XFi Titanium, W764Pro, Hollow/Flat sound

[DrownedOut]

Did a fresh install of Windows 7 64bit Pro. I have done every windows update, installed mobo chipset drivers, and then my graphics drivers. A few Steam games as well. Before the install the X-Fi Titanium card had amazing sound with my Sennhesier HD 595s. I had zero complaints and loved every second of it.

I then proceeded to go for the sound drivers for my X-Fi Titanium PCI-E card. Everything installs fine, the card is recognized properly, but the sound quality is bad. It is hollow and flat sounding, grating on the ears. There is likewise the occasional crackle and pop. The headphones work 100% fine on other computers, likewise I tested with functioning HD 280Pros and the problem is specific to the software.

0. Windows 7 auto detects the hardware and installs some software. poor quality
1. I tried to install the drivers from the install cd. = poor quality like described
2. I then attempted the auto update with latest drivers from the official site = poor quality, no change
3. I then installed the Support Pack 2.5 as is posted in the sticky thread here. = poor quality, no change
4. I then attempted a reinstall from the install cd, this time using only a minimum install. = no change, poor quality
5. I then installed only a minimum driver installation from the official site. = same problem, poor quality

Note: After every install attempt I would completely uninstall all related software, restart, run CCleaner.

The low quality, somewhat hollow, flat sound is persistent through all applications. It's on youtube videos, it's in all my games from StarCraft II to Trackmania 2, to Half-Life 2.

I had a similar issue when I originally purchased the card. After a number of different driver attempts however I found one that had finally worked.

This time I am stuck and looking for any help and feedback, suggestions or otherwise advice. So far the best advice has been to stop using Creative products and go for something like an ASUS Xonar card.

AMD x4 965BE 3.4GHz, 4GB Corsair XMS, 5870 HD 1GB, X-Fi Titanium PCI-E

I'm somewhat frustrated because it was working 100% fine two days ago.

 

[fireberd]

Do you have any sound "enhancements" such as Reverb, Chorus, etc turned on? That would cause it to sound "hollow", etc. I had a SoundBlaster installed and remember a panel with all those items in it. Don't remember how to access it.

I didn't have any PC sound problems with my SoundBlaster Xfi, but I had to remove it as it was interferring with my Sonar recording program and my regular recording interface unit. I'm now using an HT Omega "Striker 7.1" (PCI) sound card and it does not interfere with my recording studio software.

 

[DrownedOut]

There are no sound enhancments on. From the sound options Tone Tab the Bass Balance and Treble are at default 0.0dB. For the Creative Console Launcher settings there are many settings i've tried toggling them all. They do change what I hear, such as the X-Fi crystalizer making it clearer, the CMSS-3D gives better 3D sound, etc. I have changed EAX effects on and off, and the sound changes somewhat accordingly.

But, and I don't know how to phrase this too well, the changes still don't make it sound good. It's like I'm running a pair of dodgy 20 dollar headphones through onboard sound. While the settings change something, it's still a pair of dodgy 20 dollar headphones through onboard sound. It's like whatever it was that actually gives the soundcard it's quality is gone. This was the same problem I had originally, but somehow it fixed itself after a few driver attempts. It was like one of the drivers magically made it work like it was supposed to. But I've had no such luck with the fresh install.

EDIT: Could it be some form of codec thats missing? Or some other 3rd party software?

 

[fireberd]

Have you tried reseating the Xfi card? (with the PC powered off, unplug the card then reinstall). I've seen a lot of flakey problems because of a seating problem.

Do you have the integrated audio disabled in the BIOS? I've also seen that interfere and cause a lot of strange problems if it's not disabled in the BIOS.

 

[Wordsworth]

It's been awhile since I had the old Audigy installed and from what I can find on the Internet Creative's software looks abit different, but where is the equalizer? Sounds to me like you're in need of using it.

I have an Asus Xonar card with original Klipsch Promedia 5.1 speakers and if I set the equalizer to flat across the spectrum (30 to 16k), the sound is obviously very flat, not rich and full. I have a User Defined equalizer setting that I've found sounds very good with most kinds of music.

But yea, if I want to show how poorly the system can sound with this Xonar card, I can set the equalizer to flat. As I remember, I did the same with the Audigy software.

 

[DrownedOut]

Have you tried reseating the Xfi card? (with the PC powered off, unplug the card then reinstall). I've seen a lot of flakey problems because of a seating problem.

Do you have the integrated audio disabled in the BIOS? I've also seen that interfere and cause a lot of strange problems if it's not disabled in the BIOS.

