Decent USB Soundcard

For laptops, Creative have launched a USB X Fi Soundcard that will enable users to have full surround sound via a USB socket.

Quote :

A passing glance at Creative’s new X-Fi Go! might make it look like a novelty USB key disguised as a cigarette lighter, but this diminutive black box offers more than the usual USB thumb drive. As well as featuring 1GB of flash memory, it also contains a Creative X-Fi for laptop owners.

Because of its size, the features of the X-Fi Go! are somewhat limited, though. The tiny sound card supports OpenAL and EAX Advanced HD 4, but it only has one stereo output so it can only give you virtual surround sound through speakers or headphones using Creative’s CMSS 3D technology.

The 3.5mm stereo jack output can function as either an analogue line-out or a headphone socket, while a 3.5mm jack input functions as either an analogue line-in or a microphone socket. In terms of specs, the X-Fi Go! can playback up to 64 audio channels at any available sample rate, and it has a 24-bit/48KHz analogue-to-digital converter and a 16-bit/48KHz digital-to-analogue-converter.

The idea behind the X-Fi Go! is that it gives laptop gamers an easy route into virtual surround sound gaming on laptops at LAN parties, where you’re likely to be using headphones anyway. As an interesting touch, the X-Fi Go! also features 1GB of flash memory that contains all of the drivers and software, so you don’t need a CD to install it. The flash memory features read and write protection technology too, which Creative says ‘prevents important files being accidentally deleted, so users can save their custom gaming profiles, plug-ins, add-ons and any other essential files.’

As well as this, it’s also worth noting that the X-Fi Go! also features Creative’s Crystallizer technology, which brings compressed music back to life by accentuating percussive sounds and boosting certain frequencies. This alone could be a selling point of the X-Fi Go! for those who want a cheap and easy way to liven up the sound of their MP3 collection. The X-Fi Go! is currently available from Scan for £32.86 inc VAT.

Purchase your USB X Fi here http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=879867 for thirty quid.

http://www.custompc.co.uk/news/604854/creative-launches-x-fi-in-a-usb-stick.html#
http://uk.gizmodo.com/2008/09/15/creative_offers_pocketsized_su.html