sound card

[shaneo]

is a sound card needed just for gaming with headphones

[TheMcSame]

No, onboard audio is fine.

[shaneo]

ok thank you then i will by 2 gtx 980 sli

[GoodBytes]

Yes and No.

Needed to get some sort of method of getting sound: No.

However a dedicated sound card will give you a superior sound quality and experience with most (basically the non crap headphones) non-USB headphone (USB have their own sound chip is usually not much better than onboard sound chip).

Basically, if you listen to a lot of music, and you have some nice fancy headphones, a dedicated sound card will help you enjoy a better sound experience. It means: more vivid sound, static free and no interference.

[Guest]

However a dedicated sound card will give you a superior sound quality and experience with most (basically the non crap headphones) non-USB headphone (USB have their own sound chip is usually not much better than onboard sound chip).

Basically, if you listen to a lot of music, and you have some nice fancy headphones, a dedicated sound card will help you enjoy a better sound experience. It means: more vivid sound, static free and no interference.

 

Or not.

 

Problem is that both soundcards and integrated are hit-and miss, which means that a soundcard could easily be worse. Soundcards typically use lame op-amps and topologies not really suited for headphones, necessitating measures like ridiculous 30-ohm output resistors to stabilize the amp. This pretty much destroys control. Combine that with the fact that the card will be nearly as susceptible to power fluctuations and EMI as the motherboard and there is very little that a soundcard can offer over an external DAC+amp or audio interface.

 

And, of course, the supposed audio quality improvements of an upgraded amp and DAC are usually overstated, except in instances of the worst motherboards. Basically, it's best to spend as little money on audio as possible, and if money must be spent, to put it into the transducers first as they have the biggest effect on sound.

[GoodBytes]

Not everyone has the room for external DAC+amp on their desk. Integrated solution for me.

If I was stuck with an DAC amp, I'll put it inside the case, mod the connectors on the PCI brackets. Internal sound card does the job, and I notice day and night difference between solutions. Now granted the low end dedicated sound card is a bit of a waste of money, but ignoring those (and the overpriced ones), they deliver. At least, that is what I noticed.

The big up side of using an external DAC however, is that it is 1 less drivers that can cause problems with your system.

[Guest]

Not everyone has the room for external DAC+amp on their desk. Integrated solution for me.

 

Yes, I'm aware that's the party line. Thanks to advances in technology, adhesive loop-and-hook fasteners are a reality.

[GoodBytes]

Yes, I'm aware that's the party line. Thanks to advances in technology, adhesive loop-and-hook fasteners are a reality.

I did mention sticking it in my case.

[Guest]

I did mention sticking it in my case.

 

Seems like a pain, but whatever tickles your pickle. Me, I like to twiddle knobs.

[othertomperson]

Well last week I ran into my first situation in which I actually needed to have my dedicated sound card, so it turned out to be not such a waste of money after all lol

[Guest]

Well last week I ran into my first situation in which I actually needed to have my dedicated sound card, so it turned out to be not such a waste of money after all lol

 

Don't go getting all super specific, now.

[othertomperson]

Don't go getting all super specific, now.

 

Well it's not really relevant to headphones, but if you're interested I had to transmit Dolby 5.1 to an AV receiver and couldn't just use HDMI. Optical cable can only transmit stereo uncompressed so my soundcard needs to encode to Dolby (or DTS) in real time, which is functionality my onboard doesn't have.

[Guest]

Well it's not really relevant to headphones, but if you're interested I had to transmit Dolby 5.1 to an AV receiver and couldn't just use HDMI. Optical cable can only transmit stereo uncompressed so my soundcard needs to encode to Dolby (or DTS) in real time, which is functionality my onboard doesn't have.

 

Glad to hear it, but as you say that isn't relevant to headphones.

[othertomperson]

Glad to hear it, but as you say that isn't relevant to headphones.

 

Which is why I was vague in my first post. It was just a general "sound cards aren't as useless necessarily as everyone says they are"

[Guest]

Which is why I was vague in my first post. It was just a general "sound cards aren't as useless necessarily as everyone says they are"

 

Good thing nobody said they were useless, only that they are not a good choice for headphones.

[creatip123]

Yes, I'm aware that's the party line. Thanks to advances in technology, adhesive loop-and-hook fasteners are a reality.

 

I honestly don't understand. No more room for something like E10 or E10k?? It's F-ing 1.5x the size of a Zippo lighter, even smaller than a pack of cigarette....

 

 

Not even enough room for a Goddamn Fulla?!?!

 

 

Damn, those desks must be REALLY TIGHT....