View Full Version : kX Project drivers
I've heared about kX-project (http://www.kxproject.com) drivers for Creative SB Live! soundcards many times (and from Roj, as I can remember), but never believed joyful screams about it.
Just installed that thing to test... and I'm shocked by sound quality increase!
(I must say my collection consists of MP3's, bitrates from 128 to 256 LAME-encoded; sound system is Cambridge Soundworks FPS 1600 - every audiphile can tell you how it sux, BUT...)
Yeah. I've installed it, rebooted my PC. QCD autolaunched to continue playing the same song it was playing before...
Stunning methamorphosis. Clear razor highs, excellent positioning (this is most noticeable), no more mumbling. Right now I'm thinking about re-listening all my beloved metal hymns;)
Before changing your old Live! (Vile! :)) and speakers consider driver update:)
Can you see how Creative f-ed us for years maiming their own Live! to raise overpriced Audigy?
SpeedyPonse
09-22-2004, 01:08 PM
It was great to read this thread because I've wrestled with the Creative Labs drivers for my SBLive ever since I got it. This sounded like the perfect solution so I grabbed the drivers last night and installed them......ouch!
Now that machine won't even boot into Windows--I just get a bsod at boot up and then it hangs! I'm not knocking the kx drivers though, I've been down this road too many times before with Live drivers. Also gives me an excuse to tinker :) .
Just thought I'd post a word of warning for the faint of heart. One way or another I'm going to get the kx drivers to work because I'm tired of the mess that Creative Labs has made :evil: .
jkrzok
09-22-2004, 02:53 PM
I've installed the kX drivers with no problems at all and they do make a noticable difference in audio quality.
Be forewarned though, it's seems like more than just a driver; it gives you more ways to tinker with your sound than I would have thought possible. It does seem to be for advanced users although just installing kX without tinkering still results in improved sound. I'll be reading the instructions.
SpeedyPonse
09-23-2004, 01:38 PM
So apparently there is a known issue with certain combinations of motherboard, sound card, etc. and the kx drivers under Win98. I ended up formatting the OS drive on my box and installing WinME instead (not my preference but it was the only spare copy of Windows I had kicking around). Then I gave the kx drivers another go, and it went off without a hitch. The computer seems very happy now, and I'm happy because I finally ditched the Creative Labs driver.
I haven't really put the machine through it's paces yet, but I'll see how it goes over the next few weeks. It's not my primary computer, so I can afford to be patient with it if necessary. I don't mind giving the kx drivers every opportunity to prove themselves--I'm definitely not in a rush to go back to Creative Labs.
t_journeyman
09-23-2004, 10:41 PM
If they supported EAX fully, I'd switch in a heartbeat!
If they supported EAX fully, I'd switch in a heartbeat!
Unfortunately they never ever will. KX drivers are NOT aimed at the gamer - they are designed to maximize what is best described as medicore hardware.
rorythedog
09-24-2004, 11:34 AM
This all sounds pretty good to me. One question though - Do EAX games not run or something? What are the downsides of using these drivers? Will they bugger up my "enjoyment" of Doom3? OK, three questions. Sorry.
t_journeyman
09-24-2004, 07:33 PM
Unfortunately they never ever will. KX drivers are NOT aimed at the gamer - they are designed to maximize what is best described as medicore hardware.
Depressing. So now I have to choose my games or my music. Or buy another machine.
Depressing. So now I have to choose my games or my music. Or buy another machine.The mediocre hardware I was referring to was the Live! itself - not your machine. That soundcard was not exactly a sterling design for audio quality. In fact it was not even up to the standards of its predecessor, the PCI128.
o2xygen
09-25-2004, 08:56 AM
I am usind an old sound blaster live! Value card with a 5.1 surround system although the card supports only 4 speakers... I have the Live! drivers on... Should I move to kxdrivers or not?
also, should i uninstal live drivers completely before installing these?
I am usind an old sound blaster live! Value card with a 5.1 surround system although the card supports only 4 speakers... I have the Live! drivers on... Should I move to kxdrivers or not?
also, should i uninstal live drivers completely before installing these?
If you're not a gamer, you might want to. However, be aware that the only truly safe uninstall of Creative Labs crap that I have found is a reformat / reinstall of the OS. That garbage leaves tendrils of itself everywhere.
rorythedog
09-26-2004, 07:12 PM
Does anyone have any experience of THESE PROGRAMS (http://audio.rightmark.org/index_new.shtml) then.
o2xygen
09-27-2004, 12:40 PM
If you're not a gamer, you might want to. However, be aware that the only truly safe uninstall of Creative Labs crap that I have found is a reformat / reinstall of the OS. That garbage leaves tendrils of itself everywhere.
Well I tried them today and I had many problems after the second restart.
I the reAr speakers werent working... I asked for help at their forum and they told me that if i have a soundcard that supports 4.0 I wouldn't be able to use it correctly... My soundblaster is old and i will buy a new one today... A cheap one maybe...
Well I tried them today and I had many problems after the second restart.
I the reAr speakers werent working... I asked for help at their forum and they told me that if i have a soundcard that supports 4.0 I wouldn't be able to use it correctly... My soundblaster is old and i will buy a new one today... A cheap one maybe...
Many a new soundcard today doesn't support 4 speakers for music playback unless the player kludges it a la fubar.
o2xygen
Try "4.0 - Rear=Front" preset in Effects > Surrounder.
o2xygen
09-29-2004, 05:41 PM
I tried it before i removed them... Now i am running with xp drivers and it works better than before :reallymad :)
I tried it before i removed them... Now i am running with xp drivers and it works better than before :reallymad :)
The native XP drivers are fixed CL drivers. What do I mean by fixed? They take the drivers CL gives them and adjust them until they perform ad they should as well as integrate properly with the OS.
In short, they do CL's job for them - the right way.
How do I know this? I was formerly associated with one of the engineers who worked on the Kernel Design Team for the OS.
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