Creative X-Mod Makes Sound Come Alive

If you're like me, the sound coming from your laptop is hardly worth all the sales hype. Hooking up to a sound system will certainly make your music tracks sound better, but with MP3's, there always seems to be something missing. Even the WAV files seem a little weak. And it's primarily due to the fact that the sound card in your laptop is so small that it sacrifices sound quality. So how does the karaoke host use a laptop for his show and not make the music sound like it's being played through a toy piano?

An external sound card is required to compensate for the vibrance that was lost during the MP3 compression. And for those tracks that are not compressed such as WAV, the external sound card will make up for what's lost in the downsizing of internal components on the computer and what is lost when it's compressed onto the original recording. In my search for a quality card, I came across the Creative Labs Xmod USB Sound Card for PC & Mac. And, for the price, I think it was a wise choice.

The X-Mod is a X-Fi module (short for Xtreme Fidelity) that can be used on both PC and MAC. It plugs directly into the USB port on the computer with a supplied cable, thus bypassing the internal sound module all together. Another cable splits the stereo output into two channel RCA plugs. Plug the other end into your sound system, turn on your computer, and it's ready to go. No software is required. The package does not say the RCA cable comes with it, but I think it was included. If not, they are not expensive.

If you don't want to connect to an external sound system, the unit comes with a set of ear buds for personal listening. Adjusting of the volume is done through the dial on the X-Mod's face. Set your computer to maximum and use the dial for easy sound changes.

The X-Mod has Two enhanced sound controls which are turned on and off by slider switches on each side.  The X-Fi Crystalizer remasters the sound that is lost during compression, a necessary evil in making your music portable and downloadable. The crystalizer makes the music sound more like the original CD. The X-FI CMSS-3D control expands the sound of your MP3's and digital movies and adds a "virtual" surround sound. This helps make the recordings sound more like what you would hear in a live performance. Isn't that what you look for in your sound recordings anyway?

When it comes to karaoke, the Creative Labs Xmod USB Sound Card for PC & Mac makes the whole experience sound - well Whole! The music tracks sound much more vibrant and will make it a pleasure to sing to your favorite songs. I would go to karaoke shows and be disappointed to hear a song and the background vocals were almost non-existent. With the help of the X-Mod, I have been able to put the background vocals (and eveything else in that frequency range) back into the equation. The music sounds full, the bass and highs come through even without a sub. Of course equalizers will also help, but I've found I've been able to limit their use since adding this little box to my system. If you're looking for a way to augment the sound of your laptop, the Creative Labs Xmod USB Sound Card for PC & Mac is one you will want to check out.