Creative Xmod Review

The X-FI Crystalizer, however is a different beast. It claims to upconvert music to 24 bit audio. Apparently Creative claim that they can fill in missing gaps present in low and high frequencies of audio. As I am an audio engineer, I can say this is easily possible with some clever DSP usage. MP3′s do sound a great deal fuller and yes the effect is very much noticeable. Low end bass is especially heavier and prominent, while higher frequencies feel vibrant and crisp. As I write this review I’m using the Xmod on my main pc equipped with a Creative Soundblaster Audigy 2, and a Nebula Freeview TV Tuner. The sound is definitely a major improvement over my Audigy 2 for sure. I sampled some tracks from B-Day from Beyonce, and Out of Nothing by Embrace. The albums sounded warm and richer with the Crystalizer enabled, but lifeless with it off. It was quite a surprise.

Both the Crystalizer and the CMSS effects can be adjusted by pressing the neat select button to toggle the appropriate LED on, and from there you can adjust the volume knob to achieve your desired setting. The LED’s will flash with increasing frequency the higher or lower the volume setting

The Xmod will no doubt mostly be used by Laptop users who require a major boost to their audio. However controlling your PC’s audio via this device is just as good and since the device looks so professional and stylish, it does make a nice, if cheap sound enhancer for those people with lower end sound cards. It can also be used with any audio device via the line-in port, and here lies the big screw up – You require an AC adaptor (not included) via the USB port in order to use this! Upon hearing about early revisions of the Xmod, most owners of MP3 players assumed that the Xmod could be used to enhance their MP3 player’s sound and got hyped up about it.. Their hopes were killed off completely upon hearing that they would now require an AC adaptor. It’s just not a practical solution.

Given the size of this unit, I can see the technology being embedded into future Creative Zen MP3 players, and I can’t wait to see this technology utilised in such a way. Also included in the box contents are a pair of useless Creative Earbuds, a usb cable, and a soft case to store the Xmod in.

Conclusion

I never expected to say this, but I’m extremely impressed. It’s a lovely, stylish device that actually does improve on audio by a great deal. I have no idea how it ‘enhances’ audio to make it sound the way it does, but it does work. It also amplifies audio to a more than respectable level which will appease laptop owners greatly. Those looking to greatly improve on their dire laptop audio should opt for this device above all others – not that there are many decent laptop audio solutions out there. It works off usb with minimal of fuss and is simplicity to use. Providing this thing doesn’t break in 2 days like my Audigy 2 PCMCIA card, I will have found a true solution for my laptop audio problems.