I got in on this in the last drop. While I do enjoy it, if you use any of the DSP stuff (SBX Pro Studio) and not direct mode, it introduces random "pop" like sounds in the audio at around ~2 within 5 minutes. Basically, I can expect to hear a pop or some other flaw added by this device once or twice during a song. I confirmed this by simply skipping backwards a few times and not hearing the pop again, so it obviously wasn't the audio source. Listening to the song with direct mode on also eliminated the noises, but I enjoy the "enhanced" audio.
Most of the time this is not noticeable, and why it doesn't really bother me. However, you will clearly hear them during listening to, say, Florence + The Machine - Cosmic Love (AOL Sessions), which is where I first noticed it. I only mention this because this is advertised to audiophiles who may listen to less busy music/audio, where you will hear this.
mrunknownHey there Mrunkknown. I'm the Product Manager for the X7 and I'd love to get more info from you on your system setup / how you're listening so I can get this to our engineers and / or suggest a solution for you. This should definitely not be happening. If you could send me a PM that would be awesome. Thanks in advance!
mrunknownAs an audiophile who does serious listening, I would like to know more specifics. I'm interested in your possible correspondence with DigitalRonyn, so please keep me and others posted! If there are indeed popping sounds like you described, then it will decide whether I'll still be committed to this drop... Also, did you get the standard or Limited Edition version of the X7?
DigitalRonynCould you fill the rest of us in on your correspondence with mrunknown so then we can be aware of this issue, whether it's highly unique or not? (Ex. Can we expected this to occur on both the standard AND Limited Editions?)
DigitalRonynI may be stupid, I don't see a PM option, let me know where it is.
As for my setup, simply the X7 (Standard Edition) connected via USB using the provided cable. Connected to either one of my headphones, the ATH-M50x or the ATH-AD900C. Windows 10, SB X7 Control Panel version 2.17.24.
I'm not entirely sure how to capture this. Maybe I will stick it on a mic and record the suggested video a few times and try to isolate them. Let me know what you want me to do.
EddyGI recorded this using Audacity and the "What U Hear" input provided by the X7, so the rest of my equipment really has nothing to do with it. These errors were captured in a single listening of Cosmic Love and My Immortal. Cosmic Love (AOL Sessions) is on YouTube, and My Immortal was played locally from a mp3 on my machine.
They were encoded to MP3 simply for size reasons. Any encoding defects were added by myself. The important parts are still there.
If you listen to the audio here: https://app.box.com/s/tmd737wun3gs8xlp52ian6ez3uk16bfd
You will hear the defect, then as soon as I hear it, I jump back to play that section again to see if the defect happens again, and every time it doesn't.
The defects are as Florence is singing "I knew that somehow," and "you left me."
In My Immortal, the glitch is when she says "hand."
Let me know if you need anything else.
mrunknownYeah, I definitely hear the blips. It almost sounds like a mic was un-muted and then muted again, with something brushing up or bumping the mic when it was active. A very likely culprit could be the USB port making the noise-- a jitter, packet error, or just noise coming from the USB port could be the cause. Is there any way for you to try a different digital input, using either a different USB port (if the one you used was 3.0, try 2.0 or vice versa) or a USB port on a USB hub?
mrunknownPersonally, I got the Audioquest Jitterbug USB Filtre to further eliminate possible noise caused by the USB port, but I don't know if you have one on hand... if you do, you could try using it to eliminate blips. Or perhaps anyone else who owns both the filtre and the X7 could test it?
mrunknown@mrunknown - I also own this unit and haven't noticed what you describe, though I do use it more for gaming than for music. Thanks to you and @DigitalRonyn for investigating the issue.
Lateralus@Lateralus - Could you try listening to about 5-10 songs that are familiar to you in the lossless format (Apple Lossless, .FLAC, etc.) or in a less-compressed .MP3 format (higher than 320 kbps) to test for the pops and clicks? Of course, if you don't have time, no need to feel obliged to do the test. But it would simply be a huge favour if you could assist us in this investigation.
EddyGI don't have any USB Filter to use.
The audio was recorded through What U Hear with no Mic plugged in, so it isn't from that. I did have headphones plugged in so I could listen for issues. I can try swapping the USB port I am using, I'll plug it in so it is in another "hub" basically and take a completely different route inside my machine. (USB2 to USB3 hub) and see if that helps.
I only noticed it after any sort of warranty would still apply, so I lived with it. The source material isn't the best of course, like Cosmic Love has it's own issues, but as you heard, it doesn't really matter. The issues are generated somewhere along the line outside of the source audio. A more perfect source would simply make it easier to notice.
