XITEL HiFi-Link For PC and Mac

List Price: $49.95

Features:

• Bypass generally inferior soundcards with advanced USB digital rendering technology, for professional quality output that enhances all your audio
• Delete distortion and interference ? enjoy crystal clear sound with no more annoying hiss
• It's the ultimate in Plug-and-Play simplicity ? plug the HiFi-Link into a USB port and watch it automatically install, without the need for any special drivers
• The digital audio signal is ported to a unique in-line, electromagnetically isolated precision DAC, where it is processed into an optimum audio signal
• Includes a fully shielded, high definition 30-foot interconnection cable with gold plated RCA jacks

Customer Reviews:

Didn't Improve Sound [Posted on 2007-07-05]
This item did not improve the sound of our computer-based music played on our stereo. It was easy to install and set up, as advertised, but we noticed no appreciable difference in sound quality, so we returned the item.

happy ending [Posted on 2007-11-05]
Even if I selected this item as a mistake (intended to get the other product to record at PC from LP's); the relative I got it for was pleased with the sound quality he got at his stereo from the PC's MP3's.

Total dud! [Posted on 2008-01-18]
I actually did quite a bit of research before choosing the XITEL HiFi-Link. The positive reviews must have come from the owners friends and family. The sound is muddier than the Mississippi. This sounds worse than my laptop speakers, no joke. I wish I had all of the packing materials so I could return it.

Great, but dependent on right media player! [Posted on 2008-02-02]
The HiFi Link is capable of reproducing exquisite digital sound through a home stero system, but results will vary according to the media player one uses on their PC.

It worked immediatley out of the box when played through Windows Media Player, but was horribly distorted. The sound cleared right up when I lowered the volume on both the PC and WMP. But it still sounded flat. I then tried playing music through Real Player and it was just as dull. I then downloaded and set up DFX Audio Enhancer plug in for WMP and it improved the sound tremendously. DFX however, uses preset processing modes. It has quite a lot to choose from and one can tweak each a little, but in the end it is limited by lacking a true graphic equalizer. Finally I downloaded Winamp (free version) and that turned out to be he real deal. Winamp faithfully processes the music even with it's graphic equalizer turned off (infanitely better than WMP or Real Player) and one can optinally turn on its graphic equalizer for even more control.

The take home message is that HiFi link CAN work great, but if one just assumes that all media players are built equally then they could be disappointed if they choose the wrong one. Stay away fform WMP and Real Player, unless you also use an audio enhacer. Go ahead and keep it simple with Winamp and you will have true hi fidelety home stereo music.

A Very Poor Soundcard [Posted on 2008-02-27]
I returned this an hour after hookup. I have a Creative 24 bit soundcard that was cheaper than the Xitel and it sounds so much better. Do not be fooled by the hype for this. There are much better external soundcards for around the same price! Very muddy,dull sound.

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