Breathing new life into an "old" soundcard. Creative X-Fi Titanium HD

[djisas]

Thanks! You have 5.1 over optical with it?
Just a bit worried about those two virus flags from VirusTotal....

Most likely false positive, windows security doesn't say anything...
No optical out, just straight 7.1 analog output...
Thought it should be fine...

 

[Fumble]

Most likely false positive, windows security doesn't say anything...
No optical out, just straight 7.1 analog output...
Thought it should be fine...

Ah, I definitely need 5.1 over optical. It's my only option.

 

[djisas]

Ah, I definitely need 5.1 over optical. It's my only option.

I think you missunderstood me, I was just saying I'm nor using optical out, but every creative feature should be there...

 

[Steve-007UK]

Sorry for the late reply
When you download and click the driver it will ask to extract the main files then once done you will see a setup file just click that and follow what it says then you should see a box like in this pic.

Please note that i already have drivers installed so ignor the part on the pic where it says remove previously installed components.
So as you can see in that list there are many things you can install and that is what i currently have installed.
Hope it makes sense not had me coffee yet lol

I use optical out but only have a stereo amp now but when i had a 7.1 pioneer surround amp i am sure optical was working fine in 5.1

 

[Fumble]

Sorry for the late reply
When you download and click the driver it will ask to extract the main files then once done you will see a setup file just click that and follow what it says then you should see a box like in this pic.
View attachment 191940
Please note that i already have drivers installed so ignor the part on the pic where it says remove previously installed components.
So as you can see in that list there are many things you can install and that is what i currently have installed.
Hope it makes sense not had me coffee yet lol

I use optical out but only have a stereo amp now but when i had a 7.1 pioneer surround amp i am sure optical was working fine in 5.1

Thanks very much (again)!
I'm not sure what some of those items do or if they're needed or not, so should I just install the console launcher and drivers or should I install other items too?
Also, once the audio drivers are installed using this install wizard, is that it? I don't need to update drivers in device manager or anything?
Sorry for the daft questions, I'm new to this so it's all quite overwhelming still. You're being a huge help.

 

[Steve-007UK]

No need to do anything in device manager
Just install the drivers from the setup file, install the componants you need and that should be it (might have to restart pc)

Out of all the things in my pic the only one you don't realy need to install is the soundfont bank manager.

If just wanting to keep things simple then this is what i would install
creative audio control panel
creative console launcher
creative speaker setup console
creative soundblaster propertise 64bit
audio driver.

Forgot to say but depending on what your connecting the optical to you might also need to install the Dolby Digital live pack and DTS connect pack.

 

[micropage7]

actually i wanna try burson for my zishan

 

[Fumble]

No need to do anything in device manager
Just install the drivers from the setup file, install the componants you need and that should be it (might have to restart pc)

Out of all the things in my pic the only one you don't realy need to install is the soundfont bank manager.

If just wanting to keep things simple then this is what i would install
creative audio control panel
creative console launcher
creative speaker setup console
creative soundblaster propertise 64bit
audio driver.

Forgot to say but depending on what your connecting the optical to you might also need to install the Dolby Digital live pack and DTS connect pack.

Thanks very much for the tips.
You knew this question was coming... where can I get this Dolby Digital live pack and DTS connect pack that you mention?

 

[Steve-007UK]

Thanks very much for the tips.
You knew this question was coming... where can I get this Dolby Digital live pack and DTS connect pack that you mention

It should be in the main list of things to install when you run the setup.
I didn't install it as i don't need it but should be in the list like in this pic

 

[Fumble]

It should be in the main list of things to install when you run the setup.
I didn't install it as i don't need it but should be in the list like in this pic
View attachment 191944

I went for the full default installation in the end to keep things simple.
Everything is installed but I'm only getting the option for 2-channel audio in the sound control panel.
5.1 is selected in the Creative console launcher.
Any idea what i need to do to activate 5.1?


Further to the above, in the console launcher settings, clicking the Dolby Digital Live button does nothing. It stays off.
Ditto for the DTS option.

 

[Steve-007UK]

Im not sure about the windows sound options i never use them lol

I just installed the dolby stuff and i can select dolby digital live and it seems to work but i have no way to test it fully as no 5.1 setup in the house.
I'm not sure if you have the same options as me but do you see a mode button in the console launcher (bottom left)?
If so click that and if you get the same options as me can you try setting it to entertainment mode then see if you can turn on dolby digital.
should look like this

 

[Fumble]

Im not sure about the windows sound options i never use them lol

I just installed the dolby stuff and i can select dolby digital live and it seems to work but i have no way to test it fully as no 5.1 setup in the house.
I'm not sure if you have the same options as me but do you see a mode button in the console launcher (bottom left)?
If so click that and if you get the same options as me can you try setting it to entertainment mode then see if you can turn on dolby digital.
should look like this View attachment 191952

The same thing happens as in Game Mode, the button seems active for a second or so and then reverts back to Off.
Very weird.