I haven't heard anything from DigitalRonyn yet. If someone can please point me to the PM feature of Massdrop, if there is one, I'd appreciate it.
mrunknown@DigitalRonyn - Hi DigitalRonyn! Unfortunately, neither @mrunknown nor I can find the PM feature on Massdrop. Could you specify another means of communication for him to contact you?
mrunknownWell... that's super unfortunate. What laptop / computer brand and model do you have? (in-general; e.g. Dell XPS 15, Apple Macbook Air, Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga, etc.)
EddyGIt's a custom built PC from around 5 years ago. I don't have the exact specs/parts list in front of me, but at the time they were certainly not low-end. It's an i7 CPU (2600k or something, a Sandybridge), 16GB of RAM, at the time of build had GTX560s in SLI, currently a single GTX970. Asus motherboard.
I installed what I think was an updated firmware and driver software last night, but I didn't have time to test. I was pretty sure there was an auto-update system in place, and was confirmed when after the reboot for install, a window came up asking me to check for updates. I guess it doesn't automatically run, which defeats the "auto-update" part of it, so I wasn't aware of a newer version of the drivers and firmware. Will test when I get home tonight.
mrunknownHey there mrunknown, I'm working with our engineering and QA folk on the information you've been able to share. The motherboard manufacture would be very helpful to have since there are different USB controllers, etc utilized. But I've forwarded what you've supplied. You can mail me at socialmedia@creativelabs.com as well if you'd like to go direct with this.
DigitalRonynAll in all, @DigitalRonyn would you agree that this is a rather unique problem that hasn't presented itself very often in this product? Because I've been monitoring the people who have signed onto this drop, and a couple people dropped out of the drop, possibly due to insecurities with regards to this issue. Could you issue a general statement about it?
mrunknownNot sure if you're referring to me or DigitalRonyn, but I was waiting to see if new firmware/drivers resolved the issue for you (I know I'm on the latest X7 firmware; not sure about drivers). I'll load up some FLAC files per @EddyG's request and do some testing of my own when I get some free time. I've been working long hours since Jan. 1 due to a company acquisition so it may take me a day or two. Hopefully, at the latest, I can do it this weekend. I'll report back.
Lateralus@Lateralus - Hey, just so you're aware, there's about a day or so left on this most recent drop, so I'd prefer you do quick tests this afternoon/tonight rather than doing comprehensive tests this weekend, as this likely won't matter for me past today anyway. Thank you!
EddyGAlright, managed to leave work a little early due to snow so I'm home and have listened to a few FLAC tracks. I don't hear any abnormal pops, clicks, bleeps, blips, buzzes, scratches, cutouts, or other noises. Just pure, clean sound and absolutely nothing like the Florence clip that mrunknown posted. I would not be happy with that at *all*. I have a few headphones at my disposal but chose the Audio-Technica A900 for their clear, more neutral/clinical sound and wider soundstage than my other cans. Also, they are closed cans which helps to isolate the sound (ensuring that no outside noise would distract or mask any impurities in the sound).
I made sure that SBX Pro Studio was turned on, not Direct Mode. Here are my settings on the SBX Pro Studio tab:
Surround - Enabled
Crystalizer - Enabled
Bass - Disabled (I didn't hear any artifacts with it enabled, but I don't care for the effect, at least not using these cans with these particular songs)
Smart Volume - Disabled
Dialog Plus - Disabled
I'm using the latest firmware and drivers from Creative's site.
LateralusGlad you aren't having any issues, Lateralus.
I probably shouldn't be happy with it, but it happens so infrequently to where I actually can hear it, it just doesn't really bother me a whole lot. I just sent the guy from Creative my system information and hopefully they will provide me something to try. Excluding that issue, I have no real complaints about the device. I just wanted to share my experience with the device.
My settings: Crystalizer (55%) and Bass (20%) were enabled. The rest were disabled. EQ is off.
mrunknownMy system is very similar to yours. 2600K, 16GB, Asus Sabertooth Z77 mobo, EVGA 980 Ti. What other devices do you have plugged into USB ports? When the artifacts happen, are you actively using the PC or is it idle aside from the music? Is your onboard sound disabled? What sound card did you have prior to the X7 and did you completely uninstall/clean the drivers?
Just trying to brainstorm here..
mrunknownJust confirming here also that I got your info and have our QA / Engineers looking into what the possible issue could be. I'll update you via email once I have more info to share!
Most of the time this is not noticeable, and why it doesn't really bother me. However, you will clearly hear them during listening to, say, Florence + The Machine - Cosmic Love (AOL Sessions), which is where I first noticed it. I only mention this because this is advertised to audiophiles who may listen to less busy music/audio, where you will hear this.