Comparison of Game Consoles by Sound Capabilities: Difference between revisions
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|align="left"| A 3D "sound space" technology created by Roland Corporation, which attempts to create a "3D sound" using regular stereo speakers. It does not use speakers which "surround" the user, but attempts to direct sound around the room to give the illusion of depth. | |align="left"| A 3D "sound space" technology created by Roland Corporation, which attempts to create a "3D sound" using regular stereo speakers. It does not use speakers which "surround" the user, but attempts to direct sound around the room to give the illusion of depth. | ||
|align="left"| RSS was used in some video games of the early 1990s, but failed to match the support of QSound or Dolby Surround (which in turn were only supported by a small fraction of the market). From a Sega perspective, it was mainly seen in Mega LD games. (citation needed) | |align="left"| RSS was used in some video games of the early 1990s, but failed to match the support of QSound or Dolby Surround (which in turn were only supported by a small fraction of the market). From a Sega perspective, it was mainly seen in Mega LD games. (citation needed) | ||
|- | |||
|align="left"| DTS | |||
|align="left"| 1993 | |||
|align="left"| | |||
|align="left"| | |||
|- | |- | ||
|align="left"| Dolby Pro Logic 2 | |align="left"| Dolby Pro Logic 2 |
Revision as of 14:28, 4 November 2022
The purpose of this article is to categorize video game consoles according to their supported audio formats, and to consolidate advice on optimizing sound reproduction for each of those consoles.
DRAFT (WORK IN PROGRESS ARTICLE - PLEASE DO NOT RELY ON THE INFORMATION BELOW UNTIL MARKED AS COMPLETED) |
Explanation of Terms
If you’re getting started with optimizing a console setup for audio, there are some numbers that you’ll notice like 2.1, 5.1, 7.2.2 and so on. These numbers represent speaker channels, and they follow a specific format. The first number defines how many main speakers there are in the setup, at ear level. The second number stands for the number of subwoofer speakers in the setup, which are dedicated to low-frequency bass sounds. The subwoofers are commonly placed at floor level. In more modern home theatre setups (e.g., 7.2.2) there is a third number, which defines how many “Dolby Atmos” in-ceiling speakers there are to provide overhead sound.
Sound System | Year Introduced to Home Market | Definition | Use in Retro-Gaming context |
---|---|---|---|
Mono | 1899 | ||
Stereo | 1958 | ||
Dolby Surround | 1982 | Dolby Surround was the first multi-channel surround-sound decoding technology to be widely available for use with analogue movie formats and to a lesser extent, home video game consoles. By the early 1980s, home users were able to make use of “matrixed surround”. This means that your source could send four audio channels across the existing two stereo (red and white) RCA cables that were already in use with a lot of consumer audio equipment – although it wouldn’t be until the late 80s/early 90s until most fourth-gen gaming consoles came with these cables as standard. | To access 4.0 surround (i.e., four channels), the user would need an AV amplifier capable of decoding and separating the regular stereo outputs to produce a pseudo-surround sound effect. The Left and Right front channels behave normally, but one of them is now used to carry a rear channel on its inverted phase, and the other is used to carry a centre channel. If the user’s amplifier could send audio signals below a certain frequency to a subwoofer, the user also could access 4.1 surround. A setup like this would also be backwards-compatible with older formats – if the user had a regular 2.0 stereo setup, the Left and Right signals would play as normal, and if the console was plugged into an older CRT with a mono speaker, all the audio would be routed into that single channel. |
Dolby Pro Logic | 1987 | ||
QSound | 1991 | According to Andrew Elmore (medium.com), QSound is utilised on several Playstation games and is the only 3D audio option employed on the Sega Mega CD, Saturn, and Dreamcast. No official multi-channel surround sound options available on Sega platforms, with the exception of the NHL 2K games on Dreamcast. (citation needed). | |
Roland Surround Space | 1991 | A 3D "sound space" technology created by Roland Corporation, which attempts to create a "3D sound" using regular stereo speakers. It does not use speakers which "surround" the user, but attempts to direct sound around the room to give the illusion of depth. | RSS was used in some video games of the early 1990s, but failed to match the support of QSound or Dolby Surround (which in turn were only supported by a small fraction of the market). From a Sega perspective, it was mainly seen in Mega LD games. (citation needed) |
DTS | 1993 | ||
Dolby Pro Logic 2 | 2000 | ||
Dolby Atmos | 2012 | - | |
Wattage | - | - | |
Polarity | |||
Connector | - | - | |
External Brick | - | - | |
Internal Power Supply | - | - | |
World Plug Types | - | - | |
Power Strip | - | - | |
Power Distribution Unit | - | - | |
Step-Down Transformer | - | - |
First generation of consoles
Console | Pictures | Year of Release | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | Supported Audio Formats | Supported Speaker Layouts | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Magnavox Odyssey | ![]() |
