Customer Reviews
Not a true X-Fi card 
2007-09-21
As noted in a previous review, this card doesn't exactly belong in the X-Fi series (it is NOT the same as the Xtreme Music sound card). The odd thing is that I bought one of these off the same Amazon page from a non-Amazon seller and it is an X-Fi Xtreme Music card. Since I was looking for a sound card specifically with music creation capability in mind, the Amazon card is being returned. Thumbs down for Creative's marketing of this product. Moral: make sure you read the fine print!
DO NOT BUY THIS CARD IF YOU ARE USING VISTA - PERIOD 2007-08-11
Just bought this card as an upgrade. The sound quality is significantly better than what my motherboard offers. The software comes with the card doesn't really works with Vista, at least for my case, Vista Ultimate 64bit. I have to go online and download about 100MB of updates to get the driver, player and the audio console to work.
I'm very disappointed that the console launcher, which is the equalizer and sound effect control, is not working. I can't believe this $50 plus sound card doesn't have a WORKING EQ.
UPDATE: I just did a little research on Creative's website, and I notice they are SELLING X-Fi driver/apps CD for Vista. Unfortunately the CD does not work with Extreme Audio, and it's out of stock. I have the idea what I should do now...
Great!!! 
2007-07-24
I bought this card on the basis that I had a sorround sound system to use and my old card couldn't do it. If you hook up SPDIF via the Digital I/O Module your receiver will actually change to the sound format that best fits the movie your playing and will switch back to the regular PCM sound afte the movie. The card is great. I have no complaints. I highly recommend it.
NOT 100% COMPATIBLE WITH VISTA 2007-06-09
THIS CARD WORK WITH WINDOWS VISTA, BUT ITS FEATURES DOESN'T WORK, YOU CAN'T HAVE ALL POWER OF THIS CARD IF YOU HAVE WINDOWS VISTA. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO WASTE YOUR MONEY, DON'T BUY THIS CARD.
If only you could install the updates 2007-05-18
I got this my old sound card could not work on Vista, but although this is on the Vista list of compatible hardware you might as well use your motherboard sound than buy this card thinking it works on Vista.
Sure, you get a driver for Vista on the Creative site, but the software doesn't work! I am going back to xp and my turtle beach card and great software and donate my x-fi to the goodwill. Creative admits that the card is not Vista compatible ("if it doesn't say so on the box, it is not compatible"). All you get is sound, no mixer or console, and it will not work with recording software such as Total Recorder on Vista. And with their loopy update it won't install on xp.
Increase in Sound Quality 2008-03-22
Wanting to increase the sound quality of my Compaq PC which had a built in sound card, I bought X-Fi Xtreme Audio Sound Card. Without question there was a significant upgrade in quality. Full, undistorted sound when playing music and watching videos has help make my computer a complete entertainment center. Worth every penny.
Not happy with Creative. 2008-02-20
Marketing this as an X-FI card is dishonest. The card itself, and the included software, work very well in windows XP and is all I need for my uses but marketing an audigy chip under the x-fi name has made me very dissapointed with creative.
Very pleased 2007-12-19
Seems to my ears that this product is very good.
I haven't compared it directly with several machines running side by side each with a different sound card, so I cannot review as so.
But I play music, so I'm no deaf. And I hear (very) good sounds.
The install was a flash. No hassle, whatsoever.
The software seems good also.
Maybe, if I could try a more advanced card I wouldn't review the same.
But I'm very satisfied, and I don't need to look any further.
'nuff said, I'm going back to my music.
Awesome little card 2007-12-11
My mp3 collection havent sound better, the crystalizer option is what i needed
obviously, i doesnt have any regrets, very good buy and choice
Great sound card for computer but not external devices. 
2007-11-04
This sound card did everything I wanted for my computer, but it can't convert external dolby digital surround signals with the digital I/O module so you can't use external devices with your computer speakers. It will work with dolby digital stereo signals great, but just not with surround. I really could have just straight to my speakers anyway. so much for my xbox having surround sound with my computer.
