Test: Creative Aurvana X-Fi

Konklusion

Sikke noget. Sikke en oplevelse. Jeg sidder her, med et sæt hovedtelefoner til knap DKK 1400,- Det er også et sæt hovedtelefoner, der har flyttet min grænse for, hvor godt det kan være at lytte gennem hovedtelefoner. Men træerne vokser ikke ind i himlen, selvom det er meget tæt på med Creative Aurvana X-Fi. Der er faktisk en ting, jeg kan sætte en finger på. Den aktive støjdæmpning. Den virker helt fænomenalt, men desværre forvandler den også det der skulle være skønne toner, til noget der lyder som blev det afspillet i en tom dåse. Der er ikke godt, det er faktisk ret skidt.
På alle andre områder har Aurvana X-Fi imponeret mig, og kan man leve med ikke at bruge NC-funktionen, er dette simpelthen et fantastisk headset. Det er dyrt, men pris er jo også relativt. Jeg ville aldrig selv bruge så mange på et headset, men, jeg bruger heller ikke headset ret meget. Vil man have noget af det bedste, og er villig til at betale prisen, så skal Aurvana X-Fi bestemt med på listen. Men, man betaler selvfølgelig også for elektronikken i headsettet, NC, CMSS-3D og X-Fi Crystalizer´en.

Har man i forvejen et af Creative´s X-Fi lydkort i sin maskine, har man ikke behov for også at have disse funktioner bygget ind i headsettet. Så er der andre rigtig gode headset, som man vil blive lige så glad for. Men vil man gerne have mulighed for at bruge CMSS-3D og Crystalizer, og ikke har et X-Fi lydkort, så vil det være billigere at købe Aurvana X-Fi, end at købe et lydkort plus et rigtig godt headset.
Hvis vi lader disse betragtninger ude af billedet, og bare kigger på Creative Aurvana X-Fi som headset, hvad synes jeg så. Et fantastisk velspillende produkt, velbygget, behageligt at bruge og jeg har kun fundet en ting ved det, som jeg for alvor kunne kritisere. Creative, jeg er imponeret.

Innovation/Teknologi - 5
Creative har proppet funktioner ind i et headset, som vi normalt kun ser i lydkort. Det er da innovativt så det batter. Nu kan man få X-Fi Crystalizer´en til at forbedre lydkvaliteten på sine MP3-filer, og ikke kun gennem puteren, men også direkte fra en MP3-afspiller. Man skal bare slutte Aurvana X-Fi til sin afspiller. Topkarakter til Creative, 5 point.

Bundle/Tilbehør - 3
Der er hvad der skal være, men heller ikke rigtig mere. Okay, der er en fly-adapter, men... Hvor tit har man lige brug for sådan en ? Jeg havde gerne set ekstra øre-puder istedet. Der er selvfølgelig også den lille transport-taske. Men for prisen, kunne de måske godt have kommet lidt mere i æsken. Jeg giver 3 point, men overvejede at give 4 point. Men nej, et stort 3-tal bliver det.

Design/Layout - 4
Gode justeringsmuligheder, behagelige at have på, nydeligt visuelt design (synes jeg), nogle gode gennemtænkte detaljer som det forsænkede stik og tænd/sluk-knappen. Det virker til at der er tænkt over tingende fra Creative´s side, og design-afdelingen har gjort et godt stykke arbejde. Flotte 4 point.

Ydelse - 5
En fantastisk lytte-oplevelse, det var hvad Aurvana X-Fi gav mig. Musik var lige lidt bedre end film og spil, men disse var bestemt også gode. Skulle der uddeles point for et film- eller gamer-headset, var det nok blevet et stort 4-tal, men allround i alle 3 kategorier bliver det til et meget flot 5-tal.

Pris - 3
Ja, Aurvana X-Fi spiller fantastisk. Ja, der er indbygget CMSS-3D og X-Fi Crystalizer. Og der er ikke ret meget at kritiserer ved dem. Men man får også lov at betale for dem. I omegnen af DKK 1400,- er mange penge for et headset, synes jeg. Jeg ville aldrig selv bruge så mange penge på et headset, med mindre jeg vandt i lotto. Og så kun måske. Men det er også et djævleblændt godt headset, og er det det man skal have, så koster det også. Jeg giver 3 point, middelkarakter, fordi det er meget svært for mig at vurderer, hvorvidt dette er billigt, eller sindsygt dyrt. Selvom jeg nok mest hælder til "sindsygt dyrt", synes jeg alligevel at prisen er rimelig. Man får noget for pengene.

Test: Creative Aurvana X-Fi

Innovation / Teknologi	5
Bundle - Tilbehør	3
Design - Layout	4
Ydelse	5
Pris	3
Samlet	80%

UK summary

Oh boy. What an experience. I´m sitting here, with DKK1400,- worth of headset. It is also a headset, that has moved my limits for how good, listening through a headset can be. But almost nothing is just good, eventhough Creative Aurvana X-Fi comes very close. There is a spot, that I can place my big dirty finger on. The NC-function, active noise dampening. It works extraordinarely well, but unfortunately it turns what should be heavenly sound, into something that sounds like it is being played through an empty can. That´s not good, actually it´s pretty bad.
On all other accounts, the Aurvana X-Fi has impressed me, and if you can live with not using the NC-function, this is quite an amazing headset. It is expensive, but price is relative. I would never spend that amount of money, on a headset, but then again, I don´t use headsets very often. If you want some of the best, that money can buy, then you got to have Creative Aurvana X-Fi on your short-list.

Offcourse you also pay for the electronics, that Creative have put in the headset (NC, CMSS-3D and X-Fi Crystalizer). If you allready have a Creative X-Fi sound card in your set-up, then you don´t need these functions built into your headset also. Unless you want the possibility to use CMSS-3D and X-Fi Crystalizer on the move, for example with your MP3 player.  But if you don´t have an Creative X-Fi sound card, and would like to have CMSS-3D and the Crystalizer as an listening option/enhancement, then it will definately be cheaper to buy the Aurvana X-Fi, then buying a sound card plus a really good headset.
If we leave these things out of the equation, and concentrate on the Aurvana X-Fi as a headset, then what do I think. An incredible good sounding product, well built, comfortable to use and wear, and I only found one thing to really critizise about it (the NC´s bad influence on the sound quality). All in all, Creative, I am truly impressed.

Innovation/Technology - 5
Creative has put electronics into a headset, that we usually only see in sound cards. That´s some serious innovation right there. I have no option, then to give a top-grade here, 5 points. Creative, you´re welcome.

Bundle/Accessories - 3
There is what there should be, but not much more. Okay, there is the plane-adapter... But how often do you need that ? I would rather have seen extra ear-cushions. Then there is ofcourse the little transport case. But they ask a premium price, and I think some kind of goodies should have been in the box. I´ll award 3 points. I considered 4, but Creative will have to settle with a big 3 points. And do remember 3 points is not a bad grade.

Design/Layout - 4
Good ergonomics (at least for my size and shape of head), good adjustability, comfortably to wear (also for more than 20 minutes). Some well thought out detail like the undersunk connection-plug, and the on/off button that´s made in a way, to prevent accidental turning the headset on or off. Creative has thought about these things, and the design-department deserves a pad on the back, for a job well done. 4 points I´ll award in this department.

Performance - 5
An amazing listening experience, is what I got from Aurvana X-Fi. It excelled when listening to music, but that was no slouch when gaming and movie-watching was on the program. Should I award points based on gaming and movies, it would be a big 4-pointer. But the performance in all three categories (music, gaming and movies), ends up with 5 points which is pretty hard to get. Creative should appreciate this, 5 points in performance is something to be proud of.  

Price - 3
Yes, Aurvana X-Fi sounds extremely good. Yes, there is built-in CMSS-3D and X-Fi Crystalizer. And there is next to nothing to point my finger at. But you also get to pay for them. Around DKK 1400,- is a lot of money for a headset, in my book. I would never spend that much money on a headset, unless I won the lottery. And then only maybe. But it is a grrrreat headset, and if you want some of the best, then you´ll have to pay. 3 points I will award, a good medium grade, because I find it very hard to judge whether Aurvana X-Fi are insanely expensive, or a good price for an insanely good headset. Even though I lean towards "insanely expensive", I still think the price is fair (maybe this statement does not make sence, but I can´t explain it better). You really get something for your money, should you decide to get a pair of Aurvana X-Fi´s. 3 points after careful thinking (and not much the wiser).