Which version of the SB16 is the best to pair with an SCB-55?
Must not have the hanging MIDI bug, also must not muffle MIDI daughterboards. The less noise the better. Must be Non-PNP or just require the simple SYS driver in Config.sys. Must be ISA. Must either have a discrete OPL3 chip (which is preferable) or the 1747 chip that has the OPL3 integrated core.
https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/Hanging_note_bug
The type 2 does hardly ever occur (if at all).
Either the CT1740 with DSP v 4.05 or a CT1730 would suffice. Also, an ESS AudioDrive ES688F or ES1688F will also work well since they won't have the hanging note bug. I have the CT2740 DSP v4.11 paired with my Yamaha DB50XG and it works without issues (has the type 2 bug, but, it's a very rare occurrence, unlike my CT1740 card).
Discord: https://discord.gg/U5dJw7x
Systems from the Compaq Portable 1 to Ryzen 9 5950X
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/retropcuser
As bjwil1991 mentioned, there are other SB Pro clones out there (like your ESS Audiodrive or Aztech Sound Galaxy cards) that will work just as well, without any MIDI hanging note bugs.
However, If you are dead set on having a SB16, then the options are what we've described above.
Of note, the earlier SB16 models (CT17xx) are a bit noisier than your later models.
