Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! USB Sound Card review

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When it comes to configuring that new notebook computer, you have a lot of options to choose from. Everything from the screen size, processor, graphics, memory and hard drive can be optimized to fit your needs and your budget. Unfortunately there are still some standard components that don't fully lend themselves to upgrades, such as the audio system.

Desktop owners have been enjoying high quality audio via 3rd party add-in sound cards for years, so why must notebook users be forced to go without?

Granted, there are ExpressCard sound cards available but not all notebooks have an ExpressCard slot. Creative recently released a USB sound card, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Go!, that can be used on all notebooks and desktops using a spare USB port. As the name suggests, the Go! brings X-Fi quality audio and EAX HD support to your notebook via a small USB dongle. The small device also doubles as a 1GB flash drive, allowing you to transport game profiles, music or any other files.

View: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! USB Sound Card review

#1 SojIrOu on 27 Mar 2009 - 11:20

i was considering buying this or the x-fi surround which was AU$10 more and felt the x-fi surround does a much better job (even though its not as portable) because it supports 5.1 output, microphone, line-in, headphone and even optical out. so my laptop is my "media centre" while i'm not using it for school.

#2 waruikoohii on 27 Mar 2009 - 18:44

Luckily with HD Audio being pretty standard these days, third party audio solutions aren't terribly important anymore. A PCMCIA Audigy 2 adapter made a big difference in my older laptop, but I can't tell the difference between HD Audio and an Audigy 2 in my current desktop. Indeed, I only have the Audigy installed so that I can use Avid Media Composer (which won't work with the HD Audio).

(2 replies) #3 xpclient on 28 Mar 2009 - 06:26

Unfortunately, the problem with most notebook users isn't that the sound card is bad, but the speakers! I'd advise anyone to stay away from HP notebooks if they want decent quality notebook speakers.

#3.1 Dead'Soul on 28 Mar 2009 - 09:05

I have HP Pavilion dv6645et and i am so so so happy with built in Altec Lansing speakers even they connected to a silly conexant hd audio chip...

#3.2 Shunik Jan on 29 Mar 2009 - 21:55

xpclient said,

The newer ones with the small "subwoofer" do sound better than those other machines without them. Even though they sound like a minor thump at first, go to the Sound Card control panel and adjust it to your liking.

Owning a dv7t series and proud of it. My old Athlon 64 build didn't cut it anymore even if it did have a 7600GT AGP in there. Specifically the XFX PVT73AUDE3

#4 Foub on 28 Mar 2009 - 08:55

I remember when Creative first came out with a USB sound "card". It was ok, but studdered a lot while playing audio CDs. I finally just returned it to the store.

(1 reply) #5 Dead'Soul on 28 Mar 2009 - 09:11

i have a question, this sound card will use laptop's own speakers or only headphones?

#5.1 Foub on 31 Mar 2009 - 21:19

Dead'Soul said,

Only if the speakers plug into the unit itself... It will use an external set of 2.0/2.1 speakers as well.

I just ordered myself this sound "card".

(3 replies) #6 opensuse on 28 Mar 2009 - 13:09

I will never buy anything from Creative again, they have the worst driver support.

#6.1 iamwhoiam on 29 Mar 2009 - 07:05

I agree. Let's not forget that their also a pretty crappy company these days as well. With the availability of multi-core CPUs and the more than decent sound quality of the onboard sound these days, dedicated cards should become a thing of the past. Creative, IMO, can go right along with them.

#6.2 Shunik Jan on 29 Mar 2009 - 21:58

opensuse said,

True all the way...
The kX project and the one guy who was developing decent drivers but Creative made him stop, they are the true heroes.

#6.3 Neoauld on 31 Mar 2009 - 08:52

iamwhoiam said,

agreed
the slight performance increase isnt worth the driver hassle creative creates
i love their mp3 players tho

#7 Skullpture on 30 Mar 2009 - 00:30

That's really convenient.

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