Are you sure that the big difference in SQ isn't down to the prcoessing?  You've tried the Recon3D with it off, right?  One fairly simple solution would be to double amp it.  

Actually that's what I was thinking might be the cause. I wasn't necessarily looking to combine the 2 but was considering it as a possibility. I've tried the U3 before, and I wasn't thrilled with it's sound at all. It'd be amazing if my laptop could take a dedicated card. And I assume since the Recon3D is the upgrade to the old X-Fi 5.1 USB that it might not be worth trying the older model unless the sound itself was better, then run it into something like the mixamp. Was just wondering if anyone here has had any experience running through the limitations of usb and what the ceiling is.
 
Also, thank you both for your input to far, I really appreciate it.

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axelcloris said:

I've checked for the what u hear option and it does not seem to show up. I've enabled the option to show disabled devices as well and still don't see it on there. This may be due to the fact that it's a usb device, but I can't say for sure.

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Says here you need to install the bundled software to get "What U Hear" enabled: http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=87127

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axelcloris said:

Actually that's what I was thinking might be the cause. I wasn't necessarily looking to combine the 2 but was considering it as a possibility. I've tried the U3 before, and I wasn't thrilled with it's sound at all. It'd be amazing if my laptop could take a dedicated card. And I assume since the Recon3D is the upgrade to the old X-Fi 5.1 USB that it might not be worth trying the older model unless the sound itself was better, then run it into something like the mixamp. Was just wondering if anyone here has had any experience running through the limitations of usb and what the ceiling is.
 
Also, thank you both for your input to far, I really appreciate it.

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The Recon3D is sort of an upgrade to the 5.1, I think the idea is it's meant to serve as a mixamp substitute that can also be used on PC's. You've tried disabling the processing, right?  Not a lot of people around here have tried them so I don't know how the sound coming out of them is unprocessed.  Bear in mind that most any HRTF processing is going to color the sound.  

Hi guys, I'm after a sound card for the best positional audio possible in games, assume I have high end cans. I can get the auzentech x-meridian quite cheap atm. But after research many people say that it's inferior to the forte/prelude for games. But no one ever seems to give the reason why. So the question is: why? Is it because it lacks hardware decoding? I have a core i5-2500k, I'm sure I won't notice an fps drop in games, or will I? I vaguely remember hearing that the forte has additional processing on sounds from above below you (ie in the vertical axis) that would make it better in games. Is this the case? What does a sound card add to positional audio in games, apart from just dolby headphones/cmss3d? Is all dolby/cmss done equally? Could anyone possibly help me out it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

While one of the features of hardware accelerated audio is indeed lower CPU usage, that's no longer as relevant and isn't nearly relevant when compared to the fact that game audio has better output quality as well as better positional audio quality. Some 3rd party sound cards that licensed the X-Fi DSP chip have only licensed the base chip, meaning it doesn't allow for hardware accelerated audio nor the highest EAX version support or the enhanced positional audio algorithms of a EMU20K2 powered card.
 
If you're going after the best positional audio and overall best gaming audio support on a sound card, then the choice to go with is the Creative X-Fi Titanium HD. If you want a cheaper card, you can go with an Auzentech X-Fi Forte, or further down the scale a Creative X-Fi Titanium Fatality.

Great thank you so much Titanium HD is a bit out of my budget. How much of a difference is the titanium non-HD to the forte? Will the forte be better in positioning or just better in terms of sound quality itself? Also should I ignore the Meridian and focus on a slightly more expensive forte/cheaper titanium?
Okay from reading your post again, it seems the forte has slightly better positional audio than the titanium non-HD. I can get the non-HD for £50 or less, the meridian for £70 and the forte for £100. I am willing to spend more if I get a real difference in positional audio. I should mention I already have the budget xonar dg, but the positional audio if it was underwhelming, and what lead me to undertake an upgrade. I'm looking for a decent upgrade from that. Thanks again

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hamzatm said:

Hi guys, I'm after a sound card for the best positional audio possible in games, assume I have high end cans. I can get the auzentech x-meridian quite cheap atm. But after research many people say that it's inferior to the forte/prelude for games. But no one ever seems to give the reason why. So the question is: why? Is it because it lacks hardware decoding? I have a core i5-2500k, I'm sure I won't notice an fps drop in games, or will I? I vaguely remember hearing that the forte has additional processing on sounds from above below you (ie in the vertical axis) that would make it better in games. Is this the case? What does a sound card add to positional audio in games, apart from just dolby headphones/cmss3d? Is all dolby/cmss done equally? Could anyone possibly help me out it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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go for the new asus phoebus soundcard with 24bit dolby home theatre 4.. trust me on this one ..i am a professional dj signed to the ministry of sound anjunabeats armada and defected records..i own a villa in san antonio ibiza and i have got the best sound system on the island..it comprisers of the usually pioneer cdj2000s and midi unit nexus 900 and two mcintosh mt 10 turntables put through two krell evolution one monoblocks with westlake audio tower sm1 speakers..  i have got a reactable going through a krell fbi amp/pre combo then through a wilson audio thor's hammer which does the bass side of things and are all out side the building because the sub makes the walls shake and well if you haven't heard anything like that before it sounds off this ******* planet..now let's get back to the soundcard the pc i am using now has got dolby home theatre 3 and sounds very good with games like crysis2.. i have always said to myself that a 24bit dolby home theatre would be out of this world..in the press the other day the asus phoebus was announced..  i am doing a new build soon and that will be on the top of my wishlist.. i am waiting for the new ivy bridge and the new amd 7990 graphics cards to come out so i can finally play battlefield 3 on ultra 120fps maxed out with no slow down what so ever fingers crossed.. p.s get the newest thing that is coming out the phoebus my friend if you want the best possible sound you can get..you will be kicking yourself after woulds if you don't.. trust me on this one..

SQ wise, the X-Fi Forte is indeed an improvement over the regular X-Fi Titanium, but its improvements are mainly on SQ itself, sound positioning and audio features have near similar performance. And yes, disregard the Meridian since it doesn't have the X-Fi DSP within, making the card of little to no interest for gaming purposes.
 
Ideally you should get the X-Fi Titanium HD, as that is indeed the pinnacle of sound cards when it comes to gaming, but if you can't stretch your budget to accomodate that purchase or wait longer to save some money in order to get it, then the X-Fi Forte would be the middle ground to go with, if you intend on keeping the card for a long time.
 
EDIT: Remember, hamzatm, if gaming audio performance is what you're truly looking for, you need a X-Fi powered card (XtremeAudio excluded as it isn't a true X-Fi card, lacking the X-Fi DSP), which excludes both the Meridian and all Asus cards.

I've been away from this sort of thing for a while but has Creative learned how to write drivers yet?

OK thanks a lot Roller, all taken into account. And Martin, I saw the press release on the Phoebus, but the first thing that came to my mind is that it's gna be hella expensive Any other opinions people?

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maverickronin said:

I've been away from this sort of thing for a while but has Creative learned how to write drivers yet?

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One can only dream
 
If only they licensed their tech at more affordable prices...

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roller said:

One can only dream
 
If only they licensed their tech at more affordable prices...

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So in other words it doesn't matter how many cool features it has because getting it to work will be a crapshoot...
 
There wouldn't happen to be a Creative equivalent to the Asus Unified Drivers or something would there?  I guessing not but it doesn't hurt to ask...

..

if it's going to be expensive save up for it then..and to the one can only dream remark..i am a professional dj and i do all the trance nation cds and it's just what comes with it my friend..