Creative Labs USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Audio System SB1090

by Creative Labs

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 2.4 x 6.3 inches ; 10.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0017QQQAE
• Item model number: 70SB10900000
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #59 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Computer Components > Internal Sound Cards
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Designed for use with desktop and laptop computers, the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 USB 2.0 Audio System gives your music and movies Xtreme Fidelity. By using a USB 2.0 connection, the X-Fi Surround 5.1 can be connected to virtually any computer. The system delivers full cinematic surround sound, 3-D audio, and realistic environmental effects to your music, movies, and games.

Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 At a Glance: USB 2.0 interface for easy setup and connections X-Fi CMSS-3D creates nine virtual speakers when using stereo headphones X-Fi Crystalizer restores lost detail in compressed music and audio Realistic gaming effects with EAX ADVANCED HD THX-certified for great cinematic surround-sound experience

A USB 2.0 interface makes connecting the X-Fi Surround 5.1 a breeze. View larger.

Versatile USB 2.0 Connection for Easy Setup
The Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 connects to your computer via a USB 2.0 connection, including any laptop, desktop, or notebook computer. You don't have to worry about opening up your computer's external casing, and you can even use the X-Fi Surround 5.1 with multiple computers. For exceptional audio, simply connect the system to an available USB port and you're all set.

Positional 3-D Audio
Whether you're using headphones or speakers, Creative's X-Fi CMSS-3D technology delivers outstanding surround sound. When used with a pair of headphones, X-Fi CMSS-3D creates nine virtual speakers for exceptional surround effects, letting you feel like you're sitting in the best seat of a movie theater. You'll get an advantage during games, too, with the ability to locate enemies by sound before they see you.

When used with multichannel speakers, you'll be able to hear exactly where the audio cues are--even between speakers. Voices will be right in front of you and ambient sound will surround you, just like a live performance. CMSS-3D works with both desktop stereo speakers and full surround speaker systems.

X-Fi Crystalizer Restores Lost Details
X-Fi Crystalizer technology restores the audio detail that is lost in compressed audio files so you'll regain vibrancy and clarity in your music and movies. Highs and lows that were lost are enhanced, so whether you're listening to cymbal crashes or wailing guitars, you'll hear the music as it was meant to be heard.

Realistic Sound Effects for Gaming
With support for EAX ADVANCED HD technology, the X-Fi Surround 5.1 delivers rich environmental effects for an especially immersive gaming experience. You'll hear bullets whizzing by your head and experience explosions that seem to shake the whole room.

And if you're using Windows Vista, Creative ALchemy technology restores surround sound to DirectSound3D games for an exceptional gaming experience.

Intense Cinematic Sound for Movies
The X-Fi Surround 5.1 delivers THX-certified surround sound for a cinematic experience right at your computer. Cyberlink PowerDVD software is included (via free download) and supports DTS and Dolby Digital-EX decoding for an unmatched DVD movie-watching experience.

System Requirements
Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, or XP (Professional x64 Edition, Service Pack 2 or Media Center Edition); Intel Pentium 4 1.6 GHz, AMD Athlon XP 2000+, or equivalent processor; available USB port (USB 2.0 recommended); 256 MB RAM (512MB RAM for Windows Vista); 600 MB of free hard disk space; CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive; headphones or amplified speakers; internet connection to download PowerDVD software.

What's in the Box
USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 sound card, USB cable, installation CD, Quick Start leaflet, and stereo RCA to 1/8 jack adapter

Creative Sound Blaster Sound Cards (External)
Looking for internal sound cards from Creative? Click here.	Sound Blaster X-Fi Go!	Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1
General Info:
Connection Type	USB	USB 2.0
SNR for Playback	>= 96dB	100dB
Speaker/Headphone Support	Stereo	Stereo to 5.1
Music and Movies:
24-bit Sound Quality
X-Fi Crystalizer
X-Fi CMSS-3D
THX Certified
Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect (Win Vista Only) Encoder
DTS & Dolby Digital Decoding via free PowerDVD Download
Games:
EAX Support	EAX 4.0	EAX 4.0
X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone Surround
Hardware Accelerated for Better Performance
Hardware OpenAL and DirectSound3D Support
64MB X-RAM

Product Description

Adding the USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 sound card is the easiest way to make your music and movies sound their best. X-Fi Technology restores details and vibrance your music and movies lost during compression, making them richer and fuller, and expands stereo into surround sound with headphones or speakers. Plus it includes PowerDVD software via free download for the ultimate PC movie entertainment experience.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Change USB Speed Option to Solve Lags!, May 3, 2009

By 

MassiveAttack (New Orleans) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative Labs USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Audio System SB1090 (Personal Computers)

Under 'Creative audio control panel,' be certain that 'high speed' (2.0) is checked, and not 'full speed' (1.1). This may or may not solve lag and other commonly cited audio issues. That said,

I do not like this sound card. In fact, it's not really a sound card at all. More truthfully, it is a (large) software suite connected to a big volume knob. As far as I can tell, and from what I have read and seen in task manager), all of the real work is done with your computer. Well, this shouldn't be too much of a problem on modern machines, right? I mean, aren't the days of needing external chips to alleviate workload on the CPU long gone and irrelevant?

