Winter Audio Reference: On-Board, Consumer, and Pro Solutions
by Derek Wilson on February 3, 2005 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Mobile
Audio Quality: RightMark Audio Analyzer 16/44.1
Here, we really need to look at the swept IMD test at the bottom of the page to see the problems with Creative's implementation. Note, also, that the Gina3G maintains a very flat frequency response. And though the Gina3G's noise and dynamic range numbers are "not as good" as the Creative cards, the behavior is more consistent across the audible spectrum.
| Test | Echo Audio Gina3G | SB Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro | SB Audigy 4 Pro | Intel HD Audio |
| Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB: | +0.04, -0.09 | +0.13, -0.36 | +0.13, -0.36 | +0.25, -0.32 |
| Noise level, dB (A): | -94.3 | -95.6 | -94.5 | -87.8 |
| Dynamic range, dB (A): | 94.1 | 94.3 | 94.1 | 87.1 |
| THD, %: | 0.0057 | 0.0028 | 0.0033 | 0.0061 |
| IMD, %: | 0.0079 | 0.0076 | 0.0081 | 0.018 |
| Stereo crosstalk, dB: | -94.9 | -95.2 | -93.3 | -87.6 |
Frequency response
Noise level
Dynamic range
THD + Noise (at -3 dB FS)
Intermodulation distortion
Stereo crosstalk
IMD Sweep comparison
Note the flatness of the IMD sweep test on the Gina3G and the sharp contrast of the Intel and especially the Creative solutions. The range of frequencies graphed isn't very clearly labeled, but the graph starts at 2kHz and goes to 20kHz on the x-axis. As the value plotted on this graph represents the dB level of intermodulation distortion present in the signal when those frequencies are swept, and the signals are 1kHz apart, a large part of the distortion will be in the form of a 1kHz tone (F2 - F1). This is obviously bad and can indicate that even in audible high frequency data could cause problems right in prime listening space.
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REMF - Thursday, February 3, 2005 - link
i would like to see how the Via envy24 cards stack up against the newer Realtek 880 and C-media HD chips, as well as against CL gear.bbomb - Thursday, February 3, 2005 - link
Please read his remarks before you go off crying that this round up sucks and you didnt do this card or that card. Read some of the comments in the commetns section and Dereks response before you spew out the same crap someone else has.He stated 6 posts above you soupy that these were done to creat a refrence point for each segment for future reviews of sound cards.
Perhaps you should remove the roundup part of the article title Derek.
ElFenix - Thursday, February 3, 2005 - link
i'll stick with the santa cruz for a while longer, i guess.Damien - Thursday, February 3, 2005 - link
I was surprised to not see the nForce 4 compared, given that it is one of the newest onboard sound components to support the latest gravy.Damien
soupy - Thursday, February 3, 2005 - link
no EMU cards? (0404, 1212). Those are some really hi-fidelity cards this review should've included. And yeah, there really has to be a good, solid sound system for reviews like these to be based on. All in all, this roundup was pretty bad.ProviaFan - Thursday, February 3, 2005 - link
#15 - Aardvark is dead. Sadly, because they made some good stuff, but they're not around any more, which means no driver updates, etc. :(For pro cards, you could try the MOTU 828mkII (maybe throw in a 24I/O or HD192 on the high end if you're going to cover that segment), the Presonus Firepod, and whatever Digidesign sells in that price range (comments on the Protools software would be required also if you're going to do that ;). If you wanted to go really high end, you could look at some Apogee D/A and A/D's... :D
Jigglybootch - Thursday, February 3, 2005 - link
I'm surprised there was no E-mu 0404 reviewed. It goes for about the same price point as a plain Audigy 2 ZS, but blows it away in every category.Also surprised by no Revolution 7.1/5.1 review.
segagenesis - Thursday, February 3, 2005 - link
#19 - I second that. However, I have not seen (or rather havent looked hard enough?) something since the soundstorm that does realtime AC3 out. And yes, please include at *least* the Revolution 7.1 in a future review. Maybe you should thrown in your stock AC97 on most boards you see now (Realtek 6 channel, not Intel HD Audio) just to show the difference between them and a $100+ card.I also fail to see the real benefit of Creative cards and hardware 3D audio when to me its always sounded like the game is in a cave or some other overdone (or underdone!) effect. Ok maybe you get a few extra fps but I have always played games using Miles Fast 2D/3D audio without complaint.
YMMV
mcveigh - Thursday, February 3, 2005 - link
you really should have had something with the via envy 24 chipset in there. there are so many boards out with one of those variants. personally I would have liked to see M-audio (or who ever they are now) revo 7.1 AND 5.1 as the new 5.1 is supposed to have better DAC's I've heard.EddNog - Thursday, February 3, 2005 - link
Mr. Wilson, please don't forget to mention the importance of bypassing the Kmixer resample stage. ;-)With even a merely decent system, the difference is obvious.
-Ed