ASUS Xonar DSX Or Built-in Realtek On Motherboard?

[PlayModeOn]

Hello,

 

I have cash to spent and I came across some sound cards. The Xonar DSX got my attention and wondering if it is 'better' than my built-in audio on my Asrock 970 Extreme4 motherboard.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970%20Extreme4/?cat=Specifications

 

And here is the sound card:

http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/Products-details.phtml?id=10&id2=32&bid=9&sid=124767

 

The built-in audio is fine but it is pretty average in bass, mid and highs. 

Currently using Z11 headphones.

 

EDIT: Also when it comes to audio, I do not really understand the specifications but I do consider myself an audiophile.

 

Any thoughts?

-Thanks.

[Rorgash]

its your headphones that are bad, nothing your sound card can do to make them better

[X1XNobleX1X]

Hello,

 

I have cash to spent and I came across some sound cards. The Xonar DSX got my attention and wondering if it is 'better' than my built-in audio on my Asrock 970 Extreme4 motherboard.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970%20Extreme4/?cat=Specifications

 

And here is the sound card:

http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/Products-details.phtml?id=10&id2=32&bid=9&sid=124767

 

The built-in audio is fine but it is pretty average in bass, mid and highs. 

Currently using Z11 headphones.

 

Any thoughts?

-Thanks.

The audio on that board is probably not the best, but even if you bought a soundcard, I guarantee you won't be able to hear a difference. 

[BoltActionWaffle]

No soundcard in the world is going to make those sound better. Buy a better pair of headphones

[PlayModeOn]

Hmm ok. Would anyone suggest a good headphone at Umart?

http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/Products_list.phtml?id=10&bid=9&id2=147

 

Budget: Less than $100.

Also in the future, would adding a soundcard would even make a difference (presumably with a decent headphones)?

[t0wer]

any audio companies around you?

computer stores typically sell the cheap gaming junk.

[ShearMe]

Also in the future, would adding a soundcard would even make a difference (presumably with a decent headphones)?

 

Potentially, yes, but usually, no. It typically just makes headphones louder. 

 

There's a whole culture based around trying to make other people think expensive soundcards, DACs, and amps significantly alter the sound or "improve" it in some way. In my experience that's a load of bull - expensive gear might make minute changes to the sound, but swapping headphones is a much much greater change.

[Krishtrinity]

Hello,

 

I have cash to spent and I came across some sound cards. The Xonar DSX got my attention and wondering if it is 'better' than my built-in audio on my Asrock 970 Extreme4 motherboard.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970%20Extreme4/?cat=Specifications

 

And here is the sound card:

http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/Products-details.phtml?id=10&id2=32&bid=9&sid=124767

 

The built-in audio is fine but it is pretty average in bass, mid and highs. 

Currently using Z11 headphones.

 

EDIT: Also when it comes to audio, I do not really understand the specifications but I do consider myself an audiophile.

 

Any thoughts?

-Thanks.

No headphone will get their full performance with a soundcard,a sound card is tuned for gaming and movies and for music you will like it at first but within a year you would be upgrading to a new one.DAC on the other is just pure awesomeness that you will keep coming for more.

[Stagea]

any audio companies around you?

computer stores typically sell the cheap gaming junk.

 

I agree. It's also best to hear your options yourself, rather than to buy blindly online (so that you don't keep rolling headphones).

[PlayModeOn]

Potentially, yes, but usually, no. It typically just makes headphones louder. 

 

There's a whole culture based around trying to make other people think expensive soundcards, DACs, and amps significantly alter the sound or "improve" it in some way. In my experience that's a load of bull - expensive gear might make minute changes to the sound, but swapping headphones is a much much greater change.

But this soundcard is not expensive.

Plus I am using an ancient motherboard with an average or OK built-in audio (Realtek 892)

[PlayModeOn]

No headphone will get their full performance with a soundcard,a sound card is tuned for gaming and movies and for music you will like it at first but within a year you would be upgrading to a new one.DAC on the other is just pure awesomeness that you will keep coming for more.

Sorry what's a DAC?

[BoltActionWaffle]

But this soundcard is not expensive.

Plus I am using an ancient motherboard with an average or OK built-in audio (Realtek 892)

The Realtek 892 is fine. 

[Krishtrinity]

Sorry what's a DAC?

Digital to analog converter meaning computer format converted to actual sound.DAC is buit inside a pc but soundquality is less because of noise from electrical components inside pc.So an external DAC like Fiio e7 is necessary to get good sound.What an external DAC does is it does all the sound processing outside pc so that it is free from noise.Benifit of an external DAC over soundcard is that dac doesn't need any drivers

[Stagea]

Digital to analog converter meaning computer format converted to actual sound.DAC is buit inside a pc but soundquality is less because of noise from electrical components inside pc.So an external DAC like Fiio e7 is necessary to get good sound.What an external DAC does is it does all the sound processing outside pc so that it is free from noise.Benifit of an external DAC over soundcard is that dac doesn't need any drivers

A lot of USB DACs need drivers, especially ones that operate asynchronously.

[PlayModeOn]

This headphone good?

http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/Products-details.phtml?id=10&id2=147&bid=9&sid=125468

Same but different colour (spec might differ)

http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/Products-details.phtml?id=10&id2=147&bid=9&sid=126926

[PlayModeOn]

Digital to analog converter meaning computer format converted to actual sound.DAC is buit inside a pc but soundquality is less because of noise from electrical components inside pc.So an external DAC like Fiio e7 is necessary to get good sound.What an external DAC does is it does all the sound processing outside pc so that it is free from noise.Benifit of an external DAC over soundcard is that dac doesn't need any drivers

Ah thanks. I do know what Digital to Analog Converters are I just didn't knew the acronym.