Adlib or Sound Blaster?

[endre1952]

Did the original Adlib card have better FM output quality than the original Sound Blaster? I have never owned a real Adlib card. My first card (from 1991) was an Adlib compatible one (sorry, I don't remember its brand, but it was half-size and seemed to produce perfect FM sound.) I still have a Sound Blaster 2.0 ISA, which I bought back in 1992 (no CMS chips though).

I also have a Vibra SB16. I think it has a real OPL3 chip, but is it good for OPL2 games? I mean, does it sound correct for most OPL2 tunes?

[Great Hierophant]

The Adlib and Sound Blaster (1.0-1.5) use almost the same components, so any sound differences would be negligible. 

If the Vibra SB16 has a CT-1747 chip, then it will faithfully reproduce OPL2 and OPL3 musical data.  Later Vibras may use Creative CQM instead of Yamaha FM, which is gives an inaccurate emulation of OPL sound output. 

[jharris01]

I am total newbie, but I always thought all sound cards sounded the same (as far as FM is concerned). Am I to understand there were soundcards who had better FM sound? For example, a sound card with an FM quality similar to the Yamaha PortaSound PSS-680/780?

[Rhizome]

I am total newbie, but I always thought all sound cards sounded the same (as far as FM is concerned). Am I to understand there were soundcards who had better FM sound? For example, a sound card with an FM quality similar to the Yamaha PortaSound PSS-680/780?

The OPL2 and OPL3 output in digital, so it's more to do with the DAC used on the card.