Biostar TF7050-M2

Audio Performance

The audio performance tests we done using Audio Rightmark 6.0.5 and a 3.5mm gold plated, oxygen free stereo loop back cable between stereo out and microphone input. Results were taken at the DVD sample rate of 16-bit/48KHz and High Definition 24-bit/96KHz.

What we're looking for:

• Noise Level: A higher negative is better. This is usually viewed in relation to a signal level which provides a signal to noise ratio. As you get closer to zero there's more noise and lesser audio fidelity.
  
• Frequency Response: Two values listing how close to the lower higher frequencies the codec can reach. If it hits them perfectly it'll display a 0, 0.
  
• Dynamic Range: The difference between the loudest and quietest sounds the codec can make before it distorts them. The larger the gap, the better.
  
• THD and IMD percentage: Closer to zero is better. THD and IMD are best looked at together, where as if you have a lot of THD and not much IMD, then it'll offer a warmer accurate sound. High THD and IMD provides a warm, inaccurate sound, low THD and high IMD gives a cold inaccurate sound and finally low THD and IMD gives a cold accurate sound.
  
• IMD = intermodulation distortion and is a fancy way of saying conversion interpolation, which is a basic detection of the quality loss after an analogue to digital then digital to analogue conversion. By comparing it to a highly compressed source it shows up problems with the codec and converters.
  
• THD = total harmonic distortion, which shows up unwanted harmonics; integer multiples of the original component sound that can be second, third, fourth degrees or overtones for example.
  
• Stereo Crosstalk: where the stereo channels "talk" to each other and interact. Ideally you want them entirely separate, unmixed or echoed in either channel, so a higher negative a result as possible is preferred.

16-bit / 48KHz

24-bit / 96KHz

16-bit/48KHz performance is better than the 24-bit/96KHz, but for High Definition playback we'd always recommend a discrete soundcard at least, or preferably the use of S/PDIF out to a dedicated amplifier/decoder if you're using it to play HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc movies.

The quality is slightly less than the Realtek ALC885, which is to be expected since that's the premium codec. However, even compared to the same codec in the more expensive Abit IP35 Pro, it's overall performance is marginally better even though all three only come out as "good". The on-board sound will certainly suffice for most people, but if you're really looking for quality playback to match the effort Nvidia puts into PureVideo, you'll want to invest in a discrete soundcard.