1972 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | The console cannot generate audio. |
Magnavox Odyssey 100 | ![]() |
1975 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | The console didn't send audio to the tv, instead using an internal piezzo beeper which emitted primitive action sounds through a built-in speaker - for example, a "blip" when the tennis ball is hit by a player's paddle, or when the hockey puck hits the borders of the playing area. |
Magnavox Odyssey 200 | ![]() |
1975 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | The console's piezzo beeper operated in the same manner as the Odyssey 100. The Odyssey 200 added an extra game called SMASH (i.e. squash); the buzzer would bleep whenever the ball hit the front "wall". |
Magnavox Odyssey 300 | ![]() |
1976 | 100ma | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | As before, the game audio (little more than a few bleeps and bloops) emanates from a speaker in the Odyssey itself, rendering it uncapturable via conventional means. |
Magnavox Odyssey 400 | ![]() |
1976 | 100ma | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | Console is powered by either six "C" batteries or a 9 volt AC adapter. |
Magnavox Odyssey 500 | ![]() |
1976 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | Console is powered by either six "C" batteries or a 9 volt AC adapter. |
Magnavox Odyssey 4305 | 1976/1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | The Odyssey 4305 is a 19” television (based on the chassis of the Magnavox T991 television) but with a built-in Odyssey. As with most CRTs of this era, the sound was an analog signal produced from small speakers installed inside the chassis. It produced sound in mono and action sounds were similar to other Odyssey series consoles. | |
Magnavox Odyssey 2000 | ![]() |
1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | Console is powered by either six "C" batteries or a 9 volt AC adapter. |
Magnavox Odyssey 3000 | ![]() |
1977 | 78mA | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Magnavox Odyssey 4000 | ![]() |
1977 | 100 mA | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Philips Odyssey 200 | ![]() |
1976 (released concurrently with U.S. Odyssey 200) | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Philips Odyssey 2001 | ![]() |
1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Philips Odyssey 2100 | ![]() |
1978 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
TV Tennis Electrotennis (Epoch) | ![]() |
1975 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Atari Home Pong (Model C-100) | ![]() |
1976 | 100 mA | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | Console can be powered by four "D"-size batteries, or an AC adapter (“battery eliminator”) |
Atari Super Pong (Model C-140) | ![]() |
1976 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | The console had a speaker built into the main unit, that could output a simple "bloop" noise every time the ball was hit. |
Coleco Telstar | ![]() |
1976 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Coleco Telstar Classic | ![]() |
1976 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono. | 1.0 | ? |
Coleco Telstar Deluxe (AKA World of Sports) | ![]() |
1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Coleco Telstar Ranger | ![]() |
1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Coleco Telstar Alpha | ![]() |
1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Coleco Telstar Colormatic | ![]() |
1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Coleco Telstar Regent | ![]() |
1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Coleco Telstar Sportsman | TBC | 1978 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Coleco Telstar Combat! | ![]() |
1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Coleco Telstar Colortron | ![]() |
1978 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Coleco Telstar Marksman | ![]() |
1978 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Coleco Telstar Galaxy | ![]() |
1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Coleco Telstar Gemini | ![]() |
1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Coleco Telstar Arcade | ![]() |
1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Nintendo Color TV - Game 6 | ![]() |
1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Mono | 1.0 | ? |
Second generation of consoles
Console | Pictures | Year of Release | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | Supported Audio Formats | Supported Speaker Layouts | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atari 2600 | ![]() |
1977 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Magnavox Odyssey 2 | ![]() |
1978 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Philips Videopac G7000 (European release of Odyssey 2) | ![]() |
1978 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Mattel Intellivision | File:Intellivision-Console-Set.jpg | 1979 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Mattel Intellivision II | File:Intellivision-II-Console-Set.jpg | 1983 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Coleco ColecoVision | ![]() |
1982 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Atari 5200 (Four controller port model) * | ![]() |
1982 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Atari 5200 (Two controller port model) * | ![]() |
1982 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
GCE/MB Vectrex | ![]() |
1982 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ?