I went into BIOS and disabled onboard sound, confirmed no sound by testing through the motherboard jack. I reseated the card into a lower slot after doing a full uninstall of sound drivers. W7 recognized it fine and proceeded to download drivers as it automatically does.

No change, same poor quality.

Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[DrownedOut]

It's been awhile since I had the old Audigy installed and from what I can find on the Internet Creative's software looks abit different, but where is the equalizer? Sounds to me like you're in need of using it.

I have an Asus Xonar card with original Klipsch Promedia 5.1 speakers and if I set the equalizer to flat across the spectrum (30 to 16k), the sound is obviously very flat, not rich and full. I have a User Defined equalizer setting that I've found sounds very good with most kinds of music.

But yea, if I want to show how poorly the system can sound with this Xonar card, I can set the equalizer to flat. As I remember, I did the same with the Audigy software.

The equalizer is on the Creative Console Launcher. I have tested every setting it has available. They have effects, but it's the same problem where the overall quality is just bad. It almost reminds me of having some old headphones that had a surround switch, they sounded horrible until you hit the switch to turn the surround sound on. At this point I'm not sure what to do.

 

[1Bowtie]

Your probably not going to like my suggestion and just so you know i have a Creative X=Fi Fatality Champion w/Klipshish 5.1 speakers. I just did two clean installs of Win 7 HP and this is what worked for me and others. On a clean install only have your OS hdd plugged in, take the sound card out of the case, install the os then the chipset (motherboard) driver, followed by the video driver, shut down the computer and reinstall the sound card, start back up and go to Creative and only get the latest driver only for your card, dll and run, go in and set it up for your setup, test it, then your ready to install any other drivers you need. Garrantied to work.

 

[Wordsworth]

The equalizer is on the Creative Console Launcher. I have tested every setting it has available. They have effects, but it's the same problem where the overall quality is just bad. It almost reminds me of having some old headphones that had a surround switch, they sounded horrible until you hit the switch to turn the surround sound on. At this point I'm not sure what to do.

You could try 1Bowtie's method of a complete clean install with minimal drivers installed before installing the card and Creative software.

You might also try daniel k's drivers; as I recall, I had the best success with those drivers on the old Audigy under Windows 7 before going with the Xonar card.

For myself, I grew tired of the headaches I had with Creative. I went with the Xonar because it really is a small footprint where software is concerned (driver and one small program, Audio Center). The install was quick and simple.

I edited out the download page for daniel k's drivers because I can't find a good download site at the moment, sorry.

 

[1Bowtie]

I would not recommend daniel k's drivers, they are hacked Creative drivers and i would stay away from them. Creative drivers work just fine if you follow the directions i have given.

 

[Wordsworth]

They are hacked drivers, and there was controversy a couple of years ago concerning them and Creative. Nevertheless, they solved problems I was having at the time that Creative, at least then, was not resolving.

 

[DrownedOut]

Thank you for the suggestion 1Bowtie. I think that's pretty much what I did on my initial install. Or are you saying that by removing the card initially during OS install wll do the trick?

So far I have done the following, doing a complete uninstall each time. Even so far as to rebooting into safe mode after uninstalling and using driver sweeper for creative drivers.

- Windows 7 Automatic Update (this installs the latest base drivers and autoupdate feature directly from Creative)
- Full CD Install
- Full CD Install followed by Full Web Update
- Minimum CD Install - drivers and cclauncher only
- Full Support Pack 2.5 Install
- Full Support Pack 2.5 Install followed by Full Web Update
- X-Fi Titanium driver version 2.17.0008 only
- X-Fi Titanium driver version 2.17.0007 only
- X-Fi Titanium driver version 2.17.0008B only

(I also have reseated the soundcard and attempted turning off onboard sound.)

As far as I know there are no other driver versions for the X-Fi Titanium card.

I have read of a gazillion errors for people with almost every version. Ironically I have had absolutely no install errors or random errors pop up. And it has functioned with every driver version. It's just the quality is poor. Like night and day from two days ago. Like that surround switch just isn't being hit on those old headpones. (just an anology as i'm using Sennheiser HD 595s).

 

[DrownedOut]

Well, I installed the card on an up to date XP system I have. Installed the drivers on cd, worked like it should. Night and day compared to my W7 system right now.

Is there a way to run drivers in compatability mode?

I dread another OS reinstall. But may if that would fix it.

I checked my Newegg purchase records, under the specifications of the card it does not say there is support for Windows 7, only XP and Vista. Although I have had the card working perfectly up until 2 days ago on my W7 system. This my contradict the driver specifications on Creative's site which indicate W7 is supported.

I think either way this is my last Creative purchase.

 

[DrownedOut]

Well. I did another OS reinstall, deleted partition and full clean install.

