I've heard Kontakt is the shit- don't know, but I use Halion also, and it's pretty damn flexible... Reason's NN-XT is pretty nice too, alot easier than the Halion interface in my opinion...
...but then again, software synths still sound thin- they just ain't fucking with my S5000! Mwa ha ha ha ha!
I use Native Instruments - Kontakt and Intakt. DFD (Direct from disc) works great with Kontakt. It has a slight learnin curve, but its definitly worth your time and money.
Oh yes, I also have Kompakt, but it doesn't get used much anymore because I bought it's big bro Kontakt. I still use the samples that Kompakt came with tho. Most people that have both say that Kompakts' samples are better.
Sampletank 2. THE BEST. i own both Sampletank 2 and Kontakt... the effects section in sampletank is unmatched by any sampler on the market. point blank. kontakt WAS king.... and now is far from it in my book. i will hook you up with my knotakt discs for $125 big ones if you want that though.... but if you spent a week with sampletank, you wouldnt want another unl;ess you had a need for EMU sounds (which kontakt doesnt do to my knowledge) or GIGA (kontakt does use giga) but thats it.
why are these samplers better thn one another? is it because of the eefects and options or the actual sound texture and quality?...someone enlighten me
sampletank has FAR more editing/effects options in it, not to mention the rock-solid library it comes with from the jump. so yeah, the effects and options are why i think sampletank is better. plus, ease of use and intuitive conrol are much better and easier to pick up then halion or kontakt (i have all three so i can speak from experience) and the effect really do make an enourmous difference.