NEW Creative Sound Cards! Bring on the Recon 3D!

[Andrew Moore]

IN STOCK!!

Hello

Creative Sound Blaster Recon 3D is here! The latest from Creative Labs bringing you the next Generation of Gaming audio over the previous flagship Sound Blaster, the Legendary X-Fi!


Take a look below at these two epic cards!


Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D PCI-E Soundcard @ £89.99 inc VAT

Accelerate your gaming audio
Upgrade to mind-blowing PC gaming audio with the Sound Blaster Recon3D PCIe sound card powered by the revolutionary Sound Core3D quad-core Sound and Voice processor. Whether you’re on a headset or desktop speakers you’ll have a distinct tactical advantage over the competition with massively powerful THX TruStudio Pro audio technologies that deliver incredibly immersive surround sound with pin-point accurate audio placement. Lead your fellow warriors on the battlefield with CrystalVoice Voice and Clarity technologies that ensure even in the heat of battle your voice will be heard clearly. Choose the PC audio choice of Champions, and hear the sound of victory. Choose Sound Blaster.

- Powered by Sound Core3D quad-core audio processor;
- THX TruStudio Pro;
- CrystalVoice voice enhancement and clarity technology;
- Dolby Digital Live encoding;
- Dedicated high quality headphone amplifier;
- 1 Year Manufacturers Warranty;


Only £89.99 inc VAT.

ORDER NOW




Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Fatal1ty Professional Soundcard @ £119.99 inc VAT

Pro-gamer grade 3D Gaming Audio and Communications
Sound Blaster and Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel have once again teamed up to create the ultimate PC gaming audio card. Whether you’re on a headset or desktop speakers you’ll have a distinct tactical advantage over the competition with massively powerful THX TruStudio Pro audio technologies that deliver incredibly immersive surround sound with pin-point accurate audio placement. Go “headset-free” with exclusive CrystalVoice Voice Clarity technology and the included Sound Blaster advanced beamforming microphone for a new way to communicate with your team mates by allowing for advanced voice communication even while playing audio over speakers! Get PC audio choice of Champions, and hear the sound of victory. Get Sound Blaster.

- Powered by Sound Core3D - quad-core audio processor;
- THX TruStudio Pro technologies;
- CrystalVoice - voice enhancement and clarity technology;
- Sound Blaster beam forming microphone;
- Dedicated high quality headphone amp;
- Dolby Digital line encoding;
- 1 Year Manufacturer Warranty;


Only £119.99 inc VAT.

ORDER NOW

 

[Andrew Moore]

I like the professional sleek look of the STX for example but for gamers and those who like bright, in your face trinkets will find this card very nice looking indeed! Its got some of the appeal of the X-Fi and the Xonar all rolled in to one..

I shall be testing these against an X-Fi fatality and an STX hopefully over the weekend so I shall share my thoughts when I have done so

 

[Andrew Moore]

What about the D2/x as lots of people have these and game with them.

That would be pointless really to begin with.

If it compares well to the best in the range then it would not be beneficial to compare to the D2/X as you know itll just be better.

If its worse then yes, adding a D2/X to the mix will be the next step.

 

[Andrew Moore]

Well...


I had a play last night! Exceptional


Sound quality for music in my own opinion isnt quite on par with that of the STX but the cards are £30-50 less if your not buying the "Champion edition" of the card and the Champion only provides a break out box as an additional feature.

Playing games however is an entirely different story.. The clarity is beyond that of anything I have ever used before! Gun fire in games such as Battlefield 3 is literally brought to life picking up on the most delicate of sounds from every direction allowing you to pin point the location of the enemy during the onslaught quicker and more effectively.

The emulated surround sound of a standard 2.0 headset such as the Senheisser PC350 is superb! I never really got on with the fish bowl effect that the x-fi created which is why I decided to switch to Xonar however the Recon3D takes the quality of precision sound beyond that of the Xonar in every situation it faced, the only lacking feature was depth and warmth that are not required as much for gaming and are more welcomed in music or films.

Both of these sound cards use the same PCB, same Core3D Quad core sound processor and have the same features. I found that for music on higher end audio equipment (£300+ headsets and £500+ speakers) the Recon3D was lacking and couldnt perform as well as an Xonar STX. I feel that even the Xonar D2/X would fare better here too.

The X-FI and Xonar gaming argument was a tough call with everyone having roughly an equal preference preferring one or the other. I feel this gap has now been sealed with the new Recon3D taking a firm step beyond both parties by offering a superior experience, a higher lever of precision and an abundance of added new features.

Both Cards come with an 600ohm built in headphone amp which is fantastic! This means you now have the facility to buy much better quality headsets of headphones and actually notice a difference when doing so.

The Recon3D doesnt require power to be used either so theres no unsightly cables in your case either so if your into having a neat well cabled PC the this does have its advantages.


I have one gripe however...

£89.99 buys you the Recon3D.
£119.99 buys you the Recon3D Fatality Pro.

The only difference I can see between these is that the Fatality has the facility to hook up the breaker box found on the Champion series of the card. As you don't have this breaker box provided in the box, the £30 additional outlay for an unrequired feature and an EMI shield (that's made of plastic in the center and wont shield anything) is a in my opinion a bit of a waste of money and could be seen as a little bit of a con however all products have there place and for the gamer bling factor it certainly scores well!


So.. Lets talk Cards..


What would I buy?

Up to £30 - Asus Xonar DG

Up to £60 - Asus Xonar DX

Up to £90 - Creative Recon3D

Up to £120 - Asus Xonar D2/X or Recon3D (Recon3D Fatality not worth the premium)

£120 and above - Asus Xonar ST or STX, Xense if you want a nice head set too!



What card to buy for Music and film - £ANY? - Asus Xonar ST/X

What card to buy for Music and film - Up to £90? - Asus Xonar D2/X

What card to buy for Gaming - £ANY? - Creative Recon3D (Fatility and Champion not worth the premium).

What card to buy for Gaming - Up to £90? - Creative Recon3D



Full review with images and screens to come over the next week or so

 

[Andrew Moore]

Xonar Dx/d2x or 3d recon for gaming, music and film?

Sigh....

Give it a read again.

"What would I buy?

Up to £30 - Asus Xonar DG

Up to £60 - Asus Xonar DX

Up to £90 - Creative Recon3D

Up to £120 - Asus Xonar D2/X or Recon3D (Recon3D Fatality not worth the premium)

£120 and above - Asus Xonar ST or STX, Xense if you want a nice head set too!



What card to buy for Music and film - £ANY? - Asus Xonar ST/X

What card to buy for Music and film - Up to £90? - Asus Xonar D2/X

What card to buy for Gaming - £ANY? - Creative Recon3D (Fatility and Champion not worth the premium).

What card to buy for Gaming - Up to £90? - Creative Recon3D"

As you can see... I would buy a D2/X or Recon3D at that price level with no stipulation on purpose.

Read a little futher down and it says I would buy the D2/X for music film and the Recond3D for gaming.

Your Quote... rumbled.

 

[Andrew Moore]

Read as a questioned statement to me


Anyway..

If you dont have expensive audio equipment (ie £300+ headsets etc) then buy the Recon3D as you will notice little in terms of quality for music and film (although it is worse) but gaming is very precise and doesnt leave you feeling like your under water like an X-FI does

 

[Andrew Moore]

When are you expecting these in stock?

By the end of the week all being well

 

[Andrew Moore]

IN STOCK!!