Creative Technology Sound Blaster X-Fi Xmod

The Xmod USB Sound Module for PC and Mac from Creative-Labs is a USB device that enhances the output quality of audio from your computer. It features an internal processor that is designed to add depth to music and virtual surround sound to movies. It is completely plug and play with no software installation required, making it an excellent addition to your computer.

Delivers as promised to enhance your investment in inferior mp3s to...

Pros: Low priced, simple to use, real-time enhancement of your mp3s to 24-bit audio.
Cons: Not altogether portable. AC power adapter not included.
MP3s are here to stay. Although bandwidth availability to the average home has increased to a point which is making lossless formats more widely available and has increased the bit rate found on most downloadable mp3 files, the fact is that there is...

Xmod does what it is supposed to do.

Does a fine job of adding another layer of quality to digital recordings. Enhances both the highs and lows.

Creative Xmod

saved by Nyla | laptopmag.com

The Creative Xmod gives digital music and movies a surprising audio punch.Initially, we were a tad skeptical of Creative's much-hyped Xmod, a plug-and-play sound enhancer that connects to a notebook's USB port for upconverting digital audio to surpass CD quality. But our suspicions were soon stymied ...

Creative Xmod Review

saved by jane | reviews.cnet.com

The good: Creative's Xmod enhances compressed audio by effectively converting it to 24-bit audio; attractive and easy-to-use hardware; no drivers required; PC and Mac compatible; works with any audio source; priced right. The bottom line: The reasonably priced Creative Xmod does a remarkable job of making audio sound brighter, deeper, and more vibrant.

HEXUS.lifestyle : Creative claims Xmod makes MP3s sound

saved by jane | lifestyle.hexus.net

The Xmod, is used in-line - the output from a music player (or to PC's speakers) being fed onwards to headphones or to the speakers. The gadget can't be used out and about - it's normally powered from a USB socket. So that also means you'll need an optional mains adaptor if Xmod is going to feed audio from your portable music player to a hi-fi system that's not nearby a computer or another device with a powered USB output.

Product Reviews: Creative Xmod

saved by jane | itp.net

The Xmod is a relatively compact USB device that - thanks to its smart looks - won’t look out of place on your desk. A silver metallic knob is the Xmod’s most visible fixture and this is used to control volume (pushing it down acts as a mute button).

I4U News - Creative Xmod Announcement and Review

saved by jane | i4u.com

Creative announced the Xmod, which uses Creative's X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio platform to improve music playback quality for MP3, WMA, iTunes or AAC songs to beyond the original CD quality. Creative announced the Xmod, which uses Creative's X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio platform to improve music playback quality for MP3, WMA, iTunes or AAC songs to beyond the original CD quality.

Creative Xmod Review

saved by jane | kainzy.org

The Creative Xmod is a small audio enhancement device aimed at laptop owners. Creative have stirred up a hornet’s nest with this device. Mainly because of their unproven wild claims that had arrived with their XFI Crystalizer technology that apparently ‘breathes life back into songs by restoring the detail lost in mp3 compression’.

Amazon.com: Reviews for Creative Labs Xmod USB Sound Device

saved by jane | amazon.com

This device really does what it advertises. I was really impressed with how it actually makes the music sound clearer and more pronounced. I wouldn't think it possible considering what I understand about information upgrading, but somehow it makes the music sound more pristine without totally distorting it or even just mixing it up with an equalizer. The only downside is that it is not easily portable. Also, as people have mentioned here, it doesn't come with an AC adapter so you can't use it with portable mp3 players until you get one.

A Full Review of the Creative Xmod - Associated Content

saved by jane | associatedcontent.com

The palm-sized device looks expensive and complicated and perhaps even too advanced for its time. However, it does the job. It improves the sound of MP3s and other compressed audio as well as audio CDs. What the device does is it takes the source audio and in real time applies Creative X-Fi (Xtreme Fidelity) technology to the audio, and the results are what you hear. The device also gives surround sound when playing movies and is less hollow or tubular than some other sound DSP effects. The device is also compatible with files that are encoded in multiple surround channels.

Reviews for Creative Xmod (SB0720) at circuitcity.com

saved by jane | circuitcity.com

The Crystalizer function was very, very nice and made a good difference in my music, even when recorded in 320 AAC or Apple Lossless quality. While it will make the biggest difference with lower quality music (<192 kbps) it still added alittle extra. Highs seem to come to life a little more and the bass gets smoothed out and rounded as opposed to chunky and harsh. The interesting portion of the Crystalizer function is that it left my vocals alone so the music was brought out more and thevocals were left in their clean, original state.

Creative xMod Claims To Improve MP3 Quality

saved by jane | pcmag.com

The Xmod sits between a user's MP3 player, Mac, iPod, PC, Creative Zen, or other device, and connects the output to speakers or headphones. The device accepts MP3, AAC, iTunes, or WMA files and "upconverts" them to a higher fidelity. The Xmod uses two techniques to restore that quality, including the the X-Fi Crystalizer, which upconverts MP3 music by analyzing and identifying which parts of the audio stream have been truncated or damaged during compression. A second technology, X-Fi CMSS-3D, uses HRTF modelling to create a virtual surround sound model, trying to place individual instruments in space around the listener.