|
 Creative XmodThe Creative Xmod gives digital music and movies a surprising audio punch. Price:
$79
By Jeffrey L. Wilson 
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 after firing up this ingenious device. Whether we were listening using headphones or a set of 2.1 speakers, movies and music sounded clearer and crisper. The X-Fi 24-bit Crystalizer restores the sound elements lost during compression, and the X-Fi CMSS 3D re-creates surround sound with nine virtual speakers.
We enjoyed clear highs, punchy lows, and how the Xmod’s CMSS 3D placed vocals in a different area than standard earbuds or headphones do. Vocals seemed to come from an area in front of us instead of from the ear, which opens the soundscape. Despite the impressive sound quality, which is marred by a faint hissing, our only other complaint is that the candy-bar–sized device requires an AC adapter for power when connected to an MP3 player. Still, the benefits of the Xmod outweigh its shortcomings, and we’d rather listen to audio with it than without. Compare Prices | Creative Xmod Specifications
Featured Site Sponsors
|
 |
|
