Creative Super X-Fi Air review: Surround-sound magic inside Bluetooth headphones - ingramlighbothe

Before this year we reviewed the new Super X-Fi Amp from Creative, and since then it's continued to baffle Pine Tree State and the people I demo it for. Now Creative has taken the cookie-cutter amazing audio processing technology and packed it into a pair of over-the-ear Bluetooth headphones known as the Super X-Fi Air. Unfortunately the headphones themselves are not arsenic amazing equally the tech they contain, but they motionless offer some great features for the price.

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Super X-Fi technology

To recap what Fantastic X-Fi is, information technology's audio software processing that simulates a surround-voice loudspeaker frame-up, and accurately reflects that setup with just a pair of stereo headphones. Information technology does this by taking scans of your ears and face and pairing it with point audio algorithms—a specialized mix that has non been finished in front in the consumer sound space.

Thanks to this technology, which was years in the making, Super X-Fi is easy the best implimentation of 'virtual' border sound I've always used. Not only does the positional sound work bang-up with PC gaming and movies, it kit and caboodle wonders for simple mono and stereo sound sources that contain depth information in the recordings. Under the right luck it can bring out the superfine of whatever you are hearing to and present it to you in a beautiful and virtual way, like listening to high-end speakers.

Adam St. Patrick Sir James Murray/IDG

The original way to use Super X-Fi was with a USB-C based dongle that plugged into a device happening unrivaled side, and to whatsoever headphones featuring a 3.5mm headphone gob on the separate (officially supported headphones worked best). The SXFI Air headphones are the low wireless option to come from Fictive.

SXFI Air hardware

While the Superintendent X-Fi technology contained within the SXFI Air headphones is a ground-breakage feature, the headphones themselves are non as impressive. They do have some great features like coagulated earpads, customizable RGB lighting rings, and an alternative to play music off a intrinsical Coyote State card slot, a feature I especially like. Battery life is jolly great Eastern Samoa well, and the overall build quality feels stalwart. But the headphones are a bit heavier than I would've likable, and at that place is very little padding at the top of the inning of the head, resulting in quicker fatigue.

Adam Patrick Murray/IDG

The SXFI Air also doesn't have the same fit and finish as the SXFI Amp, which had a premium look and tone with its dongle aim. I actually think back the Sony WH-1000XM3 noise-cancelling headphones have more design linguistic process in uncouth than these two Creative products. And while style isn't the entirely important constituent when considering buying headphones, it does matter, especially when mass wear them while out and about.

Luckily the large, flat plastic sides were very conducive to victimization swipe and knock controls, a role I don't use all the meter but is nice to receive. Besides the basic power and conjugation buttons, the SXFI Air also has a consecrate push button for turning on and off the Topnotch X-Fi processing quickly, similar to the SXFI AMP.

Adam Patrick James Augustus Murray/IDG

The Bluetooth functionality is primarily used for phones and tablets and syncs up with the same Super X-Fi app A the dongle. On that point you can trade profiles, adjust EQ, and turn cancelled processing easily. Unfortunately, at that place's a livelong offprint SXFI Air app that needs to be loaded ready to change the lighting—I want that have were included principally app.

Systematic to use the full functionality of the SXFI Air with your PC, comfort, or Macintosh, you'll have to connect via the USB-C cable television located on the left ear cup. That USB-C interface is also where the headphones charge.

SXFI Air audio quality

With all that said, the virtually outstanding partly of any pair of headphones is the audio quality, and this is where the SXFI Aura is a little of a letdown. Don't get me wrong—there are nary glaring issues with the sound coming out of these headphones, they are perfectly average for their price pointedness. That should be a good thing, justly? It should be, but when Constructive releases amazing tech inside a 'just-OK' set of headphones, that puts a bit of a damper along the live. The Super X-Fi processing is revolutionist itself and really shines the world-class when mated with nicer headphones.

Another part of the letdown stems from the headphones' design, which falls into a weird spot between closed and open-backed. There's not adequate closing off to make them comfortable in loud environments, and without haphazardness stifling places wish trains and planes aren't ideal either. In most situations I actually prefer open-backed headphones, especially when using the Super X-Fi.

More importantly, I was let down past the bass reproduction from the drivers. These solid-performing headphones offer clear highlights and plenty of volume, but at that place's a disappointing lack of low-end punch and rumble, things I'd normally expect from drivers of this size up. Whether using the headphones with Super X-Fi on or off, I was craving much from the bass part in games and music. In the music I was hearing to, kick drums in particular were off, having that prissy first thump simply lacking a rumbled surveil-direct in the combine—something Equivalent can kettle of fish only if slightly.

Remember, for the price you're getting a solid headphone undergo. It reasonable didn't blow me away like its Amp cousin-german did. I don't have insight into Creative's reasoning with this product, but I wish the company had aimed for a high-end experience, especially considering how other costly headphones, like the $300 Bose QC 35 II, are already popular.

Super X-Fi Amp vs Air

So which version of Super X-Fi would I rather have? Unlike my colleague Gordon Mah Ung, who uses his Super X-Fi Amp to listen to music, I habit Super X-Fi chiefly when I'm gaming at base on my PC operating theatre Nintendo Switch. I leave admit it's very nice to have a cordless experience when listening to music on my earpiece, but I primarliy use earbuds for that.

While I disfavor having cables cluttering my desk, I've already invested with in a couple of dainty pairs of headphones that I love and have waterworn for many many years. I would take in to say I prefer the SXFI A because of its flexiblity in phone selection, and its small form broker.

Adam Saint Patrick George Gilbert Aime Murphy/IDG

Conclusion

Despite its shortcomings, for just $10 more than the SXFI Amp itself the SXFI Air headphones can actually be viewed as a tremendous plenty. IT's a not bad style to get the Superior X-Fi technology in your ears if you don't already bear a ton of money invested in nicer headphones.

But if you do personal pumped headphones that lawsuit your style or audio tastes, then the SXFI Air isn't going to pull you in—you'd probably better off purchasing the SXFI Amp instead. It's actually worth acquiring Super X-Fi in either form it to know the audio magic that I love. It's just a shame I didn't dear the headphones as much.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/397647/creative-super-x-fi-air-review-surround-sound-bluetooth-headphones.html

Posted by: ingramlighbothe.blogspot.com

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