Prelude or X-Fi + Dac? - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

spacemanspliff · 08-07-2007, 12:44 AM

Ok so I need a soundcard for EAX b/c I play games.

Do I get a Prelude and use the analogue out or do I get an X-FI and use the digital out + an external dac? WOuld the stock Zhalou 2.5 or 3 sound better than the Prelude based on the specs?

Sir Nobax · 08-07-2007, 09:48 AM

X-Fi (not the xtremeaudio/xtremegamer) + E-MU 0202/0404.

When you want to listen to music, you'll use the Dac's usb port combined with Asio drivers, when playing an game you'll use the X-Fi's optical out/spdif out.

So no soundcardswapping needed.

btw, Whats wrong with the audigy2 ns in your sig, if it has an digital out i dont know why bother getting an x-fi, as the only you'll gain is a higher EAX version (which doesnt make much of a difference either).

KT88 · 08-07-2007, 09:55 AM

X-Fi + Emu is not a good idea. They dont work well together. I think a better idea would be the perlude or X-Fi and a DAC like you offered. The Zhaolu 2.5 sounds much better than probably any sound card there is at the moment at the 200$ price range.

Sir Nobax · 08-07-2007, 10:09 AM

I seriously wouldn't know what the problem could be with an X-Fi with a optical out and the optical in of the E-mu. As for gaming you do not need 'bit-perfect' like settings, just configure the x-fi as default soundcard and configure foobar or winamp to use the E-mu's ASIO mode.

KT88 · 08-07-2007, 10:18 AM

If he wants to use stereo only it'll work fine, but if he wants 5.1/7.1 than it wont work. The X-Fi has not DDLive so you cant use the digital out for surround.

Plus, the Emu 0202/0404 doesn't sound that good. X-Fi after fully modded will probably sound even better. The DAC on the X-Fi is more than capable, its the same DAC used on the EMU 1212M.

Sir Nobax · 08-07-2007, 10:24 AM

o_O lol, so what you are saying is that a (modded) x-fi beats a E-MU 0404 USB when it comes to SQ...

Never heard of that one before.

Anyway, the E-MU has DTS and Dolby digital passthrough.

KT88 · 08-07-2007, 11:03 AM

DD and DTS pass through wont work. the problem is the X-Fi it isn't able to use DD live or DTS connect so he will only be able to listen to DD and DTS when using a DVD and that's it. No surround in games.

As for sound quality, I really dont like the 0404, it sounds very unnatural with awful midrange. It emphasizes treble and bass.

I dont know if the X-Fi will beat the 0404 in every aspect, but I am quite sure that the SQ difference if any wont be worth the extra cash for 2 cards. Some others who modded the X-Fi say it sounds as good as very expensive DAC's so there's a good chance it sounds better than 0404 (which IMO is a very unnatural sounding - and therefor non audiophile card).

Sir Nobax · 08-07-2007, 11:51 AM

..bugged post..

Sir Nobax · 08-07-2007, 12:04 PM

ow, FFS Safari is screwing things up again.

Sir Nobax · 08-07-2007, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by KT88

DD and DTS pass through wont work. the problem is the X-Fi it isn't able to use DD live or DTS connect so he will only be able to listen to DD and DTS when using a DVD and that's it. No surround in games. As for sound quality, I really dont like the 0404, it sounds very unnatural with awful midrange. It emphasizes treble and bass. ...

Music + movies -> E-MU 0404
Games -> X-Fi
Pretty easy huh

.

I am really thinking that your making the X-Fi sound better then it is I’ve heard it myself at someone elses place (XtremeMusic IIRC), and to be honest, i think i would prefer using his integraded audio over the X-Fi.

The only thing good thing is EAX5 support, but thats it, imo.

The board sounded muddy and undetailed at every aspect and has an very compressed soundstage.

I really do not know how you could even think of the idea that a X-Fi sounds better then the E-MU series, although i have yet to hear the E-MU, at least until monday.

Ah, well, maybe you just like the X-Fi’s muddy-ness, i certainly do not.