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By Loyd Case
Design by Lam Huynh
A quiet revolution has begun taking over the noisiest part of your PC: the audio subsystem. SoundBlaster compatibility, once the Rosetta stone of PC audio, has become less and less important as games have migrated to Windows 95/98.
As seen in the October issue of Computer Gaming World magazine. |
More and more, games are using higher-resolution audio, and some games have even incorporated Dolby Surround for ambient effects. Speakers, that crucial last step in making audio come to life on your PC, have improved considerably, with very solid-sounding units as low as $100. In the first section of this feature, we'll put 12 new speaker systems to the test.
Meanwhile, sound cards have almost all moved to the PCI bus, and most can accelerate 3D positional audio. The question is, should you replace your audio plumbing or just get new speakers - or both? In the second section of the story, we'll give you an earful of PCI sound cards to help you make up your mind. Let's listen in....
New Speakers Offer More Sound for Less
Sound quality in most games is better than ever. But an audio subsystem is only as strong as its weakest part. And despite all the advances that have taken place recently in sound cards, many gamers are still using the tiny speakers that came with their "multimedia kit." Trying to drive high-quality audio through a pair of $5 speakers is like trying to attach a garden hose to a fire hydrant. Something's gotta give, and it's usually audio quality. But there's really no reason why your ears - or your pocketbook - have to suffer. Just take a listen to the latest crop of powered speakers, which range in price from $70 to $350. For the most part, it's all ear candy.
Next: The Sub-$200 Limbo Stick
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