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@jday wrote:

I'm one of those who ordered the SoundBlaster X-Fi XtremeMusic w/Dolby Digital 5.1, but received the X-Fi PCI Sound Card. I decided to go the Dell Chat route to try and solve the problem and get the right card or some money back on my system. The chat rep stated flatly that all the X-Fi card support DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 and before I could answer him with more concrete information to prove him wrong, he simply ended the chat and sent me to Creative's website to prove that all their cards have these features. Actually, he was rather RUDE. ChrisM--any help? Here is my chat log:

08/10/2006 06:12:11PMSession Started with Agent

08/10/2006 06:12:14PMAgent: "Thank you for contacting Dell XPS Hardware Warranty Chat Support for Business! Please give me a moment to retrieve your service tag information."

08/10/2006 06:12:56PMAgent :"Would you please verify the person or company name that owns this system and the current address of the system?"

08/10/2006 06:13:30PM(Info deleted)

08/10/2006 06:13:39PMAgent: "Thank You. May I have your phone number and e-mail address?"

08/10/2006 06:14:00PM(Info deleted)

08/10/2006 06:15:32PMAgent : "Thank you, how can I help you today?"

08/10/2006 06:16:09PMMe: "I received my XPS 600 system the end of June and have come to realize (when I tried to use some of the supposed audio features) that the sound card that was on my original configuration and WHICH I PAID FOR is not what is included in the system. I still"

08/10/2006 06:17:18PMAgent: "Please standby."

08/10/2006 06:22:55PMAgent: "All XFI cards have DTS support and 5.1."

08/10/2006 06:25:01PMMe: "I'm sorry, but I think you have the wrong information. This has been a hot topic on the Dell forum and has been verified that the cards like the one in my system do NOT have support for DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1. This is easily verified by going to the"

08/10/2006 06:26:29PMAgent:"I am not misinformed look at Creatives website. It has all the specs on all the cards. They all have 5.1 and DTS."

08/10/2006 06:26:46PMAgent sends page: http://creative.com/products/comparechart/select.asp

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Is it possible he is correct?

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@jday wrote:

Also, the fact is that they no longer list the card as it was listed (with the DolbyDigital 5.1).  They have changed to calling it the X-Fi PCI Sound Card. 

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When you order the system using the configurator - it is still called:

That line is too long character wise for the order summary or detail page line item descriptions.  That's why it is worded different.

Message Edited by jsrder on 08-10-200607:10 PM

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@jsrder wrote:

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@jday wrote:

Also, the fact is that they no longer list the card as it was listed (with the DolbyDigital 5.1). They have changed to calling it the X-Fi PCI Sound Card.

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When you order the system using the configurator - it is still called:

Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeMusic (D), w/Dolby® Digital 5.1 [Included in Price]

That line is too long character wise for the order summary or detail page line item descriptions. That's why it is worded different.

Message Edited by jsrder on 08-10-200607:10 PM

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That's what I am saying, I think that he CS person is correct.

There have  been several threads confirming this issue on the Dell forums and in the audio panel for the card, there is no option for DTS or DolbyDigital 5.1.  Also, the fact is that they no longer list the card as it was listed (with the DolbyDigital 5.1).  They have changed to calling it the X-Fi PCI Sound Card.  I believe him that the cards you buy directly from Creative Labs might all have those features, but the Dell cards don't even though they advertise DolbyDigital 5.1.

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@MrAce wrote:

That's what I am saying, I think that he CS person is correct.

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But I do agree with the other folks who posted with complaints - you do have DD5.1 and DTS but you lose many of the configuration options that are available in the SB Audio Control Panel menus.

I'd also agree that when it comes to top-of-the-line XPS products directly aimed at enthusiasts - Dell should offer them full feature cards equal to the retail versions.  Would people pay an extra $10 on the audio to get full Control Panel features?  Would people pay an extra $10 for "video in" on the video cards?  Or $10 for additional audio/video outputs on the TV Tuner cards? Would they pay an extra $10 for both 1Gig Enet ports on the mobo?

I understand the de-featured products on the lower Dimension or entry level systems - that's all fair for the price - but at this price, I'd expect full features all the way around...anyone seen a Lexus without power windows, power locks or A/C as standard equipment?  :smileysurprised:

Message Edited by jsrder on 08-10-200608:34 PM

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@MrAce wrote:


That's what I am saying, I think that he CS person is correct.

