Best Buy Ratings and Reviews

I needed a USB Sound Card that met three requirements. 1 - I needed it cheap. 2 - I needed to be able to get it at a brick-and-mortar store in case it didn't meet the third requirement. 3 - I needed it to allow me to hear my microphone through my speakers, since my old laptop's sound card decided a great "feature" would be to disable that ability entirely.

I read the reviews of this product, and since it had generally positive reviews, I figured the worst that would happen would be I'd have to bring it back to the store and get my money back. Now, there IS a slight hiss that you hear when the volume is turned up and nothing is playing. It's barely noticeable unless you're listening for it, at least in my experience thusfar. The microphone input is super sensitive - I had to turn my mixing board level down to 2 and back away from the mic to get it to not clip, though I didn't have a ton of time to play with the settings as of yet. When I did manage to get it sounding good, I found the built-in, real-time voice effects that come with the software, which is a cool thing to have, especially when you need to entertain an 8 year old. I did some test recordings and a Skype test call through this sound card, and it seems to work great for my needs.

4 stars. Points deducted for the slight hissing and the cheap construction of the thing, but points added for being able to do what I want very effectively.

I would recommend this to a friend!

+3points

3out of 3found this review helpful.

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Review 2 for Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro External USB Sound Card

Very good product

Customer Rating

5.0

Posted by: dawebnerd

on 01/28/2012

Value for Price

5.0

Compatibility

5.0

Features

5.0

Ease of Installation

5.0

The Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi! Go Pro, is a great product that provides a big improvement in the sound quality when I watch a movie on my laptop. The installation was easy and quick. In addition, Best Buy had a better price on this item than my usual on line source for products.

I would recommend this to a friend!

+4points

4out of 4found this review helpful.

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Review 3 for Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro External USB Sound Card

Amazing, especially for price

Customer Rating

5.0

Posted by: KevinD1115

on 12/18/2011

Value for Price

5.0

Compatibility

5.0

Features

5.0

Ease of Installation

3.0

What's great about it: Price, sound quality improvement, and usb compatibility (for laptop)

What's not so great: Almost nothing

Was quite skeptical of getting an external sound card, but we had them in stock at the BBY I work at, so I decided to try it since it was only $30. I use Finale for music composition, and I was astounded at the improvement of playback quality. I was actually getting a clicking sound when playing anything with Finale 2012, and eventually discovered the buffer size was too small. With this card, though, I can actually make the buffer size slightly less than the default. It has MANY features that I may never use on the software disk, but nice to know it has them. Also tried it with Ubuntu, and though the software won't work with it, the device itsself does. Average ease of installation because though it works plug-and-play, you should definitely install the drivers for it, which is a bit of an annoying installation process. Uses the old InstallShield wizard in full-screen, and after you restart your computer when finished, it asks you if you want to update the software, which also requires another restart after downloading and installing them.

I would recommend this to a friend!

+7points

7out of 7found this review helpful.

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Review 4 for Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro External USB Sound Card

Work great

Customer Rating

5.0

Posted by: Lelele

from Unknown

on 10/26/2011

Value for Price

5.0

Compatibility

4.0

Features

4.0

Ease of Installation

4.0

What's great about it: So cheap

What's not so great: Voice changing improvement

Overall, it's a great product for such a cheap price. The sound card work fine with both my win 7 and win xp so for ppl who might concern, it does work. Voice changing was fun and very interesting, except when you start to sing with music your tone will be off, so much that its sound like you dont know how to sing at all.... Fun device , work great , and worth paying for. Still room for improvement, but for now, it's good enough.

I would recommend this to a friend!

+6points

6out of 6found this review helpful.

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Review 5 for Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro External USB Sound Card

Easy to use

Customer Rating

5.0

Posted by: Anonymous

from Long Island

on 10/22/2011

Value for Price

5.0

Compatibility

5.0

Features

4.0

Ease of Installation

5.0

What's great about it: Plugs right into USB, great sound

What's not so great: nothing

I couldn't get my sound working on my new comp I just built. I tried everything to try and get my motherboard to have sound...Finally just bought this sound card and it worked instantly. Great quality sound, just plug it in and thats it.

I would recommend this to a friend!

+5points

5out of 5found this review helpful.

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Review 6 for Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro External USB Sound Card

far overpriced

Customer Rating

1.0

Posted by: someguyontheinterweb

on 08/16/2011

Value for Price

1.0

Compatibility

4.0

Features

2.0

Ease of Installation

3.0

I "upgraded" to this one after having many months of using cheap 5$ soundcards. It wasn't worth it.

This card's base sound output is even worse than the cheap card you probably use now. It's only attempt at justifying the 40$ price tag is that it included the creative sound programs.

Well, they do improve the soundcard's output, especially while listening to music, but when i would pause a track my headphones were filled with a hissing sound that the music had been drowning out. Very frustrating to have to constantly mute the thing once an album is over.

