Life's a pitch
Everyone needs a sound card these days - we tune in to nine of the best.
No complete system these days comes without a sound card installed -est. it's a standard component of any complete desktop system. For most people, the quality of these cards is adequate. They judge the sound they get from their speakers and compare it with the quality they get from other audio systems at home. High-end audio lovers will have a bigger problem with the quality of the sound generated by computer systems. If only they realised the process the original signal goes through before it comes out of the speaker.
In this Focus, we'll examine the specific qualities of the sound cards and their frequency responses. We tested their performance over the complete audio frequency, so we'll tell you at what point the cards start to fail to reproduce the right signal.
Test methodology
The VNU European Labs test procedure has created the graphs that accompany each of the following reviews. The line on the graph tells you how well the sound card responds to different frequencies - it's similar to the chart you are given when you buy a pair of speakers. An ideal sound card would show a flat line, indicating that it was able to reproduce all frequencies without any loss of quality. In the real world, however, this is unlikely to happen. The X axis shows the frequency in Hertz (Hz). This is the exact explanation of what the note is.
The Y axis shows decibels (dB) - the equivalent of the volume. For example, if a picture shows 16,000Hz, it means the volume starts to decrease. This means the card has a problem reproducing high-frequency signals, although you should be aware that the human ear cannot hear anything above 22,500Hz (which is why the graphs stop here). That does not mean the quality of signal does not profit from a card which supports higher frequencies. Most of the sounds we have are built up as a composite of frequencies. If the card is failing to reproduce the higher frequencies, the quality of the original signal will degrade.
CREATIVE LABS AWE64 GOLD
The AWE64 isn't quite the granddaddy of the cards in this test, but it's certainly one of the oldest. As befits its elder statesman rank, it uses an ISA interface rather than the PCI, but this doesn't affect its sound quality in the slightest.
The Gold in the title refers to the fact that the card has gold-plated contacts to improve connections, and it is also one of the few here that features phono outputs rather than 3.5mm stereo jacks.
The card itself offers only 32-voice polyphony, making up its other 32 through software - the software synthesis actually sounds better, although like all such devices it makes demands on your PC. In terms of other software, there is a bundle of handy audio utilities to go with it, including a copy of the well-respected Cubasis synthesiser.
As its price has dropped considerably since its launch, the AWE64 Gold is a good choice. It sounds good, the bundled software makes it great value and, of course, because it's from Creative Labs, Sound Blaster compatibility for those old games just isn't an issue to worry about.
DIAMOND MONSTER SOUND
The Monster Sound is clearly aimed at gamers, but we're inclined to think it misses its mark somewhat. It's intended to go alongside your existing sound card, taking up a PCI slot but providing better DirectX sound support and offering A3D positional audio.
Along the way, the card is also designed to improve wavetable capabilities on your existing card.
So far, so good, but rather than add FM synthesis and Sound Blaster compatibility so it could act as a replacement card, Diamond has left this as a rather expensive add-on.
Worse, the card has little to commend it to musicians either. Its wavetable support really isn't up to much and it doesn't even come with any music software.
Its one saving grace is that it does come with full versions of three games - Tiger Shark, Outlaws and SimCopter. However, these aren't new, and if you didn't buy them at the time you probably don't want them now, even with a free sound card thrown in.
MAXISOUND HOMESTUDIO PRO 64
The HomeStudio Pro is aimed at musicians. The name is a giveaway, as is the bundled software - a copy of the Quartz AudioMaster eight-track recorder together with Cakewalk Express - both muso-friendly packages.
Still, the card is equally fine if you're more interested in games. It has Sound Blaster emulation and can offer 3D sound if you have another set of speakers behind you.
Given the price, you'd hope for good sound and it is certainly better than the Diamond. Its wavetable quality is excellent and there's a fine selection of samples. Recording shouldn't disappoint and its minor limitations won't hold you back badly.
Flexibility makes up for any shortfalls. There is a daughterboard for extra phono connectors, including support for synthesisers which use the Sony-Philips Digital Interface. Although this doesn't need a slot itself, it effectively blocks one off because it needs a backplate.
All in all, the HomeStudio is a good choice if your PC isn't already choc-full of expansion cards, but the cheaper Terratec is better value.
ORCHID NUSOUND 3D
Orchid is much better known for its range of graphics boards - its Righteous 3D claims a sizeable stake of the 3D card market. But despite the manufacturer's low profile in this market, its NuSound 3D card isn't bad at all.
Like most of the cards in this test, the NuSound boasts 64-voice polyphony from its wavetable chipset. Unfortunately, this isn't backed by a strong software bundle. It comes with a couple of games, which are welcome and probably justify the #50 price tag in themselves, but the utilities bundle was rather thin. Fortunately, installing the card was a smooth process and we were fairly happy with the sound output.
One of our test MIDI files sounded a touch fuzzy and ill-defined, although not unacceptably so, but everything else was fine. Having said that, the NuSound 3D includes A3D positional sound capabilities. These will be more useful when more A3D games become available.
The #50 price tag looks like a bargain.
PINE PCI AUDIO
The Pine PCI Audio is the cheapest of the bunch. If your customer wants a sound card upgrade for less than #40, we can think of far worse choices - although they might be easier to install. This card was tested straight after the NuSound, so it was a particular disappointment that we had to fiddle around with the installation utility to find the right files.
This done, the card worked without trouble and surprised us with its result on the frequency analysis test. According to the flat line that told of virtually no drop-off, it will cause less distortion than any other card on test. Nonetheless, we heard a warble that shouldn't have been in one of our test files so our analysis obviously isn't the whole story.
