The Test

We tested the audio cards in the same board as our Intel solution. When we were testing with an add-in card, we would disable the on-board, and conversely, we would remove add-in cards when testing with onboard audio.

Performance Test Configuration
Processor(s): 3.4 GHz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition
RAM: 2 x 256MB Samsung DDR2 (4:4:4:11)
Hard Drive(s): Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 120GB PATA
Chipset Drivers: Intel Chipset INF v6.2.1.1001
Video Card(s): NVIDIA Geforce 6600 GT
Audio Card(s): Creative Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
Creative Audigy 4 Pro
Echo Audio Gina3G
Realtek Intel HD Audio
Video Drivers: NVIDIA ForceWare 67.66 Beta
Operating System(s): Windows XP Professional SP2
Power Supply: OCZ PowerStream 600 PSU
Motherboards: Intel D925XECV2

The Cards Audio Quality: RightMark Audio Analyzer 24/96
Comments Locked

89 Comments

View All Comments

  • S0me1X - Friday, February 4, 2005 - link

    There are many more factors that effects the sound quality than just the chipset...
  • knitecrow - Friday, February 4, 2005 - link

    Onkyo SE-150PCI is a via ENVY24 based soundcard. I expect it to be like all hi-end VIA ENVY24 based cards.
  • vailr - Friday, February 4, 2005 - link

    Please also consider, for camparison:
    Onkyo SE-150PCI PC Digital Audio Board
    http://www.audiocubes.com/product_info.php?product...
  • knitecrow - Friday, February 4, 2005 - link

    Its a good primer, got my hopes up... I would have liked to seen a more comprehensive round-up

    The soundcards/audio solutions I would like to get compared:

    Consumer ENVY24 boards:
    $25 chaintech AV-710 (i've found to sound as good as any audigy)
    $100 M-audio Revolution 7.1 or Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1


    Pro ENVY24 cards:
    M-audio audiophile 2496

    I like the suggestions about
    Creative Live! & turtle beach santa cruze
    realtek alc850 onboard
    analog devices onboard
    nvidia nf2 soundstorm

    I'll look forward to such a roundup.
  • S0me1X - Friday, February 4, 2005 - link

    However, its not something I'd get if I just want the highest quality sq from a computer ;)
  • S0me1X - Friday, February 4, 2005 - link

    Motu 828 looks interesting :) Firewire is another excellent interface for this application, if implemented properly.
  • tr1kstanc3 - Friday, February 4, 2005 - link

    still a good review and i do hope you follow up on your conclusion to test real "pro-audio" interfaces!
  • tr1kstanc3 - Friday, February 4, 2005 - link

    my motu 828 mkii puts the smackdown on those reviewed cards... gina is decent but i wouldnt quite put it at the 'pro' level. should have used something slightly better like a digidesign 002, motu 828/896, rme...
  • S0me1X - Friday, February 4, 2005 - link

    #69
    You should consider EMU0404 or EMU1212 ($100 and $200, respectively).
    Even better would be to use digital out from Chaintech AV710 ($25, can be flashed to Prodigy 7.1 firmware and get bitperfect digital out) to a nice external DAC. There are a lot of options for the external DAC, one of the best for this purpose is Benchmar DAC1, which can be had for $975.
  • sparky001 - Friday, February 4, 2005 - link

    Since we are in an era of htpc's. I think we need clarification on playback more than we do recording.

    I think most people that acctually wanted to do recording would go get a dedicated recording solution.

    But because of limited drivers and the like (linux) most playback cards tend to be of the consumer variety.

    I very much would like to see the ENVY chips reviewed. And a short piece on OS compatibility.

    People will have very specific perposes for looking at these audio reviews. ie
    Games- SPdif
    Games- Analogue
    Playback-SPdif
    Playback-Analogue
    Recording-All
    I guess.

    Also unfortunatly the domanant audio source is still 16bit/44.1hkz. Since my HTPC has to playback every CD that I have on my server in uncompressed WAV format, I want the best card for that purpose.

    Thanks Derek.

Log in

Don't have an account? Sign up now