Stimulate Me!

Sound Quality

Features do not make a sound card. Even with all the fancy technology being incorporated into sound cards, what it all comes down to is the audio quality that is produced. Factors that influence audio fidelity are similar to factors that determine 2D video sharpness in video cards, the digital to analog converters and the construction and placement of these components.

The DMX uses Burr-Brown D/A converters which are known among industry as own of the finest makers of Digital to Analog converters. Burr-Brown components can be found in Linn Audio's insanely expensive CD player (Unless the amount your net worth fluctuates daily is more than the latest Lotto jackpot) as well as many other finer CD players. Granted, the D/A converters in the DMX are not the same ones in the Linn, but this means that the people at Burr-Brown know what a good D/A converter should be. And yes, this did give the DMX nice sound.

My standards for nice sound include the clarity of audio, meaning how well the instruments are separated from each other, as in does this sound like a chorus effect, or are there really thirty separate instruments playing? Another sign of a quality audio system is the ability to create an expansive sound stage, using only two speakers, and without any manipulation of the audio signal. The DMX also passed this test, creating a sound stage intermediate between the speakers, with good stereo separation.

It should also be noted that the line out on the DMX seemed a little louder than that on the SB Live!. This would give you a slightly higher signal to noise ratio on your output since you would not have to turn your amplifier up so high. If you already have an audiophile grade amplifier, then this would not really be a major factor. To see if you have an audiophile rated system, switch your amplifier to an empty input and crank the volume up. If you hear lots of static, then I'm sorry. :)

Adulterated Audio?

Even though audio quality was excellent, there were a few idiosyncrasies with the DMX. Although I prefer unadulterated audio, reverb, chorus, and tone adjustment (bass/treble) was only available in two speaker mode - these features were disabled with a quad configuration. Worse, WDM drivers were still unavailable months after we wrote our original Canyon3D preview and so multiple 2D audio stream support does not work. Lack of multiple audio streams is an automatic two-point deduction in today's era of PCI audio cards.