SINGAPORE's PREMIER SOUND CARDS ROUND UP
SINGAPORE's PREMIER SOUND CARDS ROUND
UP
- Reviewed by Matthew Fam Kai Liang (01/10/98) -
CONTINUE 7 : FINAL CONCLUSION
Voted : # 1
Courtesy of Xpert Inc (US)
Voted : # 2
Courtesy of MARKETPLACE (#04-72 Sim Lim Square)
Voted : # 3
Courtesy of CyberMind Computer House (#04-61 Sim Lim Square)
Voted : # 4
Courtesy of MARKETPLACE (#04-72 Sim Lim Square)
Voted : # 5
Courtesy of AZTECH Lab (Singapore)
Conclusion
Going through all these cards are really a headache to me. It is definately not easy to chose the best simply because there ain't really any BEST as they are either too expensive or have too little features.
DIAMOND MonsterSound MX300 is the World 1st Aureal based card with 2 audio output source. This enables you to enjoy the exact feeling of 4 speakers setup when you need it. It also offer very interesting features like a whoppy 320-voice synthesis which was higher than CREATIVE's Live! when Live! was launched months back. Human ear will not be able to differentiate so many voices hence actually it's just a glimmick to attract customers. The sound quality running current range of 3D games rivals that of the CREATIVE's SB Live! or value. With such a large bank of game supported by the card. Vortrex 2.0 chipset incorporated onto the DIAMOND card have support for industry's largest range of audio format.Ranging from A3D 1.0 , A3D 2.0 , Direct Sound ,Direct Sound 3D, allowing customers to have great support for the games they bought. The last but perhaps the MOST interesting yet unbeatable feature of Aureal AU-8830 chipset is the ability to support CREATIVE's Environmental Audio Extension surround mode(EAX) as Vortrex 2.0 support Reverb in hardware and EAX is basically a Reverb based API.
Neverthless,CREATIVE's Sound Blaster Live! which is so marvellously designed and functions capability that it deserved my vote if not for its high pricing. Set aside its sky high pricing and perhaps the non-predictable of the truthfulness of it's 32-Direct 3D stream or even its 512 voice synethsis as it is stated as processor dependent, its EAX surround effect with the propertiary Cambridge 4 point PCWorks really makes wonder to game audio sensation. Imaging the ability to select different DSP modes ranging from Arena, Hall, Concert, Room,etc to even Quarry or stoneroom. Such large scale DSP selections which can only be found on commercial desktop amplifiers costing over S$1000 now appear right under your mouse click. Isn't that wonderful?
AZTECH SC 338-A3D is quite an older generation card as it is now only selling for S$55. Neverthless,it still is a tough competitor to the rest. A3D surround sound still sound so wonderful with the 2 speakers system. Making it sound just as close to CREATIVE's Sound Blaster Live! or its sibling the DIAMOND MonsterSound MX300. With such a great price now, you can consider if you are thinking of upgrading to a new PCI sound card but lack the big pocket to purchase the expensive dudes of CREATIVE's and DIAMOND's products.
YAMAHA WaveForce 192XG promise you superb audio quality with as much audio format supported as the AZTECH card. With the latest driver downloaded from XG website.192XG owners now can enjoy A3D 2.0 audio too on their card.What makes YAMAHA so special is due to the wonderful softwares that came with the card. XG enables you to add extra 128-voice to the existing wavetable voice, Extended General Midi(XG) playback the supported XG files with much vibrant sound. Enable more than 676 voice and 21 drum kits in total with the combine of its XG and Sondius-XG softwares which requires very huge CPU power to work.The sound quality are already very sweet and clear. A bad point is perhaps it's great dependent on CPU power and the lack of rear line-out functions to provide a multi-speakers listening sensation.
DLS vs SoundFont
DLS(Download Soundfont) is bascially invented by Voyetra(owner of Turtle Beach products) which expertise in the sound industry.CREATIVE's own SoundFont and the DLS function found on so many others card are all of the same concept.There's not great different in anyone of these technologies.Both allow users to listen to the soundfonts that cam with the CD-ROMs or download from the Internet and importing them into the sound cards.
EAX vs Sensura vs A3D 2.0
EAX and A3D 2.0 are basically new technologies that make use of multi-speakers setup to achieve better hearing field compared to the previous 2 speakers systems.You will definately need the help of speakers like CAMBRIDGE 4 point speakers to enjoy the added benefits.