Maybe. But the fact is that I feel that I could have attained the same, cheap audio tricks via any number of winamp plug-ins, equalizers, et al. What I wanted was a superior external DAC than the noise coming from my onboard RealTek 'high definition' audio. The truth is that I can tell no difference between the two outputs until I turn on the effects of the x-fi, which are really annoying to a music purist. They produce listener fatigue and unwelcome distortion (music was not meant to be heard in simulated surround, and 'crystalizer' can get downright 'screechy').
The simulated surround or EAX is fine for watching movies and playing games, though. But if you are primarily a music buff and have decent speakers, I advise looking elsewhere.

There is good news, though. While Creative has a history of not supporting older cards on a newer OS, there is a functioning beta driver for Windows 7 already at their site. You won't be experiencing what thousands of people did when trying to use their XP cards on Vista, etc. However, the overall performance of the card is sluggish both on my XP install and my Win 7 beta. Adjustments are cumbersome and opening the severe bloatware of sound options is unacceptably slow even on fairly well-equipped hardware. I'd consider this a fluke of my install, but on two separate disks, and with two different OSes (XP and 7)? No. It's just bloated.

I got this new for virtually nothing, but I'd still not buy it again because I can honestly achieve the same effects by using the EQ of the iTunes, Mediamonkey, etc. Again, this is nothing but a ton of sound software that happens to have a physical body. You can do better for not much more money. However, as a solution for a broken onboard chip / output jack, this is an economical solution. But even then I'd almost recommend one of those USB thumb drive-type cards as they won't take up unnecessary desktop space or clutter your install with a ton of software that, btw, takes 20 minutes to install).

If the x-fi surround were anything but a fancy software suite, I'd rate it higher. Sorry. Just trying to save someone the grief if they are looking for a music solution. That's what these reviews are for.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome If Used Properly, August 23, 2009

By 

R. T. Meisenholder "Romanticist Philosopher" (Bay Shore, Long Island) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creative Labs USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Audio System SB1090 (Personal Computers)

It is important to note that this sound device is not for everyone and it is less ideal for surround sound users than those of us just looking for high quality stereo. The sound quality is tremendous for 2 channel sound and generally reliable to a point. You have to understand the limitations of using a USB sound device. YOU MUST have a powerful enough CPU to process the sound information and because of the fact that it uses the USB connection whatever else shares that bandwidth like a wireless USB network adapter will impact the audio with possible hiccups and crackle when transferring large amounts of data.

In 2 channel mode at 24 bit 96khz when coupled with a quad core processor your chances of the best quality audio experience are greatest. Even with my Phenom II 920 @ 2.8ghz during downloads from STEAM transferring my games with my wireless USB network adapter at a 135 mbps connection leads to crackle when listening to music at the same time. USB only has so much bandwidth and using 5.1 surround only lets its limitations become more prominent.

47 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Waste of money if youre running Vista 32 or 64 bit!!, September 17, 2008

By 

Homepro (Moose Lake, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative Labs USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Audio System SB1090 (Personal Computers)

I purchased this Creative Labs X-Fi 5.1 external sound card to watch movies on my new laptop based on Creatives reputation, past creative products and the reviews that I read here.

The good:
Playing music is awesome. Mp3 files trully do sound great.

The bad:
The previous reviewers must not have been running Windows Vista. (I'm running the 64 bit version). After plugging the card into my USB port, installing the the software, and plugging in my Logitech Z-5500 5.1 speaker system, I sat down to watch a movie. There is a terrible sound lag that makes watching a movie seem like you're watching a baddly dubbed foriegn film. The actors speak and the action happens before you hear the sound. I have tried to reinstall the software and drivers numerous times and the only way to correct the sound lag is uninstall the Creative software and drivers and go back to the Vista drivers. Unfortunately without Creatives drivers you loose the mp3 fuctions that make the music sound so good. Also, when using creatives software / sound card my cpu is really being worked hard sometimes up to 100% cpu usage when watching a dvd (it averages about 30 - 40% with music and nothing else running). I'm running a 2.0 ghz dual core processor with 4 gigs of ram???

I contacted Creative support over a week ago and have yet to get a reply. I am very unhappy with this sound card and with Creatives customer service. If you want to read more about the sound lag just check out creatives public forum, theres over 9 pages about this issue.

I've heard that if youre running Windows XP there is no lag. So if you are running XP or just want to listen to music this might be right for you. If your running Vista don't waste your money. Creative should not advertise that this is Vista compatable until they figure out this lag issue!!!