Sound Blaster X-fi 5.1 Pro

[Coleman John]

IssueI wanted to use my Logitech THX speakers on my 27" iMac but the X-5300's don't have TOSLink inputs and I still like my Z-5300's. I also wanted to keep sound coming out of the built-in speakers on my iMac, so I knew I had to go the USB soundcard route. I never found all this information in the same place, so I wanted to share what I finally worked out.

5) Once this is done fire up iTunes or your favorite music app and you should have standard audio coming from the speakers hooked up to the X-Fi plus you will have 5.1 surround audio for surround-enabled audio sources

4) Click on the > beside "Multi-Output Device" to expand the details on the associated devices and verify the settings for the audio devices (make sure the X-Fi is still 6ch-24bit Integer and the speaker channels are correct)

5) Once you are satisfied with the settings, double or right-click the "Multi-Output Device" and set it as the sound device and enjoy sound from your surround speakers and the built-in speakers at the same time!

The volume knob on the X-Fi doesn't work in OSX as advertised. I push up the volume on the built-in speakers inside the multi-output audio device to a level that lets me still hear iTunes and system sounds when I turn off the Logitech Z-5300 speakers. This lets me still manage the sound volume and have all the speakers working as desired.

I have noticed in a couple of movies that I've watched that I had to switch to the dedicated SB X-Fi Surround device to get actual surround sound. Looks like it's a function of which Dolby/THX encoding is used on the movie I am watching. Pretty easy to toggle back and forth and I don't have to restart anything to change the audio output.

Thanks for this setup instruction for the Creative x-fi! It went as smooth as instructed and works like a charm. As an added bonus, I have the soundblaster 5200 speakers so I have a dedicated volume and base control. I only wish more workarounds were this clear and simple!

I am so glad to see this. I'm new to Mac's, just recieved my imac 27" and I have an older logitech z-640 5.1 surround speaker system that works awesome (have been using it on older pc's and has true 5.1 with the proper card) that I wanted to use, so far, no way, until I found this post. I'll order the Creative X unit and give it a go. Thanks again Vegas7!!! I'll try and report back when I have the unit hooked up.

Ok Here we go... I purchased this external sound card, setup was painless, with it recognizing the card and under "configure speakers" the test for EACH speaker works! BUT when I play a dvd, I have no rear speaker sound nor do I have center chanel sound. I am using the Logitec Z-640 speakers which work perfectly in the chanel setup.. Has anyone got any ideas????

I have a Hercules USB sound card that will drive my speakers (I can get to the speaker config - they all test fine), but only the L/R ones are in use when itunes plays. Don't care about movies (I never watch movies on the mac - but I DO want full surround sound from my logitech X-530. Under boot camp - they sound great. Under Mac osx - they are 2.0 speakers ;-(

Well, I gave up on getting my Mac to upconvert 2ch into 5. Replaced my X-530s with Z506 speaker which do the upconversion in speaker. They sound great. They work in true 5.1 with my cheapo USB sound card (Hercules), but for the most part, I am just listening to tunes - in full rich surround. Simple.

Haven't tested movie surround sound yet (The 5.1 speaker sound tests are all working - so 5.1 with a movie should be fine) - but just to sit and get some proper decibels through iTunes is enough to make me write a thank-you.

I am following these steps on my macbook air os 10.10 with creative sound blaster x fi surround 5.1 pro, my problem is that all the speakers work when test in the configuration window, but only a select few speakers work when actually playing music. Here is an image of my setup

So, I don't remember, how I done 5.1, but I totally remember, that it was crazy manual about apps Soundflower + AU Lab + X-Fi = it's still work. I'd created some profile in this apps and now in Output: Soundflower 2ch and in Input SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro. Aaaand I've really have 5.1 sound, but don't know, is it trustly 5.1...but got music from social network (browser), iTunes and etc from 5 speakers and subwoofer. Ok. And also I can controll volume level from keyboard (master volume).

Today I'd looked through my Mac settings and thought, why it was done so strange on my Mac, why in Soundflower 2 channel profile and really I've got 5.1, because input and output status looks strange... Why in output Soundflower? In output I've got built in speakers and hdmi-on-TV sound, I'd thought, that here is "physical" items, different "ends" and here should be X-Fi sound card (that named like External bla bla interface). And input - from where sound come in - line In or etc. And also - Soundflower got itself like input too...combined device by default? With input and output?

So my way - is Soundflower + AU Lab?)) And don't touch it? I just don't want to waste my Mac with strange soft and configurations, about which I can forget, but want to have 5.1 + master sound control... what I've need to do? Does AirPort Express solve my problem? With Z550W I think not, because it has no optical input( If I got another Creative\Logitech will be somewhere sound transformated in 5.1? Or I will need something like Soundflower + AULab to create 5.1 stream from stereo (or what that aps do...)

When I open "configure speakers" in Audio Midi setup, I can test and hear them all one by one. As soon as I use itunes, vlc or play music from web it comes only trough front left and right speaker (no center, sub, rear :/).

3a8082e126