Our test configuration remains the same, except for the inevitable upgrades to keep the operating system up to date.

Behavior At 16 Bits / 44.1 KHz

At these settings, which correspond to CD Audio, the Audigy 4's performance potential is clearly being held in check! But it's indispensable for you to see how the device behaves with the settings most often used for digital music.

• Frequency response (40 Hz - 15 kHz) : +0.13, -0.36 dB
• Weighted signal-to-noise ratio : 94.5 dB(A)
• Distortion : 0.0032 %
• Stereo separation : 93.1 dB

Frequency response : As is often the case, we'd have preferred slightly better performance - there's a visible lack of linearity, and response drops off a little too fast before 20 kHz.

Noise level : No problems here - the Audigy 4 was close to the theoretical ideal.

Dynamic range : Again, this card is not about to limit performance!

Distortion : Distortion was extremely low, far from any possibility of being audible.

Intermodulation : The test software isn't really suited to these operating settings and produced erratic results. Pay them no mind!

Stereo separation : Stereo crosstalk was practically non-existent.