Soundcard vs DAC?

[Fredrikmikael]

Soundcard vs DAC?

 

Hello, i was thinking about buying a soundcard for my PC but somebody told me to go for a DAC such as the "FiiO E10".

What exactly is a DAC, is it like a soundcard, just external ?

if its running trough the audio output on the motherboard, wont it be restricted to the audio capability of the motherboard?

 

 Thank you in advance

[_ASSASSIN_]

what's more important about the fiio is that it's an amp, and that's what you are going to care about more if you don't have any issues with your current onboard dac.

DAC stands for Digital to Analog Converter. Basically used to convert those 0101 stored in your mp3/flac files into sounds that you can hear. 

what will give more clarity and a "better sound experience" will most likely be your amp. 

No, if you have a dedicated dac, you aren't restricted to your onboard, only if you are running just an amp, will you have an issue with being held back with the audio capability of your motherboard

[Fredrikmikael]

which of these should i buy?

 

-  Fiio E12     =  Expensive

-  Fiio E07K   = Affordable

-  Fiio E11      = Cheaper

 

I am leaning towards the E07K but if there isnt a noticeable difference between the E07K and the E11 for a non-audiophile i will go for the E11.

(I primarly play games on my PC)

[Flojer0]

I'm not an audio expert. But with anything my practice is to get the most affordable tool/thing that I know will get the job done and upgrade when I know I need something better.

[Fredrikmikael]

I'm not an audio expert. But with anything my practice is to get the most affordable tool/thing that I know will get the job done and upgrade when I know I need something better.

 

But if there is just a slight upgrade that is hardly noticeable i feel it's a waste of money.

i want to get the most bang for the buck.

[MG2R]

DAC stands for Digital to Analog Converter. It's a piece of electronics that converts your digital representation (bits/bytes) of the music into an analog signal (what your speakers can transfer into sound). Every sound card with analog outputs has a DAC, whether it be internal or external. What your friend probably meant is to get an EXTERNAL "soundcard", that gets connected to your computer via USB. The reasoning behind this is that your computer generates a lot of "noise" on electrical signals. This noise, when induced on the analog audio signal, makes for a low quality sound.

 

USB soundcards/DACs get round this problem by placing the electronics in a magnetically sealed of box that is away from the interference from your computer. The digital audio gets sent by USB and converted into an analog signal, which you can then feed to your amplifier and speakers. There are also models that already have a (headphone) amplifier built in.

 

That's the theory, the audio subsection can give you more in-depth information about specific products I've moved your topic there.

[mr moose]

What headphones are you using?

what motherboard do you have?

DO you have any noticeable issues with your current motherboard I.E static, crackle popping or hissing?

 

Are you planing on upgrading anything in the near future?

[Fredrikmikael]

What headphones are you using?

what motherboard do you have?

DO you have any noticeable issues with your current motherboard I.E static, crackle popping or hissing?

 

Are you planing on upgrading anything in the near future?

 

Headphones: recently bought "Beyedynamic DT770 Pro 80Ohm" and i use the Siberia v2 when chatting via TS3/ Vent etc. for the mic.

Motherboard: Asus sabertooth 990FX ( Realtek ALC892 )

 

Havent experienced any problems with the integrated audio on my motherboard.

 

Just ordered a new case (fractal design r4) SSD = (samsung EVO 250gb) and 4 new case fans.

want to upgrade my audio quality /amp, since i bought the new beyerdynamic headphones a few months back.

[ShearMe]

USB soundcards/DACs get round this problem by placing the electronics in a magnetically sealed of box that is away from the interference from your computer. 

 

The only things magnetically shielded are planets, and I've only heard of magnetic seals in Star Wars.

 

Electrical shielding is the important bit, but putting distance between interference and audio components is more effective, hence the external recommendation.

 

which of these should i buy?

 

-  Fiio E12     =  Expensive

-  Fiio E07K   = Affordable

-  Fiio E11      = Cheaper

 

I am leaning towards the E07K but if there isnt a noticeable difference between the E07K and the E11 for a non-audiophile i will go for the E11.

(I primarly play games on my PC)

 

The E11 and E12 are portable amps only. They're not really recommendable because anything that needs an amp shouldn't be portable, and anything that isn't portable shouldn't be using a portable amp. Plenty of people disagree with me about that I guess.

 

The E07, and E17 are portable DAC/amp combos, but the DAC is only compatible with some android phones (you can still use the amp without the DAC).

 

The E10 is also a DAC/amp, but without the battery it's more affordable and thus more recommendable. It is still small if you want to remain portable with a laptop, but wont work with a phone or tablet.

 

Hope that clears some things up, but if not, feel free to ask more questions. I'd recommend an E6 with those 80ohm Beyer's if all you need is more volume.

