Sound Card

[gabrielopardo]

I'm thinking about getting a sound card along with the Sony MDR V6 headphones I'm getting today. Would a souncard that is around 30 dollars be better than just what my motherboard comes with? I was looking at this soundcard:

http://www.frys.com/product/4714879?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Is there a better card I could get? And would I be able to toggle the 7.1 on that card? And would it improve my sound?

 

[thedave5000]

I would say that for thirty dollars you probably won't see any difference over the sound quality that your onboard audio has

[Volbet]

Your headphones don't