I removed the sound card beforehand and disconnected the internet connection. I then did the clean OS install. I installed Mobo chipset drivers only. Restarted to complete that. Then I turned the computer off, installed the soundcard and turned the computer back on. Windows 7 recognized the card, but could not connect to the internet to install any drivers. It did appear to do something as I got the usual new hardware icon in the task bar. Still it was only recognized as a generic audio device in the device manager. I then proceeded to do a minimum software install with the CD the soundcard came with. I restarted when I was prompted. And it works.

So apparently, with W7 having internet access and autodownloading the drivers almost instantly it would not work. The way I bypassed that was not having internet access.

I am now doing Windows Updates and am somewhat dreading a potential conflict. But we will see.

Anyhow, Youtube sounds wonderful, my CD's sound wonderful. I will post back after all the Windows Updates to confirm everything is working.

And a big thank you to everyone for helping me with suggestions and potential fixes.

Things like this make me realize what an audiophile I tend to be, I have come to depend on sound quality to enjoy all my games and music.

 

[Wordsworth]

I know where you're coming from with the dread, wondering if it will somehow become skewed with a later update or something. But usually when the Audigy I had was right it was good to go unless I did a rebuild, then trouble could arise again simply doing the first install. Still, I'm not sorry for leaving Creative behind.

Anyway, glad it sounds great again and hope it stays that way for ya.

 

[1Bowtie]

What i have found, the reason for taking the sound card completely out is the video card also makes use of the sound card so by getting the video card set up first and then installing the sound card it doesn't conflict when putting in the sound drivers.

 

[Wordsworth]

The best build sequence with a Creative card is the old trusted one of installing a card at a time as you say. I've found with this Xonar card that everything can be installed in the box, then install Windows, then your drivers in any order, i.e. video driver first, or sound first, it doesn't appear to matter. Awhile back I upgraded the video card leaving the sound card in and it went without a hitch, something I was never able to do with the Live! or Audigy cards. One of the reasons I've been sold on this Xonar.

 

[DrownedOut]

Looks like that dread was not misplaced. The hollow-like sound came back. In fact I think that after doing a side by side comparison, the XP system still sounded better. It was just that I was listening to sound that was poor and even a slight jump seemed better. It took redownloading some games and jumping in before it started to become even more apparent. Especially as a long time FPS veteran. I think if I continue I could eventually get it working, but there is a point where it's no longer worth the trouble.

I hit up newegg and ordered an ASUS Xonar STX. I read reviews and haven't come across the same user feedback about nightmarish drivers. I value the sound for my games, it adds enough to the experience that I cannot really enjoy gaming without a certain amount of quality. And I think that switching to something that will hopefully be more user friendly is going to make me much happier.

Anyhow, thanks again for the help.

 

[Wordsworth]

Bummer on the sound problem returning. Sometimes our best efforts don't resolve things with a given part and it's best to move on.

Hope the Xonar works out great for you. Let us know.

 

[DrownedOut]

Update, because I can't stand those threads that the OP never responded on whether they got it fixed or not.

Ordered the Xonar Essence STX, ended up doing another OS install, because at that point why not. I had the same echo problem with the Xonar. At first I didn't know if it was the card, the drivers, or one of it's various setting. But with 3 different headsets and testing every potential setting possible, from crappy to nice, they all had the same hollow echo sound. I tried 3 different official drivers and an unofficial driver, uninstalling, then booting into safe mode and deleting what was leftover of the drivers with driver sweeper, then installing. Still the same problem. I then tried both cards again on an older XP system I have, it could have been the motherboard or something else, but the sound quality was not where it should be (although it was better than the W7 I use as the main machine). At this point I was just confounded. I know I missed detailing a number of different setup attempts and the like. I think the solution may be singular to my setup. I built the computer myself, and know that most prebuilt systems are tested. Because of that I can't say this would work for anyone else.

But the solution for me was:

Taking out the GPU, making sure all the drivers were gone, and placing the sound card in by itself. Then I simply let W7 do it's first update, ran the autoupdate for Creative, installed just the newest CCLauncher, and it was working. Apparently something happens for my system when the GPU is placed in the machine first. I think it could potentially be W7 doing it's auto-install. Maybe it's the Creative drivers not liking the GPU installed. I really don't know and don't have the expertise to say. But what I do know is that it worked and is back to how it should sound.

I have not tested the Xonar card yet, I'm relaxing a bit after finally getting it working. Maybe tomor I'll give the Xonar card a run through and see if it works (or maybe sounds better).

Anyhow, thank you again for the help and suggestions. I tried everyone of them.