Hi,

In the market for a new soundcard and was looking at the X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty, however, I just heard about the X-FI Prelude. How do they stack up? Price is about the same, but the X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty comes with a drive bay with several extra input lines. Although, the X-FI Prelude seems to support SPDIF on the card itself.

http://www.auzentech.com/site/prod [...] relude.php
http://www.soundblaster.com/produc [...] duct=16559

Any help would be great.

Can you wait? Fatal1ty is now... Prelude is soon

Prelude will be better in the end... Auzentech have put better DACs and OpAmps on the card itself. Auzentech are also making the drivers (still in the making on the Dolby and DTS encoding) which means that the support will be better as this is what creative have been lacking in, in the last 2yrs or so. Fatal1ty is still not fully working on Vista but im sure Auzentech will make sure the prelude works on.

Although the Auzentech doesnt come with the front bay it will have better support and better components on board. The Auzentech still has the connector onboard for the front IO which i wouldnt be suprised if this is an add-on feature later on.

Me id wait for the Auzentech unless you REALLY need the card now or REALLY need the front I/O now.

"Prelude is soon"? It's been out since earlier this month. I got one and I'm enjoying it.

completed driver support is soon, because the card was forced out prematurely by creative. its a very good card, but currently only features as much hardware support as current x-fis do, due to there only being standard creative drivers available for use. but, within a couple months or so, auzentech should have their drivers finalized, to enable support for the remaining included hardware.

Well, I made an order for the X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty a day before I made this post. So that is the reason I was asking it the X-FI Prelude is MUCH better or somewhat better. Got a great deal on the X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty, was about $175 plus a $50 rebate.

Past few days I tried to e-mail and phone Auzentech and ask about the card and if a front panel is in the works or even if the creative one works. But no reply and no-one picks up the phone. Maybe they just lost a sale?