If you want positional audio, the choice is obvious - Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. CS4624 is too weak for Sensaura3D.

The Serpent Rider wrote on 2023-09-05, 19:39:

If you want positional audio, the choice is obvious - Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. CS4624 is too weak for Sensaura3D.

I thought 4624 and 4630 were all but the same? Wow, I never knew this!

From my understanding, CS4624 and ESS Canyon3D (Diamond MX400, other popular choice in that category) can do Sensaura 3D only partially in hardware. CS4630 have all Sensaura features supported on DSP.

A3D 2.0 and EAX cards together in one machine? (also CS4624 & CS4630 differences, and Sensaura 3D config)

The Serpent Rider wrote on 2023-09-06, 08:21:

From my understanding, CS4624 and ESS Canyon3D (Diamond MX400, other popular choice in that category) can do Sensaura 3D only partially in hardware. CS4630 have all Sensaura features supported on DSP.

A3D 2.0 and EAX cards together in one machine? (also CS4624 & CS4630 differences, and Sensaura 3D config)

That is an interesting read and I'm only halfway through, but Santa Cruz it is then!

Sound cards on VIA Envy24 probably also have good hardware support.

The Serpent Rider wrote on 2023-09-06, 08:55:

Sound cards on VIA Envy24 probably also have good hardware support.

I have an M-Audio 24/96 which I think has an ICE Envy24 which is the same thing? Does this card have any gaming drivers? It would be a pretty cool card to drop into a dual Coppermine system, to be honest..

The Serpent Rider wrote on 2023-09-06, 08:55:

Sound cards on VIA Envy24 probably also have good hardware support.

It`s HBA - full software Host Based Adapter and has not any hardware offloading.
For this, it was very loved by audiophiles.
i.e. Audiotrak Prodigy HD2

Not my own, but would love to have in the collection.

Product PDF claims that it's a DirectSound accelerator with hardware SB Pro support: https://alsa-project.org/files/pub/manuals/ic … Envy24pb1_7.pdf

Although ESI Pro Julia reviews, for example, did not observed any DirectSound3D acceleration.

For target markets where legacy audio is still important, the SoundBlaster Pro compatible hardware ensures hardware compatibilit […]
Show full quote

For target markets where legacy audio is still
important, the SoundBlaster Pro compatible hardware
ensures hardware compatibility under DOS for DDMA
(Distributed DMA) and non-DDMA systems. The
device also includes a Microsoft Win9x archite

Ok, now I really wonder what its FM sounds like and how good the SB Pro emulation is..

appiah4 wrote on 2023-09-06, 20:21:

For target markets where legacy audio is still important, the SoundBlaster Pro compatible hardware ensures hardware compatibilit […]
Show full quote

For target markets where legacy audio is still
important, the SoundBlaster Pro compatible hardware
ensures hardware compatibility under DOS for DDMA
(Distributed DMA) and non-DDMA systems. The
device also includes a Microsoft Win9x archite

Ok, now I really wonder what its FM sounds like and how good the SB Pro emulation is..

Definitely, these are not the features that are needed for Win2k/XP.

shevalier wrote on 2023-09-07, 03:36:

appiah4 wrote on 2023-09-06, 20:21:

For target markets where legacy audio is still important, the SoundBlaster Pro compatible hardware ensures hardware compatibilit […]
Show full quote

For target markets where legacy audio is still
important, the SoundBlaster Pro compatible hardware
ensures hardware compatibility under DOS for DDMA
(Distributed DMA) and non-DDMA systems. The
device also includes a Microsoft Win9x archite

Ok, now I really wonder what its FM sounds like and how good the SB Pro emulation is..

Definitely, these are not the features that are needed for Win2k/XP.

Obviously, but they are still curiosities I'd be happy to try.

Besides, I always want to run Ultimate DOOM regardless of what OS you are on 🤣

I'll use the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 then, I guess. Maybe even a dual card setup with Santa Cruz, internally routed to the 2496's Line In..

appiah4 wrote on 2023-09-07, 08:05:

I'll use the M-Audio Audiophile 2496

M-Audio Audiophile 2496 is semi-pro card with advanced signals routing and native 44.1K support without SRC.
And without any gaming feature.
I would listen to Sensaura at a high level of realization at Cirrus chipset. But a Santa Cruz is level of SB Live and Vortex - power DSP attached to AC'97 codec.

shevalier wrote on 2023-09-07, 11:33:

M-Audio Audiophile 2496 is semi-pro card with advanced signals routing and native 44.1K support without SRC. And without any gam […]
Show full quote

appiah4 wrote on 2023-09-07, 08:05:

I'll use the M-Audio Audiophile 2496

M-Audio Audiophile 2496 is semi-pro card with advanced signals routing and native 44.1K support without SRC.
And without any gaming feature.
I would listen to Sensaura at a high level of realization at Cirrus chipset. But a Santa Cruz is level of SB Live and Vortex - power DSP attached to AC'97 codec.

OK.. I guess? 🤣