Creative Zen Air SXFI in for review

04 August 2024
Spatial Audio, IPX5 water resistance, and up to 39 hours of battery life for €79.99!

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regs, 06 Aug 2024Not in audio accessories. They just doing cheap simple thin... moreYou still expect and usually get certain level of quality from them where for no name Chinese ones, they can be great or they can be absolute hot garbage and you really can't know. It's why I didn't buy any AirPods clones that might randomly be good or absolutely terrible. Especially since sellers just literally make up specs and info or just copy from one another.

SoundPeats is the only "no name" Chinese brand that someone recommended to me and I was actually susprised by how good they are. But you can't know and you can just throw away 50€. That's unlikely with reputable brands, almost universally.

    Anonymous, 06 Aug 2024Let's not forget they were the creators of Sound Blast... moreLet's forget that all together, because since X-Fi Elite Pro they were not able to release any meaningful contribution to audio equipment ... and that was in 2005.
    It's like "Let's not forget Atari because of games" ... let's kill this nonsense nostalgia that hinders your decision to buy better gear, just because you remember it as a kid.

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      • Anonymous
      • 7Mr
      • 06 Aug 2024

      Dr. Watson, 04 Aug 2024I actually didn't know that Creative revived their Zen... moreLet's not forget they were the creators of Sound Blaster. They played a major influential role in the development of PC computer audio in the 90s.

        • r
        • regs
        • swN
        • 06 Aug 2024

        SShock, 05 Aug 2024They are reputable brand names. They aren't just some ... moreNot in audio accessories. They just doing cheap simple things that are no better than "no names".

          SShock, 05 Aug 2024They are reputable brand names. They aren't just some ... moreReputable brands when it comes to TWS headphones ... or in ears in general. Try comparing something like AKG, Sony etc. to let's say some of the cheapest Chinese headphones made by Kz.
          Good luck!

            regs, 05 Aug 2024I wouldn't call them all reputable. May be a little ex... moreThey are reputable brand names. They aren't just some no name cheap knock offs of whatever shape is popular. Range and cost can be wide just like always has been. I've had cheap AKG headphones and they can have some pretty damn expensive ones. This is no different.

              • r
              • regs
              • swN
              • 05 Aug 2024

              SShock, 04 Aug 2024I've tried like 10 different earbuds from no name bran... moreI wouldn't call them all reputable. May be a little except with Sony

                I've been daily driving these for a few weeks now and for the most part I've no complaints. Sound quality is decent with a slight V-bump frequency and the fit is pretty good for me. ANC and transparency are its weak points but not a dealbreaker for me. Multipoint bluetooth is a feature I enjoy a lot because I jump between my phone and Steam Deck regularly. Overall it has fantastic value and Ive no regrets buying them.

                SXFI is a niche feature that I dont make use of. Tried it, dont like it.

                  Anonymous, 04 Aug 2024Soundspears, soundcore, huawei or xiaomi buds are not sold ... moreThen there must be at least also JBL live flex and marshall minor IV.

                    Fearghast, 04 Aug 2024"In my experience" ... cute, not in line with obj... moreI've tried like 10 different earbuds from no name brands to reputable ones like Philips, Sony, Panasonic and Xiaomi. I've had great experience with most regular ear buds that don't go in ear apart from 2 that sounded tinny and 1 that was borderline that. All others actually have great sound. The actual in-ear ones, they are all too quiet and bass is very underwhelming considering everyone is raving about sealing making everything better. It did not and if I wanted really absurd seal, it made my ears hurt. Where none of regular earbuds ever do that and they feel like nothing even after 6 hours of straight gaming. Which I regularly do with AirPods 2 and SoundPeats Air3 Deluxe.

                    Also, what's more objective than my god damn ears? I don't care if someone is praising some headphones as god tier if they are garbage for me personally? Be it because of how my ears are shaped, my ear canals, my perception of sound and my experience with normal earbuds.

                      SShock, 04 Aug 2024That's absolutely not true at least from my experience... more"In my experience" ... cute, not in line with objective measurements.

                        Fearghast, 04 Aug 2024If you do not have in ear, better codes are utterly wasted,... moreThat's absolutely not true at least from my experience. I since tested several in-ear earbuds and they are almost all universally worse than AirPods 2 or SoundPeats Air3 Deluxe (or even JBL Wave). They all have terrible volume and bass is somehow weaker despite having seal that hurts my ear after long wear if I use larger tips to really make great seal and people always say seal makes all that better. In my experience, it just doesn't. Only thing that's better with the sealed ones is when there is no audio or is super quiet, you hear less of the outside world while wearing them.

                          Anonymous, 04 Aug 2024Same problem for my sister, and the worst part is not even ... moreYou might notice the inherent lower quality of this solution compared to in-ears. Most of the listeners know it, makers of sound equipment know it as well ... not really necessary to make a drama out of it, like you are some victim of other non-caring for inferior solution.

                            SShock, 04 Aug 2024If you don't like in-ear ones, check SoundPeats Air De... moreIf you do not have in ear, better codes are utterly wasted, as you won't be able to reach even the basic sound quality where it might matter.
                            The Crystallizer is worse than DSEE and that is saying a lot, I tested it since the first gen. X-FI and it was always an abomination when it comes to "improving" music or sound quality.

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                              • Anonymous
                              • Tsr
                              • 04 Aug 2024

                              Anonymous, 04 Aug 2024Soundspears, soundcore, huawei or xiaomi buds are not sold ... moreSame problem for my sister, and the worst part is not even her not being able to use them, but the ignorance and lack of understansing from people that can.

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                                • Anonymous
                                • Tsr
                                • 04 Aug 2024

                                CamoGeko-XDA, 04 Aug 2024Why is that bad?? In ears sound better.Because not everyone is able to use/stand them closing your ears.

                                My sister has this issues, a lot of people don't know that not everyone can handle closing their ears, which in ear canal buds do.

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                                  • Anonymous
                                  • Fek
                                  • 04 Aug 2024

                                  SShock, 04 Aug 2024If you don't like in-ear ones, check SoundPeats Air De... moreSoundspears, soundcore, huawei or xiaomi buds are not sold here (no amazon here either), so importing them is really pricey.

                                  So the only option are cheap quality no name buds, otherwise buds 3 or airpods.

                                  It is not that I don't like them, me like a smaller minority can not use them, in my case because I get a headache and become dizzy after that.

                                  A lot of people are ignorant to this issues because "in ear canal sounds better en I don't have any issues" statement people make.

                                  But some people like me can not close off their ears that way, I can not even go to concerts because hearing protection works same way, the go into in ear canal.

                                    Anonymous, 04 Aug 2024They look good, but sadly again in ear canal buds.If you don't like in-ear ones, check SoundPeats Air Deluxe series. Amazing sound, they also have expanded codecs support with LDAC or various AptX depending on which generation you'll pick. Their old True Air series are also really nice. I never liked in-ear ones though I'm now experimenting with them after years of avoiding them. Still not a big fan, but I got used to them at least.

                                    I wish Creative made their ear buds with their Crystalizer tech that wouldn't depend on app on the smartphone and would do it natively in hardware. I've been using Crystalizer tech since Sound Blaster X-Fi and I love it.

                                      Dr. Watson, 04 Aug 2024I actually didn't know that Creative revived their Zen... moreCreative headphones, speakers etc. were always incredibly poor when it comes to sound and build quality, do you really expect something changed for the better this time?

                                        Anonymous, 04 Aug 2024They look good, but sadly again in ear canal buds.Why is that bad?? In ears sound better.

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