Seems like 5.1 over optical might not be supported by default?
I was hoping these drivers would enable it but it seems not.
There's a workaround for the Realtek drivers as explained in this video. Maybe I need something similar for the Creative drivers?

(I think that video was created after info was found here at TechPowerUp?)

If this was done for Realtek drivers then surely it's been done somewhere for Creative drivers too if the same problem needs solving?

 

[Steve-007UK]

I have no idea sorry but maybe someone else can help on that side of things

 

[Fumble]

I have no idea sorry but maybe someone else can help on that side of things

Thanks very much for your help, it's very much appreciated.

The quest continues!

 

[Steve-007UK]

I'm thinking the reason dolby seems to work for me is because my titanium HD is only a stereo card and only way to get 5.1 is to use the dolby pack and optical out.
I'm going to see if i can get my old pioneer amp back and do some testing.

I can turn dolby digital on and as expected i get no sound on my yamaha amp as it cannot decode any type of dolby so this tells me its at least trying to work as intended if ya get what i mean

 

[Fumble]

I'm thinking the reason dolby seems to work for me is because my titanium HD is only a stereo card and only way to get 5.1 is to use the dolby pack and optical out.
I'm going to see if i can get my old pioneer amp back and do some testing.

I can turn dolby digital on and as expected i get no sound on my yamaha amp as it cannot decode any type of dolby so this tells me its at least trying to work as intended if ya get what i mean

Thanks - I look forward to the results!

 

[Steve-007UK]

Thanks - I look forward to the results!

My friend has the old pioneer amp and technically it's still my amp lol will see if i can get it back for a few days and do some testing.

I never asked before but what are you trying to connect the sound card to? If it's an amp does the amp support dolby digital 5.1 or 7.1?
Any extra info you can give me will be usefull

Is this also your exact card?

Creative Sound Blaster X-fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro SB0880​

 

[bobbybluz]

Has anybody tried the PAX drivers for the X-Fi series? I've been using them for years and like them. I'm going to try the ones linked here: http://danielkawakami.blogspot.com/ later on my test X-Fi Titanium (PCIe) and Platinum (PCI) rigs and see if they're any better.

 

[Fumble]

My friend has the old pioneer amp and technically it's still my amp lol will see if i can get it back for a few days and do some testing.

I never asked before but what are you trying to connect the sound card to? If it's an amp does the amp support dolby digital 5.1 or 7.1?
Any extra info you can give me will be usefull

Is this also your exact card?

Creative Sound Blaster X-fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro SB0880​

Yes, trying to connect the card to an amp that supports 5.1 Dolby Digital. My only option is by optical, as the amp doesn't have 5.1 anaologue inputs and HDMI gets treated like a second screen which confuses the PC.
If there's a way to tell the PC that a certain HDMI output is for audio only and to keep it locked to that then that might solve the problem.
I have HDMI going from PC to 4k TV (as the amp won't do 4k/60 bypass) and used to have another HDMI going from PC to the receiver, but it would occasionally bug out at random and switch audio to the PC-TV HDMI, and also treat the HDMI audio out as a second screen. Really annoying. If anyone knows a fix for this it would solve my problem and I could forget about trying to get 5.1 over optical.
My card is the Creative PCI-E X-fi Sound Card SB0880 titanium 7.1, no mention of Fatality pro or anything.

 

[tml3nr]

Thank you and when it comes to music there are so many things that make a lot of difference and how we hear or perceive music, When i was growing up i used to do a bit of Dj'ng in a few of the local pubs and i had some big speakers and amps that could throw out some volume and i used to blast them out in this same room in my pic and yup was loud and made this house rattle but how the times have changed over the years.

I now have my Yamaha A-S501 amp and speaker wise i have the wharfedale diamond 9.1's and the sub i have is a wharfedale SW150 and now i can play music loud without rattling the house but still get the bass i need to make me happy and the best thing is the quality, back in the day it was all boom boom but now i can hear every bass note that i never used to hear back in the day.

The main thing i have learned and realised over the years to is the clairty and volume is not all about how many watts the amp or speakers can handle or chuck out but how it uses it.
Even when i had speakers with 15inch bass cones and disco amps rated at 500watt RMS i always felt like i was pushing them on the limit.

When i turn up the setup i have now i get enough bass out of the 5.5 or 6.5-inch cones the speakers have but if i want extra room filling bass thats when the sub gets turned on and it just fills in the low end when needed.

