Azuen Prelude - worth the upgrade?

[Richard Dower]

I had the X-Fi XtremeMusic for a couple of years, never had any issues and did the job. Just got bored and decided to buy the Prelude...do you think it was worth it and is the sound quality that much better?

Also, are there any revisions to the Prelude PCB?...as in have parts been changed out or a PCB revision?

Thanks. :)

[Donnie27]

I had the X-Fi XtremeMusic for a couple of years, never had any issues and did the job. Just got bored and decided to buy the Prelude...do you think it was worth it and is the sound quality that much better?

Also, are there any revisions to the Prelude PCB?...as in have parts been changed out or a PCB revision?

Thanks. :)

I have both and IMHO, the Prelude is better but not the blow some here claim it is.

I moved my Prelude to my Computer #2 my for music production and when I want finer listening. I went back to my Xtreme Music because I'd gotten way the heck too use to the THX console and other stuff missing from the Prelude. Sorry but their cut down version of Creative's bloatware ran at the same speed LOL! Newest drivers are buggy. IMHO, it will be a Case by Case basis for who'll think it is worth it or not.

I don't like the fact that it costs that much and then you pay even more for extra connectivity. But I like it's 7.1 four out puts better than Creative Labs' 3.

Note about DDL. A feature I didn't like it at all with my Technics and Pioneer sounds pretty good with my Harmon Kardon 247. Maybe after getting about 20 hours of Music from my Reel to Reel I'll move the Prelude back to my Number one computer and upgrade the Opamp as well.

[YukonTrooper]

The benefits with high end audio components would likely be worth it, but with your everyday gaming headphones and speakers the differences would be negligible. I'm sure there are even people out there who like the sound signature of the XtremeMusic better, regardless of the fact that the Prelude is technically better.