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ISO High end sound card. No price limit. - Page 4

post #46 of 51
7/13/12 at 8:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NamelessPFG View Post

X-Fi MB(2) software package for integrated audio codecs, for a start. I've tried some modified Realtek drivers in conjunction with X-Fi MB2 on a notebook, but it only got up to EAX 4.0.

The X-Fi Go! Pro also claims to support EAX 5.0, and I highly doubt a little USB stick can pull that off without software audio rendering.

Did not know about that. Good info!
Quote:
I don't think the Recon3D handles it the same way the X-Fi MB2 software does, though, new drivers and all that. But for me to put its positional gaming audio capabilities to the test against established X-Fi hardware, I'd need to get my hands on the actual card, and I don't feel like spending $100+ just for a review.

And unfortunately I don't play anything that uses the loftier EAX extensions, and I don't feel like having both installed at once or switching them out, so I can't do much more than say it works (seemingly) as well with what I do play.

My suspicion would be that it's probably a "cut down" version of the X-Fi; in terms of economics it would make sense - take the features that the users want or need, and make it more affordable on both sides. It probably does what the EMU20k can do, but probably doesn't have as much processing power (and is probably a more fixed-function DSP instead off an FPGA (I'm convinced the EMU20k is not a fixed-function chip)). To support this all I have is that Creative isn't making a lot of racket about how they've increased processing power yet again (which was the X-Fi's whole selling point, that it was multiple times more powerful than the Audigy, which was itself more powerful than Live!, and so on). But it might just be that they're changing their marketing strategy as well. Who knows. redface.gif
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post #47 of 51
7/14/12 at 3:10pm

I thinks you should understand what is requirement in this area. I also yearn to purchase card for me.

Best of luck.

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post #48 of 51
7/15/12 at 10:34pm
Thread Starter 

 Maybe this will help?

 

"Links"

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/05/01/sound_blaster_recon3d_fatal1ty_card_review/

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=704858

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/332894-28-creative-recon3d-pcie-titanium-comparision

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1672404

 

"Benchmarks"

http://www.overclock.net/t/1221483/recon3d-vs-x-fi-titanium

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159501

 

 

(I haven't read any of it, just googled it for fun. lol)


Edited by NinjaSushi2 - 7/15/12 at 10:36pm
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post #49 of 51
7/15/12 at 10:39pm
The "benchmarks" are just forum posts, with users saying "Recon3D is ****" and then providing no basis for those arguments. I'm getting a very strong "reality distortion field" reading here Mr Spock, I suspect that you should return to the ship immediately!

[H] mentions a bit more in terms of specs, including this MAXIM:
http://www.maxim-ic.com/datasheet/index.mvp/id/7138

Not bad spec-wise. Beats a lot of dedicated HPAs, but it's not a 6120. Looks like a good chip though.

Of course they then degrade into "it's crap" (this seems to just be groupthink in action, again) and provide no real excuse. They claim it sounds "mushed" or "distant" (I'll assure you it doesn't), but when they're grading it in terms of "loudness" for the headphone output, I'm skeptical of their review quality.

Sure they have RMAA, but RMAA is easy to screw up; what they did publish though shows a fairly low noise, low distortion part. And they aren't explaining enough about their methods to verify they didn't screw the results themselves (and [H] is not beyond black-balling products because they haven't gotten paid this week, and they've done it time and again).
Edited by obobskivich - 7/15/12 at 10:46pm
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post #50 of 51
7/15/12 at 10:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by obobskivich View Post

The benchmarks are just forum posts, with users saying "Recon3D is ****" and then providing no basis for those arguments. I'm getting a very strong "reality distortion field" reading here Mr Spock, I suspect that you should return to the ship immediately!

lol popcorn.gif

 

I'm just stoned trollin' the forums on the interwebs. lol

 

Na but.. This maybe a newb question but in all reality how can a $75 card and a $150 card = the same processing power/sound quality? They are made by the same company correct? So why would a company pump out two different cards that do the same thing other than to gimmick people for money? In which I don't think Creative is out to gimmick people. IMHO.

 

So yeah. I don't know what OpenAL or anything is but what would be the best card to play the Total War series? How about that? deadhorse.gif

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post #51 of 51
7/15/12 at 10:49pm
The Recon3D "Fatal1ty" card is basically identical to the non-Fatal1ty card, it just has a different accessory package and includes the metal shield. Creative has done this kind of "binning" for decades - they make one reference PCB and then sell it at 3-5 different price tiers with different accessories in the box (time was they would include free games too).

For Total War (and I only have Empire), I haven't noticed any "loss" from the X-Fi Prelude to the Recon3D, and the "plus" for the Recon is the headamp (and proper line outputs, instead of 5Vrms eek.gif).
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