X-Fi Platinum working really bad

Hello guys! first time for me asking for computer solutions on a forum so please point out if i'm doing anything wrong.

Anyways i'm having some problems with my X-Fi Platinum card and can't for the life of me find out what's wrong.

The sound is working but it's reaaally low, Have to crank the speakers(Z-5500) halfway to have a normal volume but this results in alot of static sounds when no sound is playing which is really annoying.

And i have to use Stereo settings aswell cause if i use 5.1 i get the words most awful BOOM from the bass unit.

I have the latest drivers, windows 7 64bit and even tried downloading some windows 7 specific tools but nothing seems to work.

And also my microphone seems to have taken a beating about this since when i speak people tell me it sounds like i'm sitting on a airport runway with a Boeing 747 taking off right next to me.

Anyways if anyone would take some time out of their life and help me i would really appreciate it.

Thanks in Advance

Idolator, welcome to the forums.

One thing to check first,



Don't know how or why, but occasionally after installing the drivers, the individual speaker levels will be lower than the main volume.

Also are you connected to the speakers via digital or analogue?

For the mic have a poke around in the Windows settings. Make sure the mic boost is enabled, try different levels, and on the Advanced tab try a lower setting or two and see if that helps.

hehe sorry for maybe being retarded but what's the difference between analog and digital connectors for the speakers?^^

With the z5500 if you use the digital connection, the speakers are doing the decoding using their own built-in DAC. If using analogue it is using the DAC on the sound card. In your case the X-Fi has a much better DAC on it, hence better sound when using the analogue connection.

and how would i go by using this analog connection? :P