Still, for the price, it's a pretty good choice. It doesn't sound bad at all, and if you want the excellent Yamaha S-YXG50 software synthesiser, it'll look even more of a bargain.
PINE SCHUBERT 128 3D
If you mixed the Orchid NuSound with the Pine PCI Audio, we're pretty sure the Schubert 128 3D would be the result. Like the Audio, it comes with the Yamaha S-YXG50 software synthesiser which helps turn in some pretty impressive results.
The Schubert sounds slightly better than the NuSound, despite using exactly the same chipset, and this means that it too can offer A3D sound. So, if your game has a plane overtaking you from behind, the card will fiddle with the frequencies to create the illusion of the sound coming up from behind too - and all this with the standard two speakers.
It's not a perfect answer but the Schubert is very cheap, and well specified for the money, with Yamaha's software synthesiser and a copy of Jedi Knight just making it better value. Sell with confidence - just as long as you're equally confident about installing the driver software, as this uses the same shocking installer as the PCI Audio.
VIDEOLOGIC SONICSTORM
Like Orchid, Videologic is better known for its graphics cards than its sound systems. But that didn't stop the vendor being one of the first to launch a PCI audio card and the SonicStorm is a reasonable model.
Installation was a touch trickier than we would have liked, as the manual recommends you stop Windows looking for drivers on the CD-Rom and use Videologic's own installer instead. But the process works smoothly enough and there are sound utilities on the disk. There's a trial copy of Dance eJay too, although it's only recommended for customers who have understanding work colleagues!
The SonicStorm isn't a bad card, but we weren't impressed by the sound quality. The wavesets are merely adequate and even at sub-#50 it is possible to find a better card. We'd also be careful about plugging anything into this one - installed on our test PC it was impossible to identify the sockets as the PC's chassis covered their markings.
EDITOR'S CHOICE - TERRATEC EWS 64 S
Pick up the EWS 64 S and you just know that Terratec is trying to tell you it's special. We can't think of any other reason why it comes boxed in an aluminium flight-case - but hey, it's good marketing.
In fact, this is a sound card that's top-notch musically as well as eminently suitable for gaming. It has a number of tricks up its sleeve, including full Sound Blaster compatibility as well as 3D positional audio and the documentation is really good.
For musicians, the Terratec offers excellent sound quality through its 64 voices and set of quality samples. Even better, it offers great flexibility because it has the option of a digital synthesiser output and there is space to add more memory so you can download even more wavesets for it to use.
There's a good selection of software, too - no games, but a copy of Cubasis plus a raft of other audio utilities. If you don't mind paying slightly more for a card that is great for musicians but will also bring your games to life, we have no hesitation in recommending this one.
YAMAHA SW-60XG
The SW-60XG stands apart from all the other cards because, no matter how hard you try, you cannot use it for games. It occupies an ISA slot and demands to be connected to a conventional sound card if you want to use it for anything other than wavetable sound, so it is likely to appeal only to a specialist market.
The Yamaha's 32-voice polyphony looks a bit dated on paper and might benefit from being up-rated soon. In the meantime, there's no need to hold back as its 32 voices sound better than most cards' 64 - it uses the same set of audio chips that are fitted to Yamaha's 'proper' synthesisers which are far, far more expensive.
Before you rush out to get this one, it's worth repeating the warning on the back of the box. This card doesn't have a joystick connector, nor is it Sound Blaster compatible. It's designed to add wavetable capabilities to cards that don't already have them, and this it does superbly.
THE JARGON EXPLAINED
Daughterboard
An add-on card for an expansion card. Daughterboards fit on to connectors on some sound cards and can be used to add extra functions, for example a new set of wave samples or more memory.
DirectX
A multimedia add-on to Windows 95. It is a set of standards for multimedia functions such as 3D graphics and sound, allowing both software developers and hardware manufacturers to work towards the same goal. Any DirectX game should work with any DirectX sound card without requiring extra software.
Duplex/dual-function
Full duplex sound cards can both play and record at the same time. Half-duplex cards can play and record, but not simultaneously.
HOW THE SOUND CARDS COMPARED
Manufacturer Terratec Diamond MaxiSound Orchid
Model EWS 64 S Monster3D HomeStudio NuSound
Pro 64 3D
RRP (inc VAT) #149.23 #129.25 #249.10 #49.35
Phone 01600 772111 01189 444400 0181 944 1940 01256
479898
Web site www.terratec. www.diamondmm. www.guillemot. www.orchid.
co.uk com com com
FEATURES
FM synthesis Yes Yes Yes Yes
Wavetable Yes Yes Yes Yes
Synthesis
No of voices 64 32 64 64
Interface ISA PCI PCI PCI
Overall rating 5 3 4 4
(out of five)
Manufacturer Pine Pine Creative Labs
Model PCI Audio Schubert AWE64
128 Gold
RRP (inc VAT) #35.99 #45.99 #129.25
Phone 01908 218812 01908 218812 01245 265265
Web site www.pinegroup. www.pinegroup. www.cle.creaf.
com com com
FEATURES
FM synthesis Yes Yes Yes
Wavetable Yes Yes Yes
Synthesis
No of voices 64 128 64
Interface PCI PCI ISA
Overall rating 4 5 4
(out of five)
Manufacturer Videologic Yamaha
Model SonicStorm SW-60XG
RRP (inc VAT) #48.18 #149.23
Phone 01923 260511 01908 366700
Web site www.videologic. www.yamaha.
com com
FEATURES
FM synthesis Yes Yes
Wavetable Yes Yes
Synthesis
No of voices 64 32
Interface PCI ISA
Overall rating 3 4
(out of five)