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.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
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-upThe 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
#69You 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.