The Creative Labs
SoundBlaster PCI-128 soundcard
(part 2)
The listening test
The listening of this soundcard didn't revealed any major flaw and as a fact this soundcard can be easily compared to the Live and Live Value soundcards of the same manufacturer even if it uses a different audio Chipset.
The user can choose from three different wavetables of 2Mb, 4Mb and 8Mb.
Whether you are listening MiDi files, WAVE files, compact disks or any other sound sources, the audio reproduction of this soundcard is always of a high quality level. The audio reproduction of this soundcards is always very pleasant and has nothing to envy to its junior sisters (the Live and Live Value) because the PCI-128 can deal any situations with very good abilities.
The Frequency Spectrum Analysis
The frequency spectrum analysis performed on this soundcard is using the Fast Fourier Transform method which is a mathematical tool developed and named after Jean Baptiste Fourier (1768 - 1830) commonly used to convert a signal from the time domain (amplitude-vs-time) to the frequency domain (amplitude-vs-frequency) .
The below table is summarizing the measurments performed on this soundcard using SpectraLAB 4.32 with the courtesy of Sound Technology inc.
| FFT Measurements Summary
Full Duplex configuration
Creative Labs SoubdBlaster PCI 128 |
| Frequency response |
| 30hz to 15khz = +0.55 / -1.88db |
| 1 khz Total Harmonic Distortion |
| .00685% @ -.21db |
| I9 khz and 20 khz
Intermodulation distortion |
| .0037% @ -7.98db |
| Signal To noise Ratio |
| 79.36db |
| Dymanic Range |
| 81.86db |
Full Duplex Frequency Response
Full Duplex 1 khz Total Harmonic Distortion
Full Duplex Intermodulation Distortion
Full Duplex Dynamic Range
All the above measurements have been performed by feeding the soundcard with reference WAVE samples then looping back the output of the soundcard to the input of the soundcard.
As these measurements have been performed in a Full Duplex configuration, the results are much worse than the actual use of the soundcard in a simple playback or record configuration. So, the above results displayed, can't be compared to those obtainned in a standard configuration but just with soundcards tested with the same configuration. Note that the own limitations of the test engine used should also be taken into account.
Conclusions
This soundcard is definitely of very high performance and its qualities are making out of it a very good replacement for the Ensoniq Audio PCI soundcard build by the same manufacturer. Its excellent reproduction qualities and its ease of use are making of if a real pleasure to use it. In short, this soundcard appears a very good choice to upgrade from a previous low grade soundcard for those looking for a goo enhancement of their PC audio equipment.
Click here for more information about the Creative Labs SoundBlaster PCI 128.
Test Setup Used.
Motherboard: IWILL BD100
Chipset: Intel 440BX
CPU: Intel Pentium II 350mhz
Memory: 128mb PC100 SDram (LGS)
Primary IDE port: Disque dur Quantum Fireball EIDE ST 3.2A
Secondary IDE port: AOpen CD-936E 36X CD-ROM drive
AGP slot: Matrox Mystique G200 16Mb AGP
PCI slot no: 2 : SoundBlaster PCI 128
PCI slot no: 1 : Modem US Robotic 56k X2
OS: Win95 OSR2 4.00.950B
DirectX 6.0
Product Specifications:
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Creative synthesis engine
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Digital effects engine for reverb and chorus
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128-voice polyphony and multi-timbral capability
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16 MIDI channels, 128 GM & GS compatible instruments and 10 drum kits
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MT-32 compatible instrument set
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2MB, 4MB and 8MB sample sets included
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Support for Microsoft® DirectSound® and DirectSound 3D™ and derivatives audio technology.
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User selectable algorithms for two or four speaker modes
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Multi-algorithm reverb and chorus
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Utilizes system RAM for wave-table synthesis
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User configurable for 2MB, 4MB or 8MB
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8- and 16-bit, mono and stereo recording and playback
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User-selectable sample rates from 5kHz to 48kHz
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Powerful amplifier for driving headphones or passive speakers
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Full-duplex support enables simultaneous record and playback for Internet communications software
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Built-in 15-pin MIDI interface (requireds MIDI adapter, available separately)
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Works with Sound Blaster® and MPU-401 UART modes
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IBM®-compatible 15-pin joystick port with analog and digital support
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Microphone in
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MPC-3 CD Audio in
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Line Level out
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Amplified out
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Auxiliary In / Rear Out
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MIDI / Joystick port
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Windows® 95
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Windows 98
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Windows NT 4.0
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General MIDI
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MPC-3
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Plug-and-Play
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Microsoft DirectSound, DirectSound 3D, and derivatives
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