Gigabyte GA-Z170N-WIFI Review (Page 11 of 12)

Page 11 - Onboard Sound Frequency Analysis

Gigabyte has a great record of having very good performing integrated audio on their motherboards, and the GA-Z170N-WIFI is advertised to be no exception. It comes with a rear headphone amplifier, and comes with a dedicated audio zone electrically separated from the rest of the components to reduce noise. This mainstream performance model uses Realtek's ALC1150 audio codec. To see how it performs, we fired up RightMark Audio Analyzer for the answer, and here is the full report.

Test Information:

Testing device: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Sampling mode: 16-bit, 44 kHz
Interface: DirectSound
Testing chain: External loopback (line-out - line-in)
RMAA Version: 6.4.1
20 Hz - 20 kHz filter: ON
Normalize amplitude: ON
Level change: -1.3 dB / -1.0 dB
Mono mode: OFF
Calibration signal, Hz: 1000
Polarity: correct/correct

Frequency response

From 20 Hz to 20 kHz, dB: -1.47, +0.07; -1.21, +0.33
From 40 Hz to 15 kHz, dB: -0.06, +0.05; +0.20, +0.31

Noise level

RMS power, dB: -89.5, -89.0
RMS power (A-weighted), dB: -90.6, -90.0
Peak level, dB FS: -76.2, -74.7
DC offset, %: -0.0, -0.0

Dynamic range

Dynamic range, dB: +89.5, +89.0
Dynamic range (A-weighted), dB: +90.6, +90.1
DC offset, %: -0.00, -0.00

THD + Noise (at -3 dB FS)

THD, %: +0.0054, +0.0072
THD + Noise, %: +0.0088, +0.0101
THD + Noise (A-weighted), %: +0.0093, +0.0113

Intermodulation distortion

IMD + Noise, %: +0.0099, +0.0114
IMD + Noise (A-weighted), %: +0.0081, +0.0087

Stereo crosstalk

Crosstalk at 100 Hz, dB: -93, -92
Crosstalk at 1000 Hz, dB: -90, -90
Crosstalk at 10000 Hz, dB: -82, -85

IMD (swept tones)

IMD + Noise at 5000 Hz: 0.0118, 0.0127
IMD + Noise at 10000 Hz: 0.0109, 0.0115
IMD + Noise at 15000 Hz: 0.0125, 0.0126

Test Summary:

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB: +0.31, +0.20 - Excellent
Noise level, dB (A): -90.3 - Very good
Dynamic range, dB (A): 90.3 - Very good
THD, %: 0.0063 - Very good
THD + Noise, dB (A): -79.8 - Average
IMD + Noise, %: 0.011 - Very good
Stereo crosstalk, dB: -91.0 - Excellent
IMD at 10 kHz, %: 0.012 - Very good
General performance - Very good


Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Bundle, Chipset, BIOS
3. A Closer Look, Board Layout, Test System
4. Benchmark: AIDA64 CPU
5. Benchmark: AIDA64 FPU
6. Benchmark: AIDA64 Memory
7. Benchmark: PCMark 8
8. Benchmark: 3DMark
9. Benchmark: PassMark PerformanceTest 8.0
10. Benchmark: SuperPI 1M, Cinebench R15
11. Onboard Sound Frequency Analysis
12. Overclocking and Conclusion