Which 90's console has the best sound?

[Koopa64]

The timeline for this thread is 1990 - 1999, just like the other thread (1989 and below). So basically, this means any home console (not PC, not arcade, not handheld) that was released in the 90s. That excludes the following 'too early/late" systems:

 

Sega Genesis (1989)

Turbo Grafx-16 (1989)

PS2 (2000)

 

This ought to be a real interesting thread since I am intentionally mixing cart systems with CD systems.

 

One last note, I know I said no Arcade systems, but the Neo-Geo AES is an exception. Feel free to vote for it if you think it's the best.

 

Well folks, have at 'er!

 

EDIT: Oh yeah, add-on systems count too, such as the Sega CD, 32X, Jaguar CD, N64DD and anything else like them.

Edited January 24, 2011 by Koopa64

[Prodos8]

Dreamcast.

[Rev. Rob]

Dreamcast.

 

1990 is the cut off, not 1999.

[Prodos8]

The timeline for this thread is 1990 - 1999

Dreamcast.

1990 is the cut off, not 1999.

 

The cut-off is 1999. Look again at the OP's first post.

[+thegoldenband]

For me, I'd rather listen to the best SNES tunes than just about anything that's come since. Of course in terms of sound quality per se, it's easily blown away by all of the Redbook systems, but then again part of what I love about the SNES "sound" is the slight graininess.

[Rev. Rob]

I take it back, it does say 1999. Dreamcast for the win. Hands down. There is no competition.

[Prodos8]

I take it back, it does say 1999. Dreamcast for the win. Hands down. There is no competition.

[Arkhan]

The PC Engine Super CD-ROM² (1991)

 

I win!

[TwinChargers]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't some of the model one PlayStations coveted by audiophiles because of their superior sound quality? Now if there are games that utilized it, I'm unsure, but they must have the best sound if the audiophiles all agree.

[mbd30]

By the time you get to the 32-bit era, pretty much everything has great sound, right? The audio hardware limitations aren't there anymore.

[Arkhan]

By the time you get to the 32-bit era, pretty much everything has great sound, right? The audio hardware limitations aren't there anymore.

 

PC engine super CD-ROM = redbook CD audio = <3

 

[The_Laird]

By the time you get to the 32-bit era, pretty much everything has great sound, right? The audio hardware limitations aren't there anymore.

 

Especially with everthing using CD's - +1

[Koopa64]

Dreamcast.

 

1990 is the cut off, not 1999.

 

Did you confuse this thread with your own?

 

By the time you get to the 32-bit era, pretty much everything has great sound, right? The audio hardware limitations aren't there anymore.

 

Especially with everthing using CD's - +1

 

That's the whole point. Virtually all sound was standardized with CD-ROM media. There were no more dedicated sound chips that played particular sounds. The music on CD could be whatever the developer wanted, either perfect orchestrated music, techno, rock, or anything.

[jeremysart]

For its time, SNES blew its competitors out of the water with its sound chip. Music and sounds were always better on SNES than other systems of the time.

 

If PC's were considered, well, loved the sound of a Soundblaster AWE16, or a Gravis Ultrasound.

[chrisbid]

For its time, SNES blew its competitors out of the water with its sound chip. Music and sounds were always better on SNES than other systems of the time.

 

If PC's were considered, well, loved the sound of a Soundblaster AWE16, or a Gravis Ultrasound.

 

 

 

that is simply untrue. the snes was a fantastic system for sound samples and midi, but it had very low fidelity... meaning it didnt have very clear treble and bass. so it worked wonderfully with orchestral and string music, but it blew chunks with techno and rock music. on the other hand, the sega genesis used a full featured 8-bit synthesizer for its sound chip. so while samples of real instruments were predictably terrible, "chip tune" style video game music sounded crystal clear and was fantastic. each system could sound fantastic if the music composer and sound programmer took advantage of each of the systems strengths and avoided their weaknesses.

 

saying the snes or genesis had a superior soundchip over the other is no different than saying a violin is better than an electric guitar or vice versa.

[mbd30]

The SNES could do techno.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHqy0n_VQJc

[+thegoldenband]

I see your Dark Lich, and raise you a Gambit:

 

 

(really more nu-jazz or disco than straight up techno, but still!)

Edited January 24, 2011 by thegoldenband

[chrisbid]

neither of those examples are very high fidelity, the melodic instruments sound like mud. they also dont have the deep bass that the sega genesis could pump out when it was at peak performance.

[mbd30]

Wait, how about Killer Instinct

 

EDIT: I just checked Orchid's theme in the actual game on BSNES and I think that was a much enhanced version. Sorry.

Edited January 24, 2011 by mbd30

[+Random Terrain]

Don't you have to split the decade in half? 1990 to 1994 and 1995 to 1999? Seems kind of like two separate periods for video games. (Same for the 1980s.)

[+thegoldenband]

Actually, chrisbid, I know exactly what you're getting at, and agree. The Genesis sound hardware is generally punchier and brighter than the SNES, and is definitely better at doing what it's good at, if that makes sense. Each console can't really match the other's strengths.

Edited January 24, 2011 by thegoldenband

[Christophero Sly]

Each console can't really match the other's strengths.

This is my take on this particular subject as well.

[Nikdog]

Dreamcast.

That was my immediate thought after reading the first post.

 

The PC Engine Super CD-ROM² (1991)

 

I win!

Now there is a winning choice.

[128Kgames]

The timeline for this thread is 1990 - 1999, just like the other thread (1989 and below). So basically, this means any home console (not PC, not arcade, not handheld) that was released in the 90s. That excludes the following 'too early/late" systems:

 

Sega Genesis (1989)

Turbo Grafx-16 (1989)

PS2 (2000)

 

This ought to be a real interesting thread since I am intentionally mixing cart systems with CD systems.

 

One last note, I know I said no Arcade systems, but the Neo-Geo AES is an exception. Feel free to vote for it if you think it's the best.

 

Well folks, have at 'er!

 

EDIT: Oh yeah, add-on systems count too, such as the Sega CD, 32X, Jaguar CD, N64DD and anything else like them.

 

I'll take the Neo Geo AES then for my vote.

[rockman_x_2002]

The PS1 and Dreamcast are obvious choices being disc-based in nature.

 

But when it comes to programmable sound chips, the N64 and 32X have the highest-quality sounds and instruments, but the Genesis and SNES have some of the finest and most memorable musical scores available for the time.

 

In fact you could call it crazy but to me it seems like the older chiptunes are much more easily recognizable than the more realistic stuff.

 

Example: Think of your favorite song from, say, Mega Man X. Hum it. Easy huh? Now take your favorite song from Mega Man X5. Not so easy. I can remember every tune in MMX1-3, but I can't honestly tell you I remember a single track from a Mega Man X game that came after 3.