is this Motherboards on board Audio good enough to not need an External DAC/AMP for these headphones?

[Corruption]

Would this motherboard be good enough to not have an external DAC and amp if the headphones I'm going to be using are the HD558 And HD600?

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4952#ov

[Aniallation]

Would this motherboard be good enough to not have an external DAC and amp if the headphones I'm going to be using are the HD558 And HD600?

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4952#ov

Don't see why not, it won't get as loud as if you had an amp, but that mobo shouldn't struggle that much with 300 ohm headphones.

[dmanschramm]

@Corruption

Usually, an external DAC/Amp gives an noticeable difference from your motherboard's onboard DAC, always is better. If you have one already, I'd hook it up right away. If you're thinking of purchasing one, then I suggest that you give a listen to the onboard audio, and then make a decision if it could be better with a DAC.

 

Hope this helps

[spwath]

@Corruption

Usually, an external DAC/Amp gives an noticeable difference from your motherboard's onboard DAC, always is better. If you have one already, I'd hook it up right away. If you're thinking of purchasing one, then I suggest that you give a listen to the onboard audio, and then make a decision if it could be better with a DAC.

 

Hope this helps

Disagree, usualy a dac/amp is not that noticable.

Just wasted money.

Depending on headphones, and onboard

[SSL]

@Corruption

Usually, an external DAC/Amp gives an noticeable difference from your motherboard's onboard DAC, always is better. If you have one already, I'd hook it up right away. If you're thinking of purchasing one, then I suggest that you give a listen to the onboard audio, and then make a decision if it could be better with a DAC.

 

Hope this helps

 

As noted, the difference is generally not significant. The main issue is if the integrated amp doesn't get loud enough with some heapdhones.

[dmanschramm]

As noted, the difference is generally not significant. The main issue is if the integrated amp doesn't get loud enough with some heapdhones.

 

Well my friend lent me his DAC to see if it would help with my mobo. I personally found (though it is subjective) that audio was just warmer and more realistic, and there was a little bit of humming and buzzing when my PC was working hard that I did not notice with the DAC on.

[SSL]

Well my friend lent me his DAC to see if it would help with my mobo. I personally found (though it is subjective) that audio was just warmer and more realistic, and there was a little bit of humming and buzzing when my PC was working hard that I did not notice with the DAC on.

 

I'm not sure how your individual, personal experience means that "usually, an external DAC/Amp gives a noticeable difference".

[dmanschramm]

I'm not sure how your individual, personal experience means that "usually, an external DAC/Amp gives a noticeable difference".

 

My bad. Didn't mean to assume. But it is almost always better than the build in motherboard DAC considering it's MEANT to do that.

[SSL]

My bad. Didn't mean to assume. But it is almost always better than the build in motherboard DAC considering it's MEANT to do that.

 

You might be surprised.

[Dexterity]

the only time you will need an external dac/amp is if hear any distortion or static from your on board sound. Sometimes higher end headphones or speakers can pickup on the static or other noises that lower end headphones do not.

but that is my opinion, to save money.

 

if you have the desk space, and the budget for external dac/amp, its your own choice to buy it or not

[creatip123]

My bad. Didn't mean to assume. But it is almost always better than the build in motherboard DAC considering it's MEANT to do that.

 

Your initial assumption (about an external DAC sounds better than onboards) might not be very far off mark, but most of the times, it's because of a whole different reason. 

 

It's not that the external dac is very much better than onboard, but rather the onboard audio is badly implemented. The onboard's dac chip itself might be good, but the implementation in the mobo could be disastrous, making it hum, pick up all sorts of EMIs, noises, buzzes etc. In this case, of course an external dac would be better. Even a $20 external dac would be better. 

 

Good mobos usually got good implementation of everything, including the onboard. For example, mobo A and B got the exact same audio chip, but the implementation in A is bad, while B is good, then B will definitely sound better (in regard of the absence of buzzes, hisses, hums, etc). In the case of B vs adding an external DAC, the improvement is minimal, if any. 

[Majestic]

http://nl.hardware.info/productinfo/benchmarks/1/moederborden?products%5B%5D=218768&specId=1552&tcId=47

 

Not the strongest contender, but probably enough.

 

OP-amp is an OPA2134

http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/opa2134.pdf

 

Run of the mill. Also good enough, not really great for low-impedance headphones though (10ohm output impedance).