SNR?

[Guest]

What does the Signal to Noise Ratio measure? I read that the Audigy has a SNR of 100db vs 96db for Live! What does that mean? What is the corresponding SNR for Santa Cruz or GTXP?

 

[Guest]

The signal is the music voltage amplitude expressed in dB. The noise is the voltage amplitude in dB of everything else, ie whatever comes out of the speakers between songs.

SNR is simply the first thing divided by the second thing. Higher is better.

This is one of the specs which can really have an effect for those of us who care about quality, and it doesn't necessarily take a perfect set of ears to tell the difference. In other words you may very well be able to tell the difference between a device with 96dB SNR vs one with 100dB SNR.

Sorry I don't know the specs for the specific products you mention.

 

[FatBurger]

In other words you may very well be able to tell the difference between a device with 96dB SNR vs one with 100dB SNR.

For sound cards specifically, it's not usually very noticeable. Depends on the speakers used, how far they're turned up, etc.

The Audigy claims 100dB, but it's actually 96-98dB, from every test I've seen.

I think the GTXP is 98, but I'm not positive.

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