DACs?

[xnoobftw]

I've watched this video and i was wondering if a DAC is really needed? I've just gotten my m40x and i want to fully utilise it... Is the video a marketing plot or legit?

[creatip123]

I've watched this video and i was wondering if a DAC is really needed? I've just gotten my m40x and i want to fully utilise it... Is the video a marketing plot or legit?

 

DAC is definitely needed. Without a dac chip, digital audio files can't be played on analog devices such as headphones or speakers. Think of DAC as a 'translator' between the language of digital to analog. 

 

Now, fortunately about 100% of digital devices that got the capability of reading and playing digital audio files already got built in dac chips on them....

[insayan]

I'd only get one if you perceive noise from whatever you use now. 

[ShearMe]

I've watched this video and i was wondering if a DAC is really needed? I've just gotten my m40x and i want to fully utilise it... Is the video a marketing plot or legit?

 

SOME onboard audio is poorly engineered to the point of being audibly bad, and laptops are especially vulnerable due to the space constraints, but that's about where the truth ends. While it may be technically true that small improvements can be had between a properly implemented modern Realtek or VIA chipset and a fancy external device, those differences are hardly noticeable let alone desirable. Cheaper DAC/amp products often are built around the very same chips used on motherboards anyways.

 

There are definitely good reasons to buy an external solution, but audio fidelity is rarely a good enough reason on it's own. If you don't hear any pops, clicks, hiss, or static, your onboard is about as good as any headphone needs except for the few that may need an extra amp (AT's M-series does not).

[Guest]

SOME onboard audio is poorly engineered to the point of being audibly bad, and laptops are especially vulnerable due to the space constraints, but that's about where the truth ends. While it may be technically true that small improvements can be had between a properly implemented modern Realtek or VIA chipset and a fancy external device, those differences are hardly noticeable let alone desirable. Cheaper DAC/amp products often are built around the very same chips used on motherboards anyways.

 

There are definitely good reasons to buy an external solution, but audio fidelity is rarely a good enough reason on it's own. If you don't hear any pops, clicks, hiss, or static, your onboard is about as good as any headphone needs except for the few that may need an extra amp (AT's M-series does not).

 

But soundcards are still relevant, yo.

[ShearMe]

But soundcards are still relevant, yo.

 

Only if you're as daft as this forum's moderators.

[Guest]

Only if you're as daft as this forum's moderators.

 

I love all the moderators on this forum equally.

[ShearMe]

I love all the moderators on this forum equally.

 

Personally I'm not a fan of equality.

[Guest]

Personally I'm not a fan of equality.

 

Racist fuck.

[ShearMe]

Racist fuck.

 

What am I racing for, and what does the winner get?

[Guest]

What am I racing for, and what does the winner get?

 

Points.

[ShearMe]

Points.

 

Then I've already won without realizing. Didn't even break a sweat, despite being the sweatiest person I know.

[dylan43270]

I recently got this little beauty since my motherboard started grounding out the sound for some reason, and made the audio sound horrible. I ended up getting my motherboard replaced anyway, but it is an effective desktop headphone amp as well, and it looks pretty on my desk. I don't want to live in a world where I would need a $2,000 DAC to make sure I hear sounds as purely as possible.

[xnoobftw]

I'd only get one if you perceive noise from whatever you use now. 

 

 

SOME onboard audio is poorly engineered to the point of being audibly bad, and laptops are especially vulnerable due to the space constraints, but that's about where the truth ends. While it may be technically true that small improvements can be had between a properly implemented modern Realtek or VIA chipset and a fancy external device, those differences are hardly noticeable let alone desirable. Cheaper DAC/amp products often are built around the very same chips used on motherboards anyways.

 

There are definitely good reasons to buy an external solution, but audio fidelity is rarely a good enough reason on it's own. If you don't hear any pops, clicks, hiss, or static, your onboard is about as good as any headphone needs except for the few that may need an extra amp (AT's M-series does not).

 

 

But soundcards are still relevant, yo.

 

 

I recently got this little beauty since my motherboard started grounding out the sound for some reason, and made the audio sound horrible. I ended up getting my motherboard replaced anyway, but it is an effective desktop headphone amp as well, and it looks pretty on my desk. I don't want to live in a world where I would need a $2,000 DAC to make sure I hear sounds as purely as possible.

 

 

So.... TL;DR Dont get it unless mobo audio sucks? 

[Lays]

I love all the moderators on this forum equally.

I see wat u did

Hi @ShearMe

@op unless there's problems like ShearMe mentioned like static etc, you're basically already getting "the whole package"

[xnoobftw]

I see wat u did

Hi @ShearMe

@op unless there's problems like ShearMe mentioned like static etc, you're basically already getting "the whole package"

Ah alright thanks!