They're both very descent sound cards, if you need to save $$ get the Audigy 4...if you want the latest and greatest and all the toys that can be had (24bit Crystalizer, EAX 5, CMSS3D, breakout box)...get the X-Fi. If 2-channel stereo is all you're really going to use than the cards are pretty evenly matched and the X-Fi would be overkill given very similar performance can be had by a lot of less expensive audio boards, including, but not limited to, the Audigy 4. X-Fi Platinum? Why? Is that breakout box really worth $50-$80 to you? There's no other difference between the Platinum and Extreme Music versions. ...and you can get the Creative's digital I/O (Coax and Optical S/PDIF) for $15 if its digital I/O you seek.