"Tom" wrote:

Hi guys...

Just bought one, reviews seemed mostly positive, with the exception of a
common prob being some crackling or popping due to the USB connection, but
was said that a high processor speed would rectify this.

I'm running a AMD XP 2.6 with 1.0GB DDR 2700 RAM

Am I likely to experience any probs when it arrives ina couple of days?

And if anyone has one of these, could they let me know their thoughts? I'm
particulary interested in mp3 playback and mic recording. (I have 4.1
analogue speakers)

I do not know for what purpose you bought yours....
Basically I bought it to sample vinyl at 24bit analogue and have a soundcard which
was less prone to pick up noise from the computer itself. 1.5 meter USB cable, 1
PentiumII@266Mhz laptop an many recordings later I find that the 24 bits are not for
recording, and indeed the damn thing doesn't do much 24bit anyway. But for playing to
the device and decoding into whatever it apparantly will do 24bit. Needless to say I
do not use it for playing back anything or editing. Also I found that a CSMS
protected sound streamfrom my KISS-1302 DVD S/PDIF output entering the device on the
rear S/PDIF COAX connector will yield a non-CSMS signal on the front S/PDIF TOSLINK
connector. But as my DVD player doesn't output trackmarks only marks the bits
copyrighted I cannot tell if it also strips the trackmarks.
It is quiet, hiogs the bandwidth (as USB v1.1 devices are prone to do) I cannot
imagine they would upgrade it for USB v2.0 that would probably require HW mods.
Given that it supposedly holds a Dolby decoder chip it should worth the money if you
want to decode stuff for surround, but wether that work (and to what degree) someone
else will have to tell.
I am a bit sour now as I bought a year or so ago and now the SoundBlaster MP3+ is out
at roughly 1/4 the price of the Extigy, and it does what I do now: 16bit analog in
and ocasionally play sounds to my MiniDisc (a portable Sony) through the optical out.
So these days it is ever somore true that what is expensive state of the art now, is
tomorrows cheap junk. And the Extigy was junk to start with, its specs being
obfuscated enough so that everyone buys it, only to find out how little it does. I
have yet to see a digital signal enter the recording software and no erros pop up
anywhere, o either it is not supposed to be albe to sample a digital input, only pass
it through to Dolby decoding (makes sense only from a production point of view, not a
user point of view though). I would say the Extigy was a clever piece of marketing -
I bought it thinking it was useful - but the quality it reeks does not stand abnove
the rest, and I'd have chosen and M-Audio device instead which was is a semi-pro
device. I may get flamed be some people who say this is a great device, and it
probably is for those who digital out, only needs a Dolby decoder that works without
turning the computer on, and want to show off some fancy thing. And some gamer may
even defend it, but USB devices are poor for gaming purposes both in regard to
bandwidth but also timing issues evolve once you want to use USB for anything other
than ONE device or a simple mouse and keyboard.

The programs that are thrown on the accompanying disc aren't worth a lot, I seem to
recall my feeling of their ability was that of lite versions, demoware and so on.
Almost useful but essential features either missing or upgradable.
Since its launch Creative has smoothed the public info regarding analog samping
bitdepth to be even less specific than before, so now Creative have once again lived
up to their name, Creative product specs.
I am through buying stuff that _looks_ cool and useful on a rap sheet, as generally
they lack the usefulness and the ability to be useful for more than one specific
thing at a time or you find yourself working the fancy gadget only to find a rubber
chicken trapped inside. This is one of the few creative products I have not had to
replace through warranty or have serviced at my inconvenience.... yet!

-breiler