In the PCE's case one of its drawback is its sound chip...Which is only a step up from what the NES could do.
I'm sorry. What?
32 byte waveforms, 5-bit amplitudes, 6 channels with stereo panning, samples on every channel, and you say its only a step above what the NES can do?
WHAT?
It's on par and even surpasses the Konami SCC due to stereo panning, an extra channel, and sampling capabilities. SCC has 8-bit amplitudes. That's its only better part.
Either way.
WHAT?
I mean really, the NES can't touch the PC Engine sound wise.
Dont get me wrong, the PCE can produce decent chip tunes. Its not a god awful system for music and sound as the Genesis is in most cases. But compared to what the SNES could do it does not hold up well. And those examples you linked are exactly what I meant - that music sounds very NES like [to each their own I guess but I had to mute the sound rather fast for those links]. The Snes can produce near CD quality music with its SPC. A better comparison I had in mind was SF2's sound and music vs the Snes version. The sound for the PCE version, which was developed by pros I might add [awesome port] is not up to par with the SNES but it is above the Genesis.
Snes Music-
Chrono Trigger
Someones top 10 list [not mine], good selections though
SF2 Music comparison between PCE/SNES/Genny
The SF2 comparison is debatable I will admit, most prefer how the SNES sounds since it has more "ambience" to it, but the PCE is closer to the Arcade and still sounds nice.