Overall Rating (Out of a maximum of 5 points)
Card : MX300 SB Live! Live! Value SC 338-A3D YAMAHA XG Installation 5 5 5 5 5 Performance 4.7 4.9 4.5 3.9 4.2 Surround(A3D/EAX) 5.0 4.9 4.9 4.0 4.0 Supported Surround format 5.0 4.9 4.9 4.0 4.0 Price 2.5 3.9 3.5 4.5 3.2 Software Bundle 4.5 4.1 4.0 3.0 3.5 Material Quality 5 4.9 4.5 3.0 3.2 Overall Ranking/Rating (#1) 4.8 (#2) 4.6 (#3) 4.2 (#5) 3.8 (#4) 4.0
Overall,Singapore Hardware Zone would chose the DIAMOND Monster Sound MX300 as the overall winner due to the future enhancement which is just on the horizon for the Vortrex 2.0 card. Imaging the ability to run EAX,A3D 1.0,A3D 2.0 and the usual DirectSound or DirectSound 3D found on almost any PCI cards. MX300 pack almost as many features as the CREATIVE offering, but comparing it with the SB Live! Value which also does not come with the Digital I/O card. It leads the way with it's ability to do what CREATIVE does(EAX surround) but CREATIVE cannot do what it is capable of (A3D 1.0/2.0 and the upcoming daughter boards for the MX300 which includes the Digital I/O card any maybe more.....). Noone will be able to beat such combination especially with its price tag of about S$100 less than the CREATIVE Sound Blaster Live! which cost just too much to earn my 'Hardware Pick'. MX300 will be able to support EAX API making us wonder why should we spend so much on CREATIVE Sound blaster live! when the titles supported are just too few at present to create any interest in getting the Live! over the MX300. Finally,DIAMOND's MX300 have a second REAR speakers-out jack for your 4 speakers connection which is missing in the only other AU8830 eqipped card, the Turtle Beach Montego II.
All the cards reviewed are in a class of their own too. The Aztech card is a good buy for upgraders whom want great surround sound but in a tight budget.YAMAHA WaveForce 192XG is definately not discounted here.The latest driver which support A3D 1.0 makes it able to run the many A3D titles already available in the market, the Final Fantasy 7 demo accompanied are also a value bundled which I like very much. CREATIVE SB Live! is a sure winner with its Digital I/O port design. The tests I done with it was to record or playback DVD movies titles and Minidisc recording are also ear pomping. Its almost real-life and precise recording features using the Digital I/O port is my personal favourite. But with such a high price to pay for. I would not recommend the Live! to just any normal users.The Value edition will definately earn my 'Hardware Pick' if it is priced at below S$150. With almost crystal clear sound like it's more expensive Live! brother, it pack a huge reserviour of audio environments for any high-end music lovers.
A last minute addition to this review will be my description of the above 5 cards over
the older generation cards like the Gravis or Turtle Beach cards which was all so famous
in the last few years when ISA sound cards were still a legend. Of course not fogetting
CREATIVE's own Sound Blaster 16 and the Sound Blaster 64(include its Value edition). While
these cards might still be able run most of today's game,they simply do not pack enough
power anymore. You will not be able to enjoy what we meant by 3D Positional surround sound
with the following last generations ISA cards. The reviewed PCI cards all have their own
DSP processor to offload CPU utilisation and running on the faster PCI bus over the aging
and soon disappearing ISA bus which can only transfer data at 8MB/s. The lastest PC-99
standard have already request Mainboard manufacturer not to include ISA slot anymore. For
users still hesitating over the upgrading benefits. After upgrading, your new sound card
will most likely be supporting by the Direct Sound 3D v5.0 and above which have so much
more improvement over the v3.0 2 years ago. And it also gurantee compatibility with
newer game titles. If your new card is a A3D 1.0/2.0 or a EAX capable card, simply
purchase the titles which support the API to enjoy what you call as a new generation audio
format.
The choice is very clear here. For the millions ISA users out there, it is definately time
to abandon your Wavetable or FM cards and grab these new generation cards which are
reviewed here. Each of them offer something special making it a worthwhile choice for any
audio listeners.
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To Part 6 : SB Live! Value 
Part 8 : Speakers Setup
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