:
Can you elaborate ? I just ordered one ? I would think it has to be as good if not better than my straight line solution (utilizing the existing sound card input) and has the advantage of using a laptop and completely bypassing any soundcard..Just USB.

So what was wrong with it ?
Click to expand...

Oh, wait a minute! My bad. I just noticed in looking at mine that this one is slightly different. Mine has the RCA jacks (one set = output), but not the "phono" input and no ground, other than that I can hardly tell them apart. Mine is a 1 to 2 year older model then the one you showed apparently. This is a newer product.
That said, for the curious, yes, the output on mine is not good. It barely reaches a listenable level even with volume on everything at full whack. The documentation is poor as well and I suspect that one may need to deactivate the internal soundcard manually for better function, but that is not in the documentation and I have not tried that yet. Since the one posted here is built as a phono stage input, all that jazz may be unnecessary.
If I didn't have the setup I do, I may have gone for one of these.
 
Good to hear.

Mine arrives Friday and I will report back to all and do some test files for you guys to hear through the new system

Really, some of you should be excited since this can stay INLINE to your system so you can drop a copy anytime.
 
ohbythebay said:
Good to hear.

Mine arrives Friday and I will report back to all and do some test files for you guys to hear through the new system

Really, some of you should be excited since this can stay INLINE to your system so you can drop a copy anytime.
Click to expand...

Does it stay in-line even with nice phono stages like ours (Phonomena 2) or does it have to take the place of that? What about cart handling? My $50 TCL could not deal with my Shure M97xE due to capacitance, but the Phonomena has no issues.
 
MusicDirector said:
Does it stay in-line even with nice phono stages like ours (Phonomena 2) or does it have to take the place of that? What about cart handling? My $50 TCL could not deal with my Shure M97xE due to capacitance, but the Phonomena has no issues.
Click to expand...

Yes it does, thats the beauty. Its just fed off your REC OUT on your receiver or pre-amp. So your phono stage, etc. etc all stays hooked up as usual.

You RCA out from REC out on your AMP to the Creative device. That just stays always ready and when you want, plug its USB cable in a laptop right there. You are now ready to copy ANYTHING to your laptop. You can even rip CD tracks that way but why would you want to ? LOL

Will give an update Friday///
 
ohbythebay said:
You guys should really read this..its long but WORTH the read

HARDOCP - Introduction - Creative X-FI HD USB Sound Card Review
Click to expand...

Interesting read indeed. I have the other one they mentioned and it's output is about the same as this one...not that great. I guess it might work better with a couple of powered lo-fi PC speakers, but I can tell you not to bother hooking it to you receiver to try to get output through your home speakers....it simply doesn't work. You will get sound, but you have to crank the volume on the box, the PC and the receiver all the way up to get anything. The other one I have uses the same software by the way.
I personally think this is best used as a DAC or direct interface for TT to PC, in that area it's a good bargain!
 
Well,,,I have a DAC...that's not its purpose (for me). I want to use it as a capture device to go from my system (tt source through the amp) to REC out to the Creative HD to USB to PC....
 
MusicDirector said:
Oh, wait a minute! My bad. I just noticed in looking at mine that this one is slightly different. Mine has the RCA jacks (one set = output), but not the "phono" input and no ground, other than that I can hardly tell them apart. Mine is a 1 to 2 year older model then the one you showed apparently. .
Click to expand...

What model is yours?
 
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