[Fredrikmikael]

The only things magnetically shielded are planets, and I've only heard of magnetic seals in Star Wars.

 

Electrical shielding is the important bit, but putting distance between interference and audio components is more effective, hence the external recommendation.

 

 

The E11 and E12 are portable amps only. They're not really recommendable because anything that needs an amp shouldn't be portable, and anything that isn't portable shouldn't be using a portable amp.

 

The E07, and E17 are portable DAC/amp combos, but the DAC is only compatible with some android phones (you can still use the amp without the DAC).

 

The E10 is also a DAC/amp, but without the battery it's more affordable and thus more recommendable. It is still small if you want to remain portable with a laptop, but wont work with a phone or tablet.

 

Hope that clears some things up, but if not, feel free to ask more questions.

 

The E10 is hard to find here i norway, since you seem to know your shit, if it was up to you would you then go for the E07K andes ? or perhaps another brand or a soundcard?

[mr moose]

Headphones: recently bought "Beyedynamic DT770 Pro 80Ohm" and i use the Siberia v2 when chatting via TS3/ Vent etc. for the mic.

Motherboard: Asus sabertooth 990FX ( Realtek ALC892 )

 

Havent experienced any problems with the integrated audio on my motherboard.

 

Just ordered a new case (fractal design r4) SSD = (samsung EVO 250gb) and 4 new case fans.

want to upgrade my audio quality /amp, since i bought the new beyerdynamic headphones a few months back.

Seeing as you don't have issues with onboard, you may not notice enough of a difference with a dac to warrant the expense.  Having said that if you do need something then the e11 portable amp maybe more your thing, it can be used on the pc and on your phone if you want to travel. 

 

Caveat: I am suggesting products that fit your needs, I have no personal experience with the e11 but I do know how good the 892 chip is.

[ShearMe]

The E10 is hard to find here i norway, since you seem to know your shit, if it was up to you would you then go for the E07K andes ? or perhaps another brand or a soundcard?

 

Ah, Norway....

 

E07 is good if you can find it at a decent price. I wouldn't really recommend a soundcard unless you need more volume or have an old/defective/particularly bad motherboard onboard solution. If you think you want one, just grab whatever cheapest ASUS card. The DG is PCI and the DGX is PCIe, but otherwise are the same.

[kuddlesworth9419]

Ah, Norway....

 

E07 is good if you can find it at a decent price. I wouldn't really recommend a soundcard unless you need more volume or have an old/defective/particularly bad motherboard onboard solution. If you think you want one, just grab whatever cheapest ASUS card. The DG is PCI and the DGX is PCIe, but otherwise are the same.

I used to have a Xonar card. I don't trust ASUS anymore at anything so I won't be buying anything from theme anymore. The card failed on me countless times, the drivers are terrible and the damn card didn't instal easily. The angle on the bracket was not large enough so I had to put it behind the mobo instead of outside the case. terrible product and a terrible company. But that was just one persons experience. I bought the Fiio E10 and I couldn't be happier. Honestly the E10 is a great buy.

[ShearMe]

I used to have a Xonar card. I don't trust ASUS anymore at anything so I won't be buying anything from theme anymore. The card failed on me countless times, the drivers are terrible and the damn card didn't instal easily. The angle on the bracket was not large enough so I had to put it behind the mobo instead of outside the case. terrible product and a terrible company. But that was just one persons experience. I bought the Fiio E10 and I couldn't be happier. Honestly the E10 is a great buy.

 

I agree, but Creative isn't any better, and availability of the E10 can be strained at best in Norway. I did suggest the E7 as another option...

[kuddlesworth9419]

I agree, but Creative isn't any better, and availability of the E10 can be strained at best in Norway. I did suggest the E7 as another option...

You could also look into the customs tuff maybe. The E7 is portable though so i don't see the point. You would probably be better off looking on Ebay or something for an E10.

 

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/FiiO-E10-Olympus-USB-DAC-Headphone-Amp-FREE-UK-POST-AUTHORISED-FIIO-DEALER-/300864735344?pt=UK_CE_MP3Access_RL&hash=item460cef8870

[Lauen]

The E10 is hard to find here i norway, since you seem to know your shit, if it was up to you would you then go for the E07K andes ? or perhaps another brand or a soundcard?

 

 

I agree, but Creative isn't any better, and availability of the E10 can be strained at best in Norway. I did suggest the E7 as another option...

 

I was just about to say that the availability was not an issue, but then I realized 95% of the stores that had them have stopped selling them. wtf

[Lauen]

Also, unless there's something wrong with your onboard (crackling or something) or it doesn't get loud enough, I don't think it will make much audible difference. 

[ShearMe]

I was just about to say that the availability was not an issue, but then I realized 95% of the stores that had them have stopped selling them. wtf

 

Yeah that's the thing - one day it's readily available, the next you can't find it anywhere.