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Sorry, but DTS via 3rd party software is NOT what I paid for.  If it's advertised with DD and DTS, it better be available in any application that plays music or movies.

Later,

Bub

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@BubBowen wrote:

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@MrAce wrote:


That's what I am saying, I think that he CS person is correct.

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Sorry, but DTS via 3rd party software is NOT what I paid for. If it's advertised with DD and DTS, it better be available in any application that plays music or movies.

Later,

Bub

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Yeah, I see your point. It is disappointing that Dell scales back the best features.

I would love to understand the strategic objectives behind the decision making. What steering committee or task force says "our customers don't need that feature?"

All,

I have sent the information below to several people here at Dell Round Rock asking for clarification. As of tonite, I haven't heard anything.

Why does our Dell Sound Blaster X-Fi state it supports DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 if they are turned off in the Console?

My customers post on the Forum,

* Dell has REMOVED the Dolby and DTS ability of this card in the soundcard control panels as there is in the retail version.

* I have the 5.1 Speaker setting in Entertainment Mode, but what we're missing is the Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS decoder. See Image:
http://members.tde.com/jmcguay/dolbysmall.jpg

* I can't use any of these options for DVD movies. Dell support doesn't seem to know anything about it. I tried using the Creative drivers but they say that they don't recognize my card.

* The only options I have to play DVDs are Stereo (2 Speaker) and Pro Logic. Not exactly the Dolby Digital 5.1 that was advertised. I have tried CinePlayer, Windows Media Player, and PowerDVD.

* An administrator at the creative forums commented (in March) that the Dell version of the card does have Dolby and DTS decoding chip. Since this is the case why isn't it in the drivers?

* Do you have an I/O module? I don't think you can have the digital sound quality without one.
http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?product=1780

* Not much help but it does state in Entertainment Mode help file that some button feature selections are available only for selected audio devices! Are we to assume the Dell Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card is not one of the selected audio devices, since Dolby & DTS buttons are indeed not available?

* I'm guessing they removed the DD 5.1 and DTS decoders to cut costs. I'm able to get DD 5.1 through bitstream out, but they even removed the DTS bitstream out! It would have been nice if they wouldn't have misled us. They said the card has DD 5.1. If you need a seperate hardware decoder then I don't think that qualifies as the card having 5.1 out. This doesn't annoy me terribly since I have a decoder with my z5500s, but I don't have DTS out which every other decent DVD player will have. I guess that little (D) beside the soundcard name means there is no DTS decoder, no DD 5.1 decoder, and no DTS bistream out. If I would have know this I would have just bought the retail card.

* Please try the follow steps to set the decoding to the sound card.
Click Start- Program- Creative- Sound Blaster Xi-Fi- Audio Console
Click the SPDIF I/O Tab
Set the settings to "Dolby Digital/DTS SPDIF-in decode"

Here's the rub! When I do what you say, the "SPDIF Input Settings" line is grayed out, with the word "Default" barely visible. The settings cannot be accessed.

* On June 27 at 4:58PM NY time, Tech Support Rep. Aninash ID 106278 admitted that the card does not support 5.1 surround sound and offered to transfer me to Customer Service. There someone very nice listened to my story and agreed to order a new card from Creative (Dell sells it for $116) and give me a $100 credit towards it.

* Found this in the User Guide:
As with dedicated DVD-Audio player devices, output from DVD-Audio playback is limited to analog output. The digital output is disabled and cannot be used during DVD-Audio playback.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/acc/P77830/en/speak2.htm

* If they have the DD and DTS features removed on the console, and don't tell me that's what I'm getting when I purchase it, that's withholding information.

Added this to the list tonite:
* I'll take a shot at this. I believe the SB X-Fi supports DD5.1 and DTS. That doesn't mean that the two control panel menus are present in the SB Audio Control Panel. The functions which you can select via those menus are not available on the Dell OEM card vs. the retail card. What you can do is use the settings in Cineplayer or Media Center to select DD5.1 or DTS. These choices within those applications do not give you all the various options offered via the SB Control Panel menus. I'll take a guess as to why this is happening. When Dell sells Cineplayer or Media Center - they are paying the Dolby/DTS royalties. I'm guessing they don't want to pay them again to SB and as such the menu options are not in the SB Control Panel.

* It is disappointing that Dell scales back the best features. I would love to understand the strategic objectives behind the decision making. What steering committee or task force says "our customers don't need that feature?"

thanks ChrisM

(working graveyard shift too? lol)