The volume perception bit i was on about is like now for me as i type this last line, i have my amp on atm but no sub on yet the song i am playing seems loud but if i open my door and go out my room no one can hear it lol

Sorry also very drunk when i typed this and will be many mistakes in what i fully wanted to say so will correct it all when i wake up tomoz and after a few coffe's and stuff.

@qubit and @zenlaserman @tml3nr and the op and anyone else following this thread please post your setups to would love to see it all hehe

Hi @animal007uk , sorry for late reply.

My PC with some stuffs:

i5-9600KF, Asus Z390-F, Corsair RM550x and Creative Gigaworks T20.

i removed the aluminum cover out of X-Fi HD. Sound is more airy and more extend.

My main gear:

Primare NP5 Prisma streamer, Atoll Dac100SE, NAD C320BEE amp and B&W 602 S3. Cables: Kimber 8TC, VDH D-102 MKIII, Canare L5.5CUHD.

 

[qubit]

@tml3nr Nice pics there buddy. I like the classic Dell monitor especially and in black, too. Those square monitors can be surprisingly comfortable to work with. What resolution is it?

 

[tml3nr]

@tml3nr Nice pics there buddy. I like the classic Dell monitor especially and in black, too. Those square monitors can be surprisingly comfortable to work with. What resolution is it?

My monitor is Dell P1917S. Resolution 1280x1024. i also like square monitor. It's comfortable with many apps i use and doesn't take up a lot of space on my desk.

i love Creative Gigaworks T20. This is the second pair of T20. The first failed after 2 years. i like its treble. It reminds me the sound of old Yamaha monitor speakers like the NS series.

i switched to this Creative X-Fi HD because my old PC was faulty. Farewell Creative Audigy2 ZS is a big regret. This card and T20 sound great. Strong but very sweet.

Many years ago, i had a nostalgic farewell when i had to say goodbye to Steinberg Cubasis VST Project Card to switch from Windows XP to Windows 7 x64. So sad

For me, only old cards same as Project Steinberg Cubasis VST Card can play 16/44.1 as it should be.

 

[Steve-007UK]

@tml3nr that is a nice setup love it

I have a question for all of you to, So i have wanted to put my speakers on the wall for a long time and have now finally got some wall brackets for them.

So i want to put the speakers on the wall at the side of the tv but not sure how high up i want them so if anyone has any thoughts please let me know.
Once they go on the wall i plan on getting a second Wharfedale diamond SW150 sub to lol.

My sub is under the tv with the remote and pack of crisps on it hehe

My room is small and speakers seem to work best closer to the outside walls and then i plan on moving the sub to the right for now and when get the second one it will go on the left side of room (So under the speakers on the wall if that makes sense
Thanks upfront for any and all suggestions

 

[INSTG8R]

@tml3nr that is a nice setup love it

I have a question for all of you to, So i have wanted to put my speakers on the wall for a long time and have now finally got some wall brackets for them.

So i want to put the speakers on the wall at the side of the tv but not sure how high up i want them so if anyone has any thoughts please let me know.
Once they go on the wall i plan on getting a second Wharfedale diamond SW150 sub to lol.

My sub is under the tv with the remote and pack of crisps on it hehe

My room is small and speakers seem to work best closer to the outside walls and then i plan on moving the sub to the right for now and when get the second one it will go on the left side of room (So under the speakers on the wall if that makes sense
Thanks upfront for any and all suggestions

Ideally you want them at “ear level” to your listening position
Edit if you feel you need “more bass” if you can you could try “corner loading” your current sub before “doubling up”

Subwoofer Corner Placement: Why You Might Want To Try This

You may have wondered why you see subwoofer corner placement in some rooms, and placement along the front wall or side wall in others. You might be wondering, what is it, why would I want to do that, and what's it gonna benefit me? What's the result?

www.axiomaudio.com

 

[Steve-007UK]

Ideally you want them at “ear level” to your listening position

Cheers @INSTG8R that is what i was thinking and what i have read and heard about for many many years and due to where i sit i would say my tweaters need to be lvl with the top of the TV.
My new brackets also offer some movement to https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clamping-Bookshelf-Mounting-Surrounding-SPM201-Black/dp/B08116Q1PS/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Speaker Wall brackets&qid=1621010401&sr=8-3&fbclid=IwAR0i-Nw_qorJGpjcNhrG8hQMOoGW1SY9Ks2zEDIrfUfsld9JzM3CLIMklV0

Also the extra sub is not to get more bass it's to even the sound out on the deep bass, i have a funny shaped room and not many corners to put a single sub and get it to fill the room how i want.