[Jono3642]

I recently purchased the elite pro, using with a corda HA-1 and HD650's, but hearing all the praise for the meridian and hype around prelude, should I try and send it back, at this point I am not really using the breakout box but this is a money no object question, is it worth sending it back, I am going to notice a big difference between the meridian or should I wait and upgrade to the Prelude, or just keep the elite pro. Anybody with an xfi who has also heard meridian please tell me how big the difference is.

Also, I have sensitive hearing when it comes to anything that sounds digital or harsh, so the smoothness and organic tendency of the sound is important

Thanks

 

[Ahriman4891]

One thing you have to keep in mind is that there is a strong anti-creative sentiment among computer audiophiles

Also, most creative haters probably never heard the Elite Pro, only the lesser models (elite pro has flagship Cirrus Logic DACs, different board layout and IIRC better opamps as well).

For what it's worth, I can tell you that E-mu 0404 usb (same DAC as X-meridian and Prelude) to me sounds more natural than the regular x-fi, less metallic and with a bit more detail. The difference is not huge though and will not stand out unless I switch between them on the fly. But as I said Elite Pro is more advanced than other x-fi models.

Oh, and since you have Elite Pro, I assume EAX support for games is important? Then forget about X-Meridian altogether. If money is truly no object, buy a Prelude when it comes out and compare it to your Elite Pro, then post a review here

and sell whichever one you like less. Frankly, I doubt Prelude will be better -- maybe slightly different, but that's it. On paper, both of them have excellent specs.

 

[Jono3642]

thanks, that makes sense

 

[gates_2]

if you can replace the stock jellybean opamp with the LM4562, and throw in a new power cap it makes A WORLD of difference. To my ears, it is a HUGE upgrade in sound quality. I'd keep it and mod it!

 

[maarek99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ahriman4891 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Frankly, I doubt Prelude will be better -- maybe slightly different, but that's it. On paper, both of them have excellent specs.

It will probably be a lot better.

 

[Sir Nobax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ahriman4891 /img/forum/go_quote.gif One thing you have to keep in mind is that there is a strong anti-creative sentiment among computer audiophiles

CREATIVE SUCKS !


*...looks at sig* Aw, crap.


CREATIVE IS THE BEST ! ! WHooooO!

 

[ROBSCIX]

I have friends that own both Elite-Pros and X-Meridian and they say the E-Pro cannot compare with the X-Meridian 7.1 for sound quality.

 

[Ahriman4891]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Nobax /img/forum/go_quote.gif CREATIVE SUCKS ! *...looks at sig* Aw, crap. CREATIVE IS THE BEST ! ! WHooooO!

I assume you mean my sig? I don't use X-fi for music, for reasons I described above.

 

[Jono3642]

robscix, so your friends say stock meridian's (without the opamp upgrades) is much better than elite pro?

 

[KT88]

if you are looking for a card with a good EAX support than than X-Fi or Perlude are your only option. If you want a good sound quality and EAX is less important you can look to the ASUS Xonar. It has a great sound quality, I've compared it to the Emu 1212M (you can read it in this forum, it was posted a couple of days ago).

 

[Sir Nobax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ahriman4891 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I assume you mean my sig? I don't use X-fi for music, for reasons I described above.

k let me rephrase this:


CREATIVE SUCKS !


*...looks down to my own sig* Aw, crap.


CREATIVE IS THE BEST ! ! WHooooO!

 

[ROBSCIX]

If your gonna go for a Xonar you might aswell just buy a X-Meridian. Both are based on the 8788 chipset and use C-Media drivers.

 

[KT88]

The Xonar also has a great sound quality, as good as the 1212M. I dont think the X-Meridian is as good.

 

[Ahriman4891]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Nobax /img/forum/go_quote.gif k let me rephrase this:

DUH!! I have sigs turned off, and I forgot that X-fi is not even in my sig any more

KT88, Xonar has Burr-Brown DACs, right?

EDIT:
Answering my own question, Yes, according to the 2nd picture on this page.

 

[KT88]

Yes, but it also has the L4562MA OPA for the front channels which is much better than these used in most sound cards.