Creative Xmod Improves CD Quality

Can a tiny candybar device improve audio sound beyond CD quality? Creative thinks their Xmod can.

Based on Creative’s X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio platform, the Creative Xmod improves the music quality playback for MP3, WMA, iTunes or AAC songs to beyond the origial CD quality the company reported. So what exactly is the Xmod? It’s a small device that connects between your speakers, headphones and either the PC, Mac, or any MP3 player and works by upconverting the audio to a 24-bit surround audio rate.

The Creative Xmod supposedly enhances the low and high frequencies to produce a richer audio experience. If you plan to connect the Xmod to your MP3 player, you must use the "optionally" required AC adapter – for an extra price of course.

“There are more than 100 million people who listen to MP3, WMA or AAC music on their PCs, Macs or iPod or ZEN players, but the quality of this compressed music is highly compromised. The Creative Xmod enables them to listen to their music with audio that sounds even better than CDs,” said Sim Wong Hoo, chairman and CEO of Creative. “Now with Creative Xmod, all your music is instantly upconverted to the Xtreme Fidelity standard in real time through a simple and compact device!”

X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity provides two important audio functions, X-Fi Crystalizer and X-Fi CMSS-3D, which improve and enhance music listening experiences. The X-Fi Crystalizer upconverts MP3 music by analyzing and identifying which parts of the audio stream have been truncated or damaged during compression. It intelligently and selectively restores the highs and lows such as the snare drums and the bass and the cymbal crashes and guitar plucking that are damaged during the compression of MP3s.

Sound too good to be true? You be the judge. The Xmod is available at the Creative website for $79.99.