Creative tunes laptop-friendly X-Fi audio enhancer to UK
Creative announced its X-Fi ExpressCard laptop sound module in Japan more than a month ago, but it's now confirmed the add-on is coming to the UK.
Creative's SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio...
Dubbed the SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook, the add-in has analogue and digital optical 3.5mm input and output ports, and a proprietary connector that hook up to a bundled 7.1-channel output dongle.
The card incorporates sound tweaking technology that can reconstruct audio detail lost when music is compressed using 'lossy' sound formats like MP3. In April, Creative was smacked on the wrist by the UK's Advertising Standards Authority for claiming the system produces better sound quality than you get off a CD. These days, the company says its technology delivers "crystal clarity".
...and its 7.1-channel output dongle
The SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook also provides a 3D sound enhancement, capable of generating a more spacey sound even from two speakers or a pair of earphones, Creative claimed. And it'll output 7.1 sound, of course - Creative will pitch the product at punters who want to play music and movies on their living room laptop.
The Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook is due to hit shop shelves at the and of the month. It'll be priced at around £60.
COMMENTS
but where's the dongle?
The trouble is finding the "Speaker Docking Module". No vendor is advertising it yet. The Creative sites for the US, Canada, the UK and Asia don't have it either.
