Sound Cards and MP3 Playback

Warped · 01-21-2003, 12:55 AM

What role do soundcards play in the quality of MP3 playback? I currently have a dated ESS chip and a low-end Pentium 3, but am flirting with the possibility of improving my sound card. My central concern is quality MP3 playback, although improved recording capabilities would also be a nice plus! I've heard the names audigy, audigy2, sound blaster live, turtle beach, and some Hercules cards thrown around! (on a side note does anyone have experiences or testimony with creative lab's extigy?).

My speakers are comprised of a dated fisher shelf system (prologic etc 5 channels, yay). It is very durable and holds up very well for CDs, dorm parties and whatnot, but seems to lack a little with MP3 playback.

At home we have a Sound Blaster Live which produces what I would describe as much more vivid sound. Are the Audigy, audigy2, turtle beach, or the hercules card a significant improvement upon this card with respect to MP3 playback? If so any techdeals to beat pricewatch or froogle?

later,
zach

K2 · 01-21-2003, 07:26 PM

something simple would the SB live!.. unless u have higher quality speakers... u won't be able to hear a difference in the audigy's and the SB live!

Bires · 01-21-2003, 08:30 PM

The stat you want to look for is Signal-To-Noise ratio. The Audigy is very good at 96db. The Audigy2 is studio-quality at 106db!
FYI, to make sense of the numbers:
Most home stereos are in the neighborhood of 90-100db.

Keep in mind that things like multiple fans, harddrives and CDs spinning will often translate into noise. You may or may not hear anything, depending on the quality of your sound card. Most on-board sound chipsets pickup A TON of noise from the IDE controller and CPU fan, so they stink.

Since I play movies, watch TV, and listen to CD-quality r3 MP3s, a good sound card is a must for me. All that considered, I'm fairly happy with my Audigy, and feel no need to upgrade to the Audigy2.

nomoney · 01-23-2003, 05:10 PM

I had a SB Live! and it sounded fine w/MP3's. Then it stopped working and a got some crappy $12 card that makes the MP3z sound all tinny. anyone know why? made me realize the card does make a difference.

Bires · 01-23-2003, 08:10 PM

It does! It's just like any other stereo reciever. If a circuit in an amplifier or reciver isn't fast enough to resolve a sound wave's amplitude and frequency accurately, it just does its best. Older sound card chipsets were not designed for the near-CD-quality sounds that Windows sends to the card while playing mp3's.

(I have a comp in my lab whose sound card is only about three years old, but the POS makes mp3s sound like they are coming from the bottom of a sewer. (echoee and shallow))

K2 · 01-23-2003, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bires
It does! It's just like any other stereo reciever. If a circuit in an amplifier or reciver isn't fast enough to resolve a sound wave's amplitude and frequency accurately, it just does its best. Older sound card chipsets were not designed for the near-CD-quality sounds that Windows sends to the card while playing mp3's.

(I have a comp in my lab whose sound card is only about three years old, but the POS makes mp3s sound like they are coming from the bottom of a sewer. (echoee and shallow))

but it still depends on the speakers... $5 speakers won't cut it

01-21-2003, 12:55 AM	#1
Warped Ensign Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 6	Sound Cards and MP3 Playback What role do soundcards play in the quality of MP3 playback? I currently have a dated ESS chip and a low-end Pentium 3, but am flirting with the possibility of improving my sound card. My central concern is quality MP3 playback, although improved recording capabilities would also be a nice plus! I've heard the names audigy, audigy2, sound blaster live, turtle beach, and some Hercules cards thrown around! (on a side note does anyone have experiences or testimony with creative lab's extigy?). My speakers are comprised of a dated fisher shelf system (prologic etc 5 channels, yay). It is very durable and holds up very well for CDs, dorm parties and whatnot, but seems to lack a little with MP3 playback. At home we have a Sound Blaster Live which produces what I would describe as much more vivid sound. Are the Audigy, audigy2, turtle beach, or the hercules card a significant improvement upon this card with respect to MP3 playback? If so any techdeals to beat pricewatch or froogle? later, zach

01-21-2003, 07:26 PM	#2
K2 Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: May 2000 Location: Cardboard box Posts: 2,388	something simple would the SB live!.. unless u have higher quality speakers... u won't be able to hear a difference in the audigy's and the SB live! __________________ There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots Heatware

01-21-2003, 08:30 PM	#3
Bires Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 5,064	The stat you want to look for is Signal-To-Noise ratio. The Audigy is very good at 96db. The Audigy2 is studio-quality at 106db! FYI, to make sense of the numbers: Most home stereos are in the neighborhood of 90-100db. Keep in mind that things like multiple fans, harddrives and CDs spinning will often translate into noise. You may or may not hear anything, depending on the quality of your sound card. Most on-board sound chipsets pickup A TON of noise from the IDE controller and CPU fan, so they stink. Since I play movies, watch TV, and listen to CD-quality r3 MP3s, a good sound card is a must for me. All that considered, I'm fairly happy with my Audigy, and feel no need to upgrade to the Audigy2. __________________ Five years...

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01-23-2003, 05:10 PM	#4
nomoney Lieutenant Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 493	I had a SB Live! and it sounded fine w/MP3's. Then it stopped working and a got some crappy $12 card that makes the MP3z sound all tinny. anyone know why? made me realize the card does make a difference.

01-23-2003, 08:10 PM	#5
Bires Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 5,064	It does! It's just like any other stereo reciever. If a circuit in an amplifier or reciver isn't fast enough to resolve a sound wave's amplitude and frequency accurately, it just does its best. Older sound card chipsets were not designed for the near-CD-quality sounds that Windows sends to the card while playing mp3's. (I have a comp in my lab whose sound card is only about three years old, but the POS makes mp3s sound like they are coming from the bottom of a sewer. (echoee and shallow))

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