Creative Labs has finally released a production quality driver update v2.09.0001 (direct link ~ 41.92 MB) for its X-Fi XtremeMusic, Platinum and Fatal1ty lineups. The driver release address some (but not all) issues with crackling, corrects a number of issues with popular games and adds full support for OpenAL 1.1. Game Fixes:

For Prey
- Resolves the issue of the computer not responding

For Quake 4 (version 1.04)
- Resolves the issue of the computer not responding when the error message "Quake 4 has encountered an error and needs to close" is displayed
- Resolves the issue of mono speaker out in surround sound environments
- Allows you to hear audio from speakers when you select the OpenAL X-Fi option as the audio driver
- Allows audio channels to stream to correct speakers

For Battlefield 2
- Allows the Ultra-High Audio setting in a multi-player game
- For Battlefield 2 (version 1.12)
- Allows you to hear audio from speakers when the X-Fi audio driver option is selected

For Doom 3 (version 1.3)
- Allows you to hear audio from speakers when EAX 4.0 is enabled
- Resolves the "pop" issue during the Chainsaw attack sound effect sequence
- Removes "hiss" from the front left speaker
- Allows panning
- Plays the Ambient sound effects correctly

For Unreal Tournament 2004 (version 3369)
- Allows you to hear audio from speakers when running in hardware OpenAL mode (the System Driver check-box is cleared)
For Unreal Tournament 2004 (version 3355)
- Allows reverb in native OpenAL mode
- Allows music to play correctly during gaming in Native OpenAL mode

For Dungeon Siege (version 1.11)
Resolves the issue of the computer not responding during benchmarking