Anyone here have any experience with the new XiFi sound cards? I have seen and read quite a bit of hyperbole about this cards. I am not an audiophile by any means, but people are saying that XiFi sound cards are a real revolution in computer sound. Some go as far as saying that it can markedly improve the quality of sound coming out of even very bad speakers.

Perhaps there are some sound experts out there who can help shed some light on this. As I have noted in several places I am looking at putting a new system together down the road. Often circumstances dictate my speakers are turned off. This means when building systems the built-in soundboard has always been enough.

However if this is some kind of real revolution I want to be able to intelligently consider my options when it comes to getting a dedicated sound card.

Creative makes great sound cards... I dont have any personal experience with these, but Im sure they sound great. Anything but onboard usually sounds pretty good. I think I might get the low end card for my next computer, ill be sure to post about it.

Kind of my situation as well. The only time I use my speakers now is to ocassionally play music or watch a video. I play a lot of MMORPGs but I always have the sound turned off because I have the television or radio on at the same time. I have just been intrigued lately by some of the discussion of the xifi set ups, and people are raving about them being the next big step in computer audio.

Let me know if you get one. I plan on getting on, maybe, but it is more likely if a big money truck runs into myself and spills all over my living room. I can be a tightwad, and if I think I do not need it, it is unlikely I will buy it.

I dont have any personal experience, but my friend has used a couple of them. I like the ones made by Creative, i think they r the best at it.

Well worth the money !! I have had an X-Fi Extreme Fidelity for a year or more and am missing it as it sits in a computer that needs repair. I definately will be putting it into the new build