[japan1]

OK, here's the situation:

I'm planning to spend a little money to try and improve the sound quality coming out of my netbook, but I'm not too sure where to spend it. I've currently got a pair of Philips SHP2500 headphones, which I'm pretty pleased with.

I've been looking at a Creative X-Fi Go, as an alternative to the onboard Realtek sound. So, is it worth getting the X-Fi, or is it pointless on a relatively cheap set of headphones? Or would I be better buying a better set of headphones, and sticking with the onboard sound? I can't afford both

Thanks in advance

 

[Crazy9000]

Laptop sound is so bad that I'm going to have to recommend getting any sort of sound device first. I haven't heard the x-fi go, but I'm sure it's alright, especially with your headphones.

You really don't have a lot of portable options that I've seen.. the only higher quality small dac I know of is this one, but it's a lot more then the x-fi : http://www.headphone.com/headphone-a...al-bithead.php

 

[Simca]

Musiland 02 is cheaper than that one. You can find it on ebay for $120.

You could also go with a uDAC for like 100, but you might as well go with the Musiland for the extra 20 bucks.

Laptop on board IS awful.

But of course, you'll want to upgrade to better headphones as well.

 

[runningmann]

x-fi will be fine with those headphones. If you really are in need of a fix, try the x-fi, and upgrade to some koss portapros- the BEST headphones for a tight budget.

http://www.amazon.com/Koss-PortaPro-.../dp/B00001P4ZH

 

[Drewgy]

I had the x-fi surround external usb sound card. It's terrible man, awful drivers and the audio crackles and is out of sync with the picture. I'd suggest the musiland as well, I've heard very good things about it.

 

[Crazy9000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simca Musiland 02 is cheaper than that one. You can find it on ebay for $120. You could also go with a uDAC for like 100, but you might as well go with the Musiland for the extra 20 bucks. Laptop on board IS awful. But of course, you'll want to upgrade to better headphones as well.

The musiland 02 is kind of big for a laptop, and looks like it needs to be plugged in as well. The uDAC looks like it could be a better choice then the x-fi, and not too much more.

 

[pow3rtr1p]

Emu 0404 is pretty good for what you're looking at, but expensive. A decent USB DAC is your best bet, though.

 

[Witchdoctor]

Xfi = win

 

[Crazy9000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pow3rtr1p Emu 0404 is pretty good for what you're looking at, but expensive. A decent USB DAC is your best bet, though.

I guess it depends on how portable he needs it to be. I used to use my 0202 with my laptop, but it's really way too big to do any sort of traveling with.

 

[pow3rtr1p]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy9000 I guess it depends on how portable he needs it to be. I used to use my 0202 with my laptop, but it's really way too big to do any sort of traveling with.

If you're traveling, your best bet is to invest in a decent portable media player, not try to get good sound out of a netbook.

 

[japan1]

Portability isn't a problem really, a bigger problem is cost and availability in the UK. The Musiland 02 costs 4 times more than the X-Fi, a little out of my relatively tight budget.

Thanks for the replies so far, shall be rep'd

 

[Simca]

Going cheap... I would say choose this.

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA2...7771208&sr=8-1

 

[Crazy9000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simca Going cheap... I would say choose this. http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA2...7771208&sr=8-1

looks like amazon uk has that: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-UC...7771621&sr=8-1

 

[Simca]

Yeah, forgot to put that into UK format, but you get the idea

I'd say that's better than the Xfi-go

 

[japan1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simca Going cheap... I would say choose this. http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA2...7771208&sr=8-1

Ah thank you!

So, how would this compare to the X-Fi Go? Swaying towards that as its a little cheaper

 

[Xombie]

Personally I'd go for the NuForce uDAC.