With a "THX^® Certified" logo, it means that a product's audio quality and clarity meets the stringent requirements put forward by THX^® to ensure an unsurpassed audio experience. On that same note, Sound Blaster X-Fi is fully THX Certified, which means that you can be rest assured that the special effects and incredible audio intended by game developers, film producers and musicians are reproduced accurately on your Sound Blaster X-Fi equipped PC!

Bundled with all Creative THX Certified sound cards is the THX Setup Console. With it, you can have precise control and calibration of your speakers, ensuring that you'll be in the audio sweet spot in any speaker layout and configuration.

The THX Setup Console has three modes of operation: Speaker Selection, Calibration and Bass Management.

Speaker Selection

The Speaker Selection screen gives you control over the speaker mode, digital or analog output, output frequency of the S/PDIF digital output, and the position of the front center speaker. Furthermore, it has two test modes to check speaker location and connections.

A significant feature on the Speaker Selection screen is that it shows a diagram of the back plate of the sound card that instructs which cable needs to be plugged into which connector on the sound card. This includes displaying the correct connector colors based on the speaker mode as well as the model and type of sound card installed.

Calibration

The THX Setup Console's Speaker Calibration screen gives you control over the layout, positioning and orientation of the speaker system. The home theater die-hards will notice that the Sound Blaster X-Fi series of sound cards actually offer more control, especially over the speaker orientation than most THX Home Theater receivers. At first glance the Speaker Calibration screen exposes all the parameters that the more experienced home theater enthusiast is familiar with, such as speaker distances, speaker angle and speaker level.

The speaker distance, which is the distance between each individual speaker and the listening position, is a very important piece of information. It allows the THX Setup Console to adjust the time delay for each individual speaker in such a way, that the sound coming from each of the speakers arrives at the listening position at exactly the same time.

The level of each of the speakers is another important audio cue, especially if your speakers are not equidistant from the listening point. By balancing the speaker levels - achieved by increasing the level for speakers that are further away or decreasing the level for the speakers that are closest - will greatly increase the accuracy of sound placement.

The speaker angle is an extra control that allows the THX Setup Console to deal with asymmetric speaker layouts. When you select one of the speaker angle controls, the THX Setup Console will show red lines running from the listening position to each of the speakers. In the middle of the red lines, a value in degrees will be shown. This is the angle between the line from the listening position to the speaker, and the listener's front.

Bass Management

Finally, the Bass Management screen allows you to configure the sub woofer levels and crossover frequency, which is the key consideration here. The crossover frequency is the frequency where bass information is channeled from your main speakers to the sub woofer. For example, if the crossover frequency is set at 80Hz, sounds lower than 80Hz will be played via the sub woofer instead of the main speakers. With an adjustable crossover frequency, speaker systems of any kind can be configured to deliver the best dynamic range possible and in the process, reducing the possibility of distortion.

With the THX Setup Console, Creative brings the THX Home Theater experience to everyone. This intuitive software provides a complete THX setup from the comfort of the user's listening position.