Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-fi

[Donavan Rajawi]

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 :/).

I have connected the sound card to my pc through the usb connection, and installed the latest drivers from Creative's website. I have connected my PS3 to the optical input on the back of the sound card, and ensured that the ps3 is outputting audio through the optical connector (I have tested this through another device, and am sure it works fine).

If it is relevant, my intended playback device is a set of Bose Companion 5 usb speakers, although setting the playback device to the creative x-fi (hence bypassing the Bose speakers) didn't resolve the issue either.

I've also bought a Sound Blaster X-Fi HD USB soundcard and experienced the same problem with the 'SPDIF optical in'. Here is my sollution: As You don't have input-selector switch on the device, you have to switch to the 'optical in' input trough software way. You have to install Sound Blaster "Entertainment Console" tool (CD provided). In the 'Mixer' menu you will be able to switch on the 'optical in' input (because the default factory setting for the 'optical in' is unfortunately: 'off') When you enable it you will be able to use any optical device on the sound card's SPDIF input.I hope I could help :)

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