ITX with external sound card or mATX with internal sound card

[Dayummm]

So, i'm trying to decide which way to go. I currently have an ATX build with a sound card installed but it's a bit too clunky for my taste, so in the coming months i'm going to build a new PC that's either mATX or ITX.

 

The problem is i'm torn, because while the ITX allows me to have a smaller build, the lack of PCI-e slots means i will need to get an external sound card, the cost of buying it doesn't concern me, but its the quality of an external card vs internal. Is there a difference in say a creative AE-7/AE-5 vs the SBX G6.

[Streetguru]

13 minutes ago, Dayummm said:

 

What exactly does the sound card do for you that onboard audio can't do? Do you already have a USB DAC?

[Dayummm]

2 hours ago, Streetguru said:

What exactly does the sound card do for you that onboard audio can't do? Do you already have a USB DAC?

I have DT990 and HD598. The onboard audio struggles to even drive the HD598. I’m currently using a AE-5

[Streetguru]

1 minute ago, Dayummm said:

I have DT990 and HD598. The onboard audio struggles to even drive the HD598. I’m currently using a AE-5

Shouldn't you be using some kind of DAC + Amp set up anyways? Instead of just a sound card?

[Dayummm]

1 hour ago, Genwyn said:

pic related

biostar h81 mhv3, mini dtx board

i used to have this board, specifically to have a gpu and a sound card

Interesting. But yeah, they’re rare, I assume finding something like this for a ryzen 3000 build is going to be difficult.

[Dayummm]

1 minute ago, Streetguru said:

Shouldn't you be using some kind of DAC + Amp set up anyways? Instead of just a sound card?

 

My sound card seems decent enough, for mainly gaming and some music listening sessions (I’m not a major audiophile in any way).

[Streetguru]

11 hours ago, Dayummm said:

 

My sound card seems decent enough, for mainly gaming and some music listening sessions (I’m not a major audiophile in any way).

Massdrop's O2 + Amp is $150 on their site right now, you have like $300 worth of headphones I think you could as an audiophile lol.

So you might as well go all the way, you can just sell the sound card of the ODAC is better, then it doesn't matter what kind of PC you get in the future.

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-o2-sdac-dac-amp?mode=shop_open&&utm_source=google-shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=2052723005&utm_term=73417174045&utm_content=359666752693&utm_keyword=&utm_placement=pla-790616484903&utm_network=u:c::&utm_device=&mode=shop_open&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2K3rBRDiARIsAOFSW_6jEtUarTwW7kA9qlcwATOqb7MtcTZaNZFGE8so5DwqZdgL2kMUMg4aAuhxEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds