Creative X-Fi Manual

Introduction

Your versatile Creative X-Fi: USB Audio is an external USB audio device and portable audio enhancer that provides you with a great new listening experience. There is no software to install, so once you connect X-Fi: USB Audio to earphones or stereo speakers, and your PC or Mac^®, you are ready to experience great audio.
Read on to learn how to get started with your new X-Fi: USB Audio!

Your X-Fi: USB Audio

1. Select button
   Press and release to switch through Volume, X-Fi Crystalizer™ or X-Fi CMSS^®-3D modes.
   From Volume mode, press twice to adjust the X-Fi Crystalizer level, or press three times to adjust the X-Fi CMSS-3D level.
2. USB port
3. Line-Out jack
4. LED indicators
   Shows you which mode you are in. The LED flashes faster or slower when you increase or decrease an X-Fi enhancement level.
   The volume LED lights up in red when you mute the sound.
5. Level Control/Mute
   Press to mute the sound. Press again to unmute.
   Turn the control to increase or decrease the volume or enhancement level.
6. X-Fi CMSS-3D switch
   Slide the switch to the "On" position to enjoy the X-Fi CMSS-3D enhancement.
7. Headphone jack
8. Line-In/Microphone jack
9. X-Fi Crystalizer switch

Slide the switch to the "On" position to enjoy the X-Fi Crystalizer enhancement.

About X-Fi

X-Fi is the new audio standard from Creative Labs that enhances and augments your existing music and movies to a level beyond Studio Quality. Studio Quality refers to the performance as the artist originally intended, a performance with presence and depth.
Studio Quality is lost when the recording is compressed to stereo CD audio format. The audio quality is further compromised when CD audio is compressed to MP3 or iTunes^® music formats, resulting in poor audio fidelity and loss of life to the music.
X-Fi Technology is able to restore the details and vibrance of your music that were lost during CD and MP3 compression and lets you enjoy all your music and movies in surround sound on virtually all speaker systems or headphones.

About X-Fi Crystalizer
X-Fi Crystalizer analyzes audio and identifies the elements that have been restricted/damaged during compression and then re-masters the audio by selective enhancement. X-Fi Crystalizer instantaneously transforms your CDs and MP3s to Studio Quality music.

About X-Fi CMSS-3D
X-Fi CMSS-3D intelligently remixes the audio into surround sound to match the speaker system or headphones you have. X-Fi CMSS-3D uses advanced techniques to extract specific audio elements, such as voice and ambiance, to the center and surrounding channels respectively.
X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual - Immersive surround sound over two speakers.
X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone - Immersive surround sound over headphones.

Connecting Devices

It's easy to get great sound from your PC or Mac. Just connect X-Fi: USB Audio to your computer, earphones or speakers, and and slide the X-Fi Crystalizer and X-Fi CMSS-3D switches to the "On" position.

Connecting to your computer
Using a USB cable, connect your X-Fi: USB Audio directly to a USB port on your computer or a USB hub.
X-Fi: USB Audio retains the X-Fi Crystalizer and X-Fi CMSS-3D level settings from the last time you used it with your computer.

1. USB port
2. USB cable

NOTES

• Connecting X-Fi: USB Audio to your computer channels audio output from your computer's audio connectors to X-Fi: USB Audio.
• After connecting X-Fi: USB Audio to your PC or Mac, connect earphones or speakers. See "Enjoying sound from X-Fi: USB Audio".

Enjoying sound from X-Fi: USB Audio
Connect X-Fi: USB Audio to your earphones for personal enjoyment, or to your speaker system to share the experience with everyone in the room.

1. Line-Out jack
2. Line-Out cable with 3.5mm stereo connector (not included)
3. Stereo speakers
4. Earphones
5. Headphone jack

NOTES

• When you connect earphones and speakers at the same time, X-Fi: USB Audio channels sound to your earphones instead of your speakers. To hear sound from your speakers, disconnect the earphones.
• For the best listening experience, position your speakers about 0.5 metres or 1.5 feet apart, and at a height around your ear level.
• Before using earphones, decrease the volume level on X-Fi: USB Audio or from your computer.

Adjusting volume

Before adjusting the volume, check that the Volume LED is lit in blue. If not, press and release the Select button until the Volume LED lights up in blue. If the Volume LED is red, press the Level Control to unmute the volume.

1. Turn the Level Control clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the volume.

Customizing X-Fi enhancement levels

Customizing X-Fi Crystalizer

1. In Volume mode, press the Select button twice. The X-Fi Crystalizer LED flashes.
2. Turn the Level Control clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the level.
   The higher the level, the faster the LED flashes.

Customizing X-Fi CMSS-3D

1. In Volume mode, press the Select button three times. The X-Fi CMSS-3D LED flashes.
2. Turn the Level Control clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the level.
   The higher the level, the faster the LED flashes.

NOTES

• If the X-Fi Crystalizer or X-Fi CMSS-3D switches are not set to the "On" position, adjusting the levels will only have a temporary effect on the sound.
• Volume mode is the default. X-Fi Crystalizer and X-Fi CMSS-3D modes automatically switch to Volume mode after 30 seconds.

Using a Microphone with X-Fi: USB Audio

Connect a microphone to the Line-In/Microphone jack to:

• make microphone recordings of speeches, lectures or a performance.
• enjoy Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications, such as Skype™.

NOTES

• X-Fi enhancements are only available to audio output during playback, and are not applied to recordings made from the X-Fi: USB Audio Line-In/Microphone jack.
• To adjust recording levels, use your favorite mixer or level control application for your PC or Mac.

Connecting to an external stereo audio source

External audio sources that you can connect to X-Fi: USB Audio include MP3 players, CD players, and any other stereo audio source with a line-out jack.
Connect a power adapter (sold separately) and an external audio source to X-Fi: USB Audio as shown in the diagram below. Disconnect X-Fi: USB Audio from your computer before proceeding.

1. Power adapter (sold separately)
2. USB Connector
3. Line-In/Microphone jack
4. Line-In cable with 3.5mm connector (not included)
5. Your digital audio player or other external stereo audio source

NOTES

• Depending on your region of purchase, your power adapter may differ from the one shown here.
• If you connect both your computer and external audio source to X-Fi: USB Audio, you will only hear sound played back from your computer.
• Each time you connect X-Fi: USB Audio to the power adapter, the volume level reverts to the default.

FAQs

I can't hear any sound from my earphones or speakers.
Check that:

• your speaker system's power is turned on.
• X-Fi: USB Audio is powered from your computer, or the power adapter.
• the volume is not muted. Press the Level Control to unmute.
• you have connected the earphones or speakers to X-Fi: USB Audio. When you connect X-Fi: USB Audio to your computer, audio output from your computer is channeled to X-Fi: USB Audio.
• you have disconnected your earphones from X-Fi: USB Audio. This applies only if if you want to hear sound from speakers.

I've adjusted an X-Fi enhancement level, but I only hear a difference for a few seconds.
The X-Fi enhancement switches are not set to the "On" position. Slide the switch to the "On" position to enjoy the difference.

I hear audio distortion when using an X-Fi enhancement

Depending on the type of audio source, distortion may occur when using an X-Fi enhancement at high levels. Decrease the enhancement level until the distortion goes away.

Can I hear what I'm recording from the X-Fi: USB Audio Line-in jack?
Monitoring of recordings is not available. You can only check your recording afterwards.

Can I use noise-cancelling headphones or other special audio-enhancing headphones with X-Fi: USB Audio?
When using headphones or earphones with special audio-enhancing features, disable the effects on the headphones or earphones before using it with X-Fi: USB Audio. The audio enhancements on the headphones or earphones may interfere with the X-Fi enhancements on X-Fi: USB Audio.

How do I configure DVD playback for surround sound, if I play it on my PC or Mac?
On your software DVD player, configure the player for 5.1 output.

My notebook displays a warning message when I connect X-Fi: USB Audio.
Certain models of notebooks are highly sensitive to the amount of power initially drawn by USB-compatible devices. Creative has tested X-Fi: USB Audio with many hardware platforms and using X-Fi: USB Audio with your notebook will not result in damage from power draw.

How do I reset the X-Fi enhancements to their default level?

1. Press the Select button twice so that the X-Fi Crystalizer LED starts blinking.
2. Press and hold the Select button and the Level Control until all three LEDs blink three times. The enhancements are now at the default level.

More Information

Creative Knowledge Base
Resolve and troubleshoot technical queries at Creative's 24-hour self-help Knowledge Base. Go to www.creative.com, select your region and then select Support.

Product Registration
Registering your product ensures you receive the most appropriate service and product support available. You can register your product by filling in the registration card (where applicable) or at www.creative.com/register.
Please note that your warranty rights are not dependent on product registration.

General Specifications

Connectivity

• USB Mini-B
• Line Out - 3.5mm (1/8") Stereo jack
• Line In / Mic in - 3.5mm (1/8") Stereo jack
• Headphone Out - 3.5mm (1/8") Stereo jack

X-Fi Technology

• X-Fi Crystalizer
• X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual
• X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone

Earphone Specifications

• Frequency Range: 140 Hz ~ 20 KHz
• Sensitivity: 112 dB ± 3 dB (I/P Level: 1 mW)
• Impedance: 32 ohm ± 15%
• Plug: 3.5 mm (1/8") stereo miniplug.

Power Adapter (sold separately)

• Output Voltage: 5V +/- 5%
• Output Current: 1A

Safety Information

Refer to the following information to use your product safely, and to reduce the chance of electric shock, short-circuiting, damage, fire, hearing impairment or other hazards.
NOTES Improper handling may void the warranty for your product. For more information, read the warranty available with your product.

• Do not dismantle or attempt to repair your product. Refer all servicing to authorized repair agents.
• Do not expose your product to temperatures outside the range of 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F).
• Do not pierce, crush or set fire to your product.
• Keep your product away from strong magnetic objects.
• Do not subject your product to excessive force or impact.
• Do not expose your product to water or moisture.
  If your product is moisture-resistant (see product packaging for details), take care not to immerse your product in water or expose it to rain.
• Do not listen to audio at high volume for prolonged periods of time.
• When a conductive apparatus such as earphones, is used in close proximity with a CRT television or CRT monitor, the latter may emit an electrostatic discharge. This electrostatic discharge can be felt as a static shock. While this static shock is usually harmless, it is good practice to avoid close contact with CRT devices when using earphones.