And then the thing broke after a week of me having it. It was plugged into my laptop and i hit the edge of the table and the card just busted open. So, don't expect any better components from this thing.

All in all, it was 40$ down the drain and my only regret is that I didn't save the return label.

No, I would not recommend this to a friend.

-20points

11out of 42found this review helpful.

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Review 7 for Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro External USB Sound Card

Great Product - MAC Book Users Read TOO!

Customer Rating

5.0

Posted by: BillNC

from Wilmington, NC

on 07/03/2011

Value for Price

5.0

Compatibility

5.0

Features

5.0

Ease of Installation

5.0

What's great about it: Works On Macs, (Laptops) TOO!

What's not so great: USB Sticks Are Prone To Breaking - But This Comes With Pig-Tail

How on earth can you possibly go wrong ?? $39 for DD5.1 - AND it uses any available USB-Slot???!

(This is why I gave it such high-marks.) Come'on - the digital output to your A/V receiver is worth the price ALONE! If you're an audio-buff, just stop wasting your time - and grab this nice little unit and enjoy "nice sound." Which simply uses a simple ol' USB slot.

One thing, REMEMBER, _MOST_ of your sound-reproduction is going to be limited by the speakers you connect to this device - buy cheap speakers, and you're going to hear CHEAP sound, no matter HOW good of a sound-card/chip is.

(Mac users read on!)

Mac-Owners who THINKS this thing will _NOT_ work on their MAC - IT DOES! And works well. (I lost the sound on my MBAir - and am too cheap to spend all that (extra) Apple cash to get it fixed for _sound_only_!

At least it works with MY MBAir. - The rest of you - you can stop reading here.

I was one of the first ones who _HAD-to-HAVE_ a MBAir. (1st gen - with an actual hard-drive -Yuk.) Still love my MBAir and too, recently installed Snow Leopard which too, works like a charm. Not ONE problem other than the original MBAir _not_ being speed daemon with "Snow"- but that was never any secret.

All of a sudden, the SOUND(card) just stopped working! Not even a slow-progressive loss of sound - it just stopped working.

In my case, I couldn't even hear the initial boot's sound.... and yes, I followed all of those other suggestions holding this key down and booting and holding that key down to reset this and reset that, etc... Nothing! Either the chip or cable was bad. (read-on)

From all of the other Google Searches I've found - most of them point to either an initial "not so good" sound chip that craps out after a while or the ribbon cable was bad for some odd reason. In either case - MY problem was obviously the sound-chip itself. (Thanks, Apple! I'm one of the one's who paid nearly TWO grand for this unit. )

(I'm not going to promote any one product here, just telling you what worked for me. - And Saved Me Cash - besides I've paid plenty for my Mac/Apple stuff, already.)

If these symptoms are the same as yours, and it's not the little switch inside the ear-phone/speaker port being stuck (I read that being a prolem on Google too.) Just go and purchase The SBlaster (USB-Sound Stick) Xfi-Go-Pro from BestBuy. _THOUGH_ The box does _NOT_ say ANYWHERE that Mac(s) more specifically MBAirs - are supported - get it anyway! Even the Geek squad "who knew it all" at Best Buy tried INSISTING it wouldn't work just because it wasn't listed as "supported" on the box, It works LIKE A CHAMP!

All I can say is; It Work(s/ed) for ME quite well, anyway. (Actually - even better - why? - though I've not tried 5.1-DD yet, this USB chip supposedly supports 5.1-DD.) From what I can see, it's even "sportin'" the laser-output for connection to your A/V receiver to decode 5.1-DD. (5.1-DD is 5 point one Dolby Digital.)

To save yourself all of that wasted time - (if it's the chip or you don't want to waste your time bringing it in to a repair-shop just to have them charge you $50-bucks to say; "Yeah, it's broken and/or you need either a new system board or ribbon cable...spend the $29/$39 at Best Buy and have your sound back.)

ONE CAVEAT!!! And it's a BIG ONE _ remember, the sound is now _EXTERNAL_ so you'll either have to use head-phones or external speakers. Hmmm...didn't think to try to bluetooth yet though, maybe that'll work too. Hey, for all I care is I've got my sound back for a mere $39 bucks. (Stereo or 5.1DD or not!)

Just a side-note, I _still_ purchased a MBPro (Yes, at Best Buy, Too) - and now simply use the MBAir as my quick "2nd" notebook for the upstairs. Yes, BB, I bought it there when you had the $100/off price. - Still a heck-of-a price to pay - but love m'Macs.

I'll post this same message in the other (other than Apple forums, hoping to save some folks the $500/$100 to get their MBAir fixed without really needing to.)

Bill

I would recommend this to a friend!

+10points

17out of 24found this review helpful.

