Sound: SNES vs GBA

[BAD PIXEL]

Lately I've noticed that Super Ghouls 'N' Ghost on the GBA doesn't sound as good as on the SNES. Did the SNES have better sound hardware? I would think the GBA would be at least equal to the SNES in this respect, seeing as how it was released about a decade later and has the 32-bit graphics system, but my ears tell me otherwise. Does anyone have other examples that have the GBA game sounding better or worse than it's SNES counterpart? Just curious.

[noiseredux]

without researching, I'd guess that the GBA should be able to emulate the SNES' sounds pretty faithfully. The problem most likely lies within the GBA's poor speaker. That being said, GBA games played through the GBPlayer give a sound that I can't complain about.

[miked]

Im pretty sure that the SNES supported more channels than the GBA. Just compare FF6 on both systems. The SNES version obviously has alot more instruments going at the same time. Also the GBA is only capable of mono sound. SNES win.

[BAD PIXEL]

I'm almost thinking that the dinky speaker might be the cause. I haven't had a chance to hook up the GameBoy Player and check it out. I also need to find where I put my headphone jack for the GBA SP I'm using and check the sound with that. Another factor might be that some of the music may have been reworked or completely remixed, as it was in Final Fight.

I'll dig a little to see if I can find any documentation one whether the GBA has as many sound channels, other sound specs, etc. The mono sound definitely puts the GBA at a disadvantage and also could be the difference I hear in the music. Unfortunately, the portable SNES is mono.

One of the main reasons I'm trying to figure this out is to justify a recent FC16 Go (portable SNES) purchase. While there are a few SNES exclusive games, there are just so many SNES games available on the GBA. I don't know if the game library surpasses that of the GBA and/or it makes it worth lugging around the portable SNES. If the sound was considerably better, that'd be one more reason to have the SNES versions of certain games. At this point, I'm thinking the GBA and its games have the edge.

[noiseredux]

I think I prefer my stationary GBPlayer to a portable SNES.

[Veno]

Oddly enough, this is what I was saying in my Definitive Classic Final Fantasy thread.
It was a choice between the SNES or GBA versions of IV, V, and VI, and I also stated that I thought the SNES version had better music.
I think that the SNES versions do have better music. I've played FFIV and V on the PS1, GBA, PC via emulator, and PSP via emulator, and it sounds better on the PS1, which I'm sure is derived from the SNES versions. The sound quality of the Advance titles on GBA I guess were programmed to fit the cart or something, because they sound the same to me when I play them on the GBA, PSP, or PC.

[t0yrobo]

Im pretty sure that the SNES supported more channels than the GBA. Just compare FF6 on both systems. The SNES version obviously has alot more instruments going at the same time. Also the GBA is only capable of mono sound. SNES win.

If I remember right the gba did do stereo, but since it only had one speaker you'd only know if you were using headphones.

[MrPopo]

One of the main reasons I'm trying to figure this out is to justify a recent FC16 Go (portable SNES) purchase.

What what what? Why wasn't I aware of this before?

[noiseredux]

If I remember right the gba did do stereo, but since it only had one speaker you'd only know if you were using headphones.

right right. Yeah. This sounds correct. Familiar.

[BAD PIXEL]

One of the main reasons I'm trying to figure this out is to justify a recent FC16 Go (portable SNES) purchase.

What what what? Why wasn't I aware of this before?

Yeah, I know - I just found out about them on Tuesday myself. I ordered one at Stone Age Gamer, but it looks like they've run dry now. I'll get some photos up. I'm still trying to find one of my old SNES games to test it out. Seriously though, with all the SNES ports over to the GBA, I'm not sure if it's worth lugging around the portable SNES. Plus with my SP I can play all the old GB and GBC games with a color, lit up screen and a lot less lap real estate. The portable SNES almost looks like a damn jewelry box sitting here on my desk, nothing as cool as my NES-version SP.

From the sources I've checked out, it does look as though the SNES sound chip is superior. The SNES has 8-channel sound vs. the GBA's 2-channel. Both do stereo, though. Would be an interesting comparison with both hooked up to a TV.

I like the idea of having a portable SNES for the road. Being able to continue with a game like FF III on a portable would be an nice option. Just for when I'm not at home with an SNES around. Portable emulators that actually have TV out capability just don't run consistently enough for me (the Dingoo is the only one I know that will allow TV out at this point, and it's very inconsistent from game to game. Also Dingux doesn't allow for TV out, just FYI. And the Wiz doesn't do any TV out, though plays most SNES remarkably well - but don't get me started on the metal-edged buttons. Seriously, what the fuck?).

My main reason for trying to figure out the better sound was just trying to see if the SNES had an advantage over GBA ports. I just don't know if the size of the portable SNES (and it's carts) are worth the trade off - generally, the GBA has decent sound.