Originally posted by: eastvillager
The only reason games mode sounds different than entertainment mode or creation mode is because of the features you've got enabled(stuff like CMSS 3D and Crystalizer).
I do not think you are 100% right on this. There is a number of differences between the modes in regard to how audio is dealt with. In gaming mode X-Fi optimizes frame rate and 3D audio is processed in hardware but the output runs at 48kHz. In Audio Creation mode the output is bit perfect. If you are interested you can perhaps read
this.
Suffice to say I am able to get EAX 5.0 only when I am in gaming mode
in the Prey demo (running latest beta driver). So using modes yields gives access to special functions.
btw. Prey *sounds* great. Give it a spin if you haven't yet.