Creative's Xmod - External Device that Improves Music Playback Quality

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dipdude

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Creative, today announced that it has invented the Creative Xmod, a device based upon its X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio platform that improves music playback quality for MP3, WMA, iTunes or AAC songs to beyond the original CD quality. The Creative Xmod is a small device just about the size of a candy bar. It connects between stereo speakers or headphones and either a PC, Mac, iPod, ZEN or any MP3 player, and it dramatically improves the listening experience by upconverting the music during playback to the X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity standard - very high-quality 24-bit surround audio. The Creative Xmod enhances the low and high frequencies while improving audio dynamics for cleaner, richer sound that surpasses the original audio CD.

Without requiring to install any software, it takes just seconds to connect to a PC or Mac, allowing users to instantly improve the playback quality of their music to the X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity experience. For connecting iPod, ZEN or any MP3 players to the Creative Xmod, an optional AC power adaptor is required.

"There are more than 100 million people who listen to MP3, WMA or AAC music on their PCs, Macs or iPod or ZEN players, but the quality of these compressed music are highly compromised. The Creative Xmod enables them to listen to their music with audio that sounds even better than CDs." said Sim Wong Hoo, chairman and CEO of Creative. "Now with Creative Xmod, all your music is instantly upconverted to Xtreme Fidelity standard in realtime through a simple and compact device!"

There is no need to re-purchase music in a new format to experience X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity. Just connecting the Creative Xmod enables Mac users to experience award-winning X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio for the first time, and PC users can now enjoy it for the first time on the notebook. The Creative Xmod does not require cumbersome or time-consuming conversion of files - it literally connects in seconds to play back existing music files in X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity.

X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity provides two important audio functions, X-Fi Crystalizer and X-Fi CMSS-3D, which improve and enhance music listening experiences. The X-Fi Crystalizer upconverts MP3 music by analyzing and identifying which parts of the audio stream have been truncated or damaged during compression. It intelligently and selectively restores the highs and lows such as the snare drums, basses, cymbals crashes and guitar plucking that are damaged during the compression of MP3s.

Ideal for movies or an immersive audio experience, X-Fi CMSS-3D creates virtual surround sound through speakers or headphones. It expands audio for superior headphone listening so music completely surrounds the listener like a multi-channel speaker system instead of sounding like it is stuck between the headphones. X-Fi CMSS-3D also uses advanced techniques to place specific audio elements, such as the voice of a movie character, in the virtual center channel while ambiance is played through virtual surround channels.

Pricing and Availability

The Creative Xmod will be available in October at a suggested retail price of US$79.99.

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Creative Worldwide: Pressroom: Press Releases
 
Thats a gr8 innovative device must say.

A Xfi Stereo amp [is what it can be called] for $80 = 3800Rs is a nice buy.

Is the output restriced to 2 Channel or does it upmix to 5.1 Channel also.
 
Looks good ... now only if it really does improve the SQ, though last time I used CMSS it sucked, wonder if this is any better.
 
just provides the crystallizer & cmss3d ... both of which have not been confirmed to actually help the audio experience ... some like it , most dont lol
 
Err whats so special :S. From the specs, it looks like a cheap USB DAC... M-Audio Transit has been arnd for ages :P.
 
Bullcrap.....something that is lost once, is not retrievable. There's NO way you can improve on a mp3's fidelity, there's only clever enhancement.
 
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