Arguably the definitive sound chipset for 3D Win98 sound is the Aureal Vortex 2. There are other options if you can make do without 3D audio (Midiman, for example).

Thanks, I look for some review.

386SX wrote:

Thanks, I look for some review.

http://www.dansdata.com/sq2500.htm

I've always enjoyed my SB Live, what does the Aureal do that it doesn't?

SRQ wrote:

I've always enjoyed my SB Live, what does the Aureal do that it doesn't?

This: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A3D

Can't a Live do that? I noticed it was enabled as an option for Jedi Knight. I figured it was some sort of emulation or reverse engineering.

386SX wrote:

Hi, what audio card / chip on PCI comparable or better than the Audigy could I try that has Win 9x and Me drivers? Regarding aud […]
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Hi,
what audio card / chip on PCI comparable or better than the Audigy could I try that has Win 9x and Me drivers? Regarding audio output quality and if possible also power.
Thank
Bye

Audigy, Audigy 2 or Audigy 2 ZS. Any of them should work.

Yeah go with a Vortex 2 if only for something a bit different. Aureal was giving creative a real run for their money but unfortunately didn't have the financial war chest required to withstand Creative's legal onslaught - it really was a great product. The 3D stuff with headphones is quite an experience - better than EAX I think.

SRQ wrote:

Can't a Live do that? I noticed it was enabled as an option for Jedi Knight. I figured it was some sort of emulation or reverse engineering.

Because thats a A3D 1.0 game, which creative attempts to support/emulate. They don't support A3D 2.0, which is much better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAOcdfCN-RU

I like the Yamaha DS-1 - it also has DOS drivers, and a nice midi synth. Audigy 2 ZS is nice too. The SB 128 PCI is a good cheap alternative too.

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I am looking for these cards if I'll find them. I usually would prefer cards with lighter driver/sw installation so to be easier on the system resources.

PeterLI wrote:

I always liked the Diamond Monster 300MX.

+1 Great card! The surround sound over headphones is terrific.

I really like the Vortex2 chip, it has great 3D positional audio. I can't recall how the Live! it competed against sounds, but I know it wasn't as good, for gaming it was better supported all in all.

Another vote for Monster MX300. It sounds fantastic and is a really high quality part as well.

What about capacitors quality? Cause in some cards there're so many one that I would not like for days.. 😁

Vortex 2 SQ2500 or Diamond's MX300 are both pretty nice and clean, though not quite up to the 108 dB SNR or whatever specs the Audigy line hit so many years later.

A3D is a much better effect than EAX, and support for it wasn't too bad until they were bough out at the end of 2000. EAX was less impressive until 3.0, but very widely supported from the start. The Aureal cards are crap at EAX and Creative's A3D emulation is also bad, so you have to pick between the two.

Are you using headphones or desktop speakers or a stereo?

I wonder how outputting, digitally to a real surround-sound receiver would sound compared to a sound-card.

Logistics wrote:

Are you using headphones or desktop speakers or a stereo?

I wonder how outputting, digitally to a real surround-sound receiver would sound compared to a sound-card.

I am using stereo headphones. Nothing professional but good enough.