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Review 8 for Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro External USB Sound Card

Might work for some computers

Customer Rating

1.0

Posted by: Redneck49

from Las Cruces, New Mexico

on 05/26/2011

What's great about it: Didn't cost that much so no big deal it didn't work

What's not so great: Everything

I have a Gateway 505GR with Realtech built in soundcard (that doesn't work recordering anything from mike or online streaming). I tried this unit and after spending a few hours trying to get the configuration correct on it I finally got it to record from the mike input. With all settings set to the max the best that could be opbtained was a weak recording. Playback was a joke and was even worse. It may be just on my computer this unit is a big flop so be sure to check your systems information before buying. I'm running Windows XP home version. Can't bring the unit back because it's considered " software" and non returnable unless you want to exchange for the same product.

No, I would not recommend this to a friend.

-11points

7out of 25found this review helpful.

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Review 9 for Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro External USB Sound Card

good sound, great price

Customer Rating

5.0

Posted by: coops74

from Rochester, MN

on 03/26/2011

Value for Price

5.0

Compatibility

5.0

Features

4.0

Ease of Installation

5.0

What's great about it: good sound, fast install

What's not so great: possible issue with supplied disk programs

Bought this because the onboard sound on my motherboard went south. wanted a quick, easy and inexpensive fix and got just that. Plugged the card in, started the pc and instantly found the correct driver in windows 7 64 bit. Had to restart after install and had sound once again! Only issue at this point is the extra programs/features from the disk do not seem to work for me. I'll get what i need off their web site, no biggie.

I would recommend this to a friend!

+21points

22out of 23found this review helpful.

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Review 10 for Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro External USB Sound Card

Wow!

Customer Rating

5.0

Posted by: pookmeister

from socal

on 03/15/2011

Value for Price

5.0

Compatibility

5.0

Features

5.0

Ease of Installation

5.0

What's great about it: Tiny but packs mucho oomph! THX rocks!

What's not so great: nothing

I wanted an external sound "card" so I could remove my internal sound card to allow a little more air flow inside my computer for the graphics card.
Very easy install.
The sound quality compared to my previous internal card is so much better. The mp3s sound so much better. The thing is so tiny but puts out such great quality. I would say my previous card was maybe a 30-40 in quality and this is at a steady 100% perfect. My old card cost over $100 and this unit was on sale for under $30.
I logged into Ventrillo tonight and all my buddies sounded so much better and they said I also sounded better.
The temperature on my graphics card is cooler also.
I highly recommend this external sound unit.

I would recommend this to a friend!

+14points

16out of 18found this review helpful.

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Review 11 for Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro External USB Sound Card

Does not work with Windows 7

Customer Rating

2.0

Posted by: djfrank

from Alice, Tx

on 02/16/2011

Value for Price

5.0

Compatibility

1.0

Features

1.0

Ease of Installation

5.0

What's not so great: does not have a driver for windows 7

Does not with windows 7 and Creative never responds to our emails...

No, I would not recommend this to a friend.

-21points

6out of 33found this review helpful.

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Review 12 for Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro External USB Sound Card

Excellent Product

Customer Rating

5.0

Posted by: Rumberito

from California

on 02/03/2011

Value for Price

5.0

Compatibility

5.0

Features

5.0

Ease of Installation

5.0

What's great about it: easy inatallation, Compatibility, Chip

What's not so great: Nothing

This sound card works great to me and is really chip

I would recommend this to a friend!

+1point

5out of 9found this review helpful.

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Review 13 for Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro External USB Sound Card

Great only if your laptop sound card is weak

Customer Rating

5.0

Posted by: NHell

from Minneapolis, MN

on 11/17/2010

Value for Price

5.0

Compatibility

5.0

Features

5.0

Ease of Installation

4.0

Images for this Review

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What's great about it: great sound and low cpu usage and less than 80 megs jump in commit charge.

What's not so great: just getting used to switching back and forth between internal and external sound, no big though, it's easy, worth it

I was researching this card for months with no review or comments and just decided to by it. i can imagine the older more expensive modle is good but this offers more for less. It really dose sound great even before tuning the software/EQ, the only thing to keep in mind is that it is for laptops with bad sound cards (mac's usually come with good ones) so keep in mind it's virtual surround is just that, no 5.1 actual, and to change your audio output to this product through audio properties and to change playback in such programs like foobar to the product name. Another plus is no buzz or signal noise from the comps internals is gernerated. some of the chatter on the net is that it falls apart quick, though it's only a day old, im sure anyone with common sense can just glue it or tape it back together, the internals are so small there is no reson not to ghetto rig it since it is only fourty bucks, but by no means dose this product feel or look cheap. so all in all, buy this if you just want your 2.1 not to sound bad, and your only interested in 2.1, if you want 5.1 or higher, look for creatives other products.

I would recommend this to a friend!

+33points

46out of 59found this review helpful.

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