|
Third generation of consoles
Console | Pictures | Year of Release | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | Supported Audio Formats | Supported Speaker Layouts | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nintendo Entertainment System (US) * | ![]() |
1985 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Nintendo Entertainment System (PAL) * | ![]() |
1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Famicom * | ![]() |
1983 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Famicom Disk System * | ![]() |
1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Twin Famicom * | ![]() |
1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega SG-1000 * | ![]() |
1983 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega Mark III * | ![]() |
1985 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega Master System * | ![]() |
1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Atari 7800 | ![]() |
1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Casio PV-1000 * | ![]() |
1983 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Epoch Super Cassette Vision * | File:Super-Cassette-Vision-Console-L.jpg | 1984 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Amstrad GX4000 * | ![]() |
1990 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Fourth generation of consoles
Console | Pictures | Year of Release | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | Supported Audio Formats | Supported Speaker Layouts | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEC TurboGrafx 16 * | ![]() |
1989 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
PC Engine * | ![]() |
1987 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
NEC PC Engine CD * | ![]() |
1988 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
NEC TurboGrafx-CD * | ![]() |
1989 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
NEC SuperGrafx | ![]() |
1989 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
NEC TurboExpress/PC Engine GT | ![]() |
1990 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
NEC TurboDuo/PC Engine Duo | ![]() |
1991 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
NEC Super CD-ROM2 | ![]() |
1991 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
NEC PC Engine LT | ![]() |
1991 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
NEC PC Engine Duo-R/Duo-RX | ![]() |
1993 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega Genesis (model 1) * | ![]() |
1989 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega Mega Drive (model 1) * | ![]() |
1988 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega Genesis (model 2) | ![]() |
1994 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega Genesis 3 | ![]() |
1998 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega Mega Jet | ![]() |
1994 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega Genesis Nomad | ![]() |
1995 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega 32X | ![]() |
1994 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega/Victor Wondermega RG-M1 | ![]() |
1992 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega CDX | ![]() |
1994 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
JVC X'Eye/Victor Wondermega RG-M2 | ![]() |
1993 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega Game Gear * | ![]() |
1990 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Nintendo Game Boy | ![]() |
1989 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Nintendo Game Boy Pocket | ![]() |
1996 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Super Nintendo (US) | ![]() |
1991 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Dolby Surround |
1.0 2.0 4.0 |
|
Super Famicom * | ![]() |
1990 | ? | ? | HVC-002 | ? | Dolby Surround |
1.0 2.0 4.0 |
? |
Super Nintendo (PAL) * | File:SNES Pal region.jpg | 1992 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Dolby Surround |
1.0 2.0 4.0 |
? |
SNK Neo Geo AES * | ![]() |
1990 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
SNK Neo Geo CD | ![]() |
1994 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Pioneer LaserActive | ![]() |
1993 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Fifth generation of consoles
Console | Pictures | Year of Release | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | Supported Audio Formats | Supported Speaker Layouts | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commodore Amiga CD32 | ![]() |
1993 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Panasonic 3DO | ![]() |
1993 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Atari Jaguar * | ![]() |
1993 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Atari Jaguar CD * | ![]() |
1995 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Bandai Playdia * | ![]() |
1994 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega Saturn | ![]() |
1994 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sony PlayStation | ![]() |
1994 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Dolby Surround | ? | ? |
Sony PSone | ![]() |
2000 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
NEC PC-FX | ![]() |
1994 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Casio Loopy | ![]() |
1995 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Apple Pippin | ![]() |
1996 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Nintendo 64 | ![]() |
1996 | ? | ? | ? | ? | Dolby Surround | ? | TBC - Dolby surround confirmed with Ocarina of Time and unreleased Dinosaur Planet http://archive.thegia.com/n64/dino/dino.html |
Sixth generation of consoles
Console | Pictures | Year of Release | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | Supported Audio Formats | Supported Speaker Layouts | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Game Boy Advance | ![]() |
