The X-Fi Forte 7.1 is Auzentech's first low profile (a standard profile bracket is included) native PCI Express audio card designed especially for gamers and audiophiles. Compared to the X-Fi chipset reference design, the X-Fi Forte improves the circuitry and upgrades the components. You can now listen to your HiFi headphones and use your professional microphone on your desktop PC, as well as enjoying audiophile quality audio, thanks to the X-Fi Forte integrated headphone amplifier and microphone pre amplifier. Auzentech created the X-Fi Forte for customers who asked for a high end, low profile sound card that would thrill music, movie and gaming enthusiasts alike.

Overview:

PCI Express: PCI Express (PCIe) is a serial bus standard that provides a higher throughput than the older, parallel PCI bus standard. Unlike PCI Express sound cards built with PCI processors adapted for the PCIe slot, the X-Fi Forte is built around Creative Labs PCI Express processor. As a native PCI Express sound card, the X-Fi Forte can take full advantage of the higher throughput of the PCIe bus.

Sound: With a digital to analog converter of 120dB level, high end audio components and an analog design tuned for peak performance, the X-Fi Forte is designed to provide the best audio possible for music, games and movies. Users can further tune the audio via the replaceable OPAMP for the front audio.

Headphone & Microphone Amplifiers: X-Fi Forte includes an integrated headphone amplifier and microphone pre amplifier. You can now listen to your HiFi headphones and use your professional mic on your desktop PC, as well as enjoying audiophile quality audio.

Performance: By using the latest Creative native PCI express chipset, the Auzentech X-Fi Forte provides high performance audio processing on board while freeing up system resources for other tasks. With 64MB X-Ram, it processes complicated 3D sound effects with ease.

Security: The PCI-Express independent data transfer structure provides secure performance, important because audio requires continuous secure data processing.

Key Features:

* Low profile audio card (low & standard profile mounting brackets included).
* Developed around Creative X-Fi native PCI Express audio processor.
* Support for Dolby Digital Live for Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP.
* Support for DTS Neo:PC & DTS Interactive on Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows 7.
* Headphone amplifier.
* Microphone pre amplifier.

Rear Panel Connectors:

* Four 3.5mm stereo mini phone jack for line outputs.
* 3.5mm TRS mini phone jack for MIC input.
* 3.5mm stereo mini phone jack for line input.
* 3.5mm stereo mini phone jack for dedicated headphone output.
* RCA TOSLINK combo jack for SPDIF transmission.
* Front audio: Intel HD Audio connector.
* Digital output: RCA coaxial & TOSLINK optical combo jack.
* Extension: Creative X-Fi IO drive compatible.

Would you like to know more? Take a look at Auzentech's detailed product information, specifications & image gallery.

Reviews:

"For some time now Auzentech have been creating exceptional audio cards. Thinking back to the first one we tested, the X-Meridian, we have very fond memories of how they took a standard chipset and produced an awesome level of audio quality. The X-Fi Forte continues this trend and the result is, without doubt, the best desktop audio card we have tested. Starting with the build quality and design Auzentech have all of the features we would expect from a high end product and more. All of the standard connectors are supported both external and internal and the use of quality components ensures a high quality sound, as does the upgradable op-amp. Full support of all the X-Fi technologies is present and even though Auzentech could have stopped there they decided to add more. The onboard mic pre-amplifier will please audio creation enthusiasts but it is the built in headphone amplifier which is by far the best feature of the card. Saying that the headphone amplifier is the best feature of the card may come as a surprise when the X-Fi Forte provides one of the best 7.1 analog or digital experiences in a desktop HTPC environment but until you have tried this card with a decent headset it is hard to emphasise just how good this aspect is. It really is one of those cases where the quality increase given to headphones makes you want to listen to more music just to experience the phenomenal sound." Review on HardwareHeaven.

"The Auzentech X-Fi Forte has a lot of really great features that any HTPC owner should take notice of. Its low profile makes it perfect for small form factor gaming rigs, such as LAN boxes... The native support of DDL and DTS make it a good choice for those people who want audio quality that is better than on-board for their home theatre’s... Auzentech Forte is not a one-trick pony, instead it has some excellent audio quality that would suit most users’ fine, whether they prefer headphones or a full surround system. The headphone OPAMPs are great for those who choose to swap them out, while the current price puts it as actually cheaper than the X-Fi Professional card from Creative."Review on FiringSquad.

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