Sound card specs

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vicevursa

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I am looking at getting another soundcard. I am trying to make an informed decision. When I read the specs I want to know what this stuff means... I'm not looking at either of these soundcards at all.

Soundcard A
Signal-to-Noise Ratio with AES17 filter (A-Weighted)
Stereo Output 106dB (2v rated output) 102dB (1v rated output)
Front and Rear Channels 106dB (2v rated output) 102dB (1v rated output)
Center, Subwoofer and Rear Center ~90dB (2v rated output) ~86dB (1v rated output)

Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise at 1kHz (A-Weighted) = 0.004% (1V, 2V Rated Output)
Frequency Response (+/-3dB, 24-bit/96kHz input ) = <10Hz to 46kHz (1V, 2V Rated Output)

Soundcard B
Dynamic Range: D/A 104.0dB (a-weighted), A/D 100.4dB (a-weighted)
Total Harmonic Distortion: less than 0.002%
Freq. Response: 22Hz - 22kHz, -0.4,-0.4dB

How noticeable is the THD in both of these cards?
Frequency Response? I think I might understand this, but could someone explain it again, please?
I'm just curious as to what I am looking at and what this information means....

Could someone break this stuff down in laymans' terms?

Vice
 
Last edited:
FYI manufacturing specs don't mean shit

the only way u'll know is by hearing both vs each other
 
Surely, the specs mean something. I realize that you need to hear the cards, but the specs should give me at least a little something to go by...

Vice
 
Not really. All comparable soundcards spec out nearly the same...and the specs are always laboratory, not real life.

The better soundcard is the one where what you play back sounds closest to what you recorded. The only real way to determine this is to hear both cards.

What cards are you comparing? Obviously the first card has 24/96 converters and the second has 24/44. The first card's specs seem a little funny...is that an Audigy 2 or something? At any rate, comparing distortion and frequency response specs on soundcards doesn't mean much...the THD is always a tiny insignificant value and the frequency response numbers will always have an extremely loose range (+/- 3db from 10-22khz, that could mean a LOT of things!). If you just go by specs, most soundcards will appear to be about the same.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Generally, you want

to maximize S/N ratio
to minimize THD
the widest freq response
10Hz to 46kHz is better than 22Hz - 22kHz, although the +/- dB looks worse on the f response on card A than card B
 
Thanks guys for your response. Soundcard A was the Audigy 2 (you are good, Slack - I guess that's your the master! :D ) and Soundcard B was Audiophile 2496. I was just trying to see if there was something that would clue me in as to why I even bother to read the specs sometimes. I'm actually trying to decide (while I save up the cash :) ) between the ST Audio C-Port and the Delta 1010... Either way I figure it will be an upgrade from my Current soundblaster.


Vice
 
yeah but can you even hear 10hz-20hz or 20khz-46khz?? i thought that was pretty much inaudible...so wouldn't a 22hz-22khz frequency response actually be a little more desirable?
 
vicevursa said:
Surely, the specs mean something. I realize that you need to hear the cards, but the specs should give me at least a little something to go by...

Vice
Click to expand...


Not if the manufacturer consistently lies about their card specs.

Case and point Creative with the Audigy series.
 
I hear what you are saying about the Manufacturers... But that's why I came to you guys for advice!


Vice
 
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