2001 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Game Boy Advance SP | ![]() |
2003 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Game Boy Micro | ![]() |
2005 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sega Dreamcast | ![]() |
1998 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sony PlayStation 2 (original) | ![]() |
2000 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sony PlayStation 2 (slim, SCPH-7xxxx) | ![]() |
2004 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sony PlayStation 2 (slim, SCPH-9000x) | ![]() |
2007 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
VM Labs Nuon | File:Nuon-N2000-wController-L.jpg | 2000 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Microsoft Xbox | ![]() |
2001 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Nintendo GameCube | ![]() |
2001 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Panasonic Q version of the Gamecube may have been the first console in history to support the native use of subwoofers, mainly for DVD playback as opposed to in-game use. |
Seventh generation of consoles
Console | Pictures | Year of Release | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | Supported Audio Formats | Supported Speaker Layouts | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nintendo DS | ![]() |
2004 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Nintendo DS Lite | ![]() |
2006 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Nintendo DSi series | ![]() |
2008 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sony PSP (except N1000/Go) | ![]() |
2004 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sony PSP-N1000 series (Go) | File:PSP Go (N1000).jpg | 2009 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Nintendo Wii | ![]() |
2006 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Microsoft Xbox 360 (Xenon/Zephyr) | ![]() |
2005 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Microsoft Xbox 360 (Falcon/Opus) | TBC | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Microsoft Xbox 360 (Jasper/Kronos) | TBC | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Microsoft Xbox 360 S | ![]() |
2010 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Microsoft Xbox 360 E | ![]() |
2013 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sony PlayStation 3 | ![]() |
2006 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Eighth generation of consoles
Console | Pictures | Year of Release | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | Supported Audio Formats | Supported Speaker Layouts | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nintendo 3DS/2DS Series incl. New | TBC | 2013 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sony PS Vita | ![]() |
2011 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sony PS Vita TV | ![]() |
2013 | ? | ? | ? | ? | 2 channel LPCM | ? | ? |
Nintendo Wii U | ![]() |
2012 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
|
? | ? |
Sony PlayStation 4 (original) | ![]() |
2013 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sony PlayStation 4 (slim) | ![]() |
2016 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | The optical audio port was removed on the PS4 slim models. |
Sony PlayStation 4 Pro | ![]() |
2016 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
|
5.1 7.1 |
When setting your console up, as you’ll need to change it to set your sound from the standard PCM to bitstreaming Dolby Digital or DTS. The PS4 Pro also only supports Dolby Atmos for compatible Blu-ray movies, it does not support Atmos for games. |
Microsoft Xbox One | ![]() |
2013 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
|
7.1 | |
Microsoft Xbox One S | ![]() |
2016 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
|
? | |
Microsoft Xbox One X | ![]() |
2017 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
|
? | |
Nintendo Switch | File:Nintendo-Switch-Console-Docked-wJoyConRB.jpg | 2017 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
|
1.0 2.0 2.1 5.1 |
? |
Ninth generation of consoles
Console | Pictures | Year of Release | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | Supported Audio Formats | Supported Speaker Layouts | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sony PlayStation 5 | File:Immagine Playstation 5.jpg | 2020 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
|
5.1 7.1 |
The PS5 does not support Dolby Atmos, instead using Sony's tempest engine, which does not support high channel speakers. |
Microsoft Xbox Series S | File:Xbox Series S with controller.jpg | 2020 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
|
5.1 7.1 7.1.2 |
The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are the first consoles ever to enable gaming in both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. |
Microsoft Xbox Series X | File:Xbox series X (50648118708).jpg | 2020 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
|
5.1 7.1 7.1.2 |
The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are the first consoles ever to enable gaming in both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. |
References
- "Quality PSU’s For Classic Consoles".
- "Triad Brand Replacement Power Supplies". Retrieved 2009-09-05.
- ↑ https://shmup.fandom.com/wiki/Tate_Mode
- ↑ https://www.doesitflip.com/
- ↑ https://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=60868
- ↑ https://store.steampowered.com/curator/14416124/
- ↑ https://retronauts.com/article/946/the-comprehensive-list-of-flip-grip-friendly-vertical-games-for-switch
- ↑ http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/content/games-tate-mode-standard-definition
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/85fqso/list_of_switch_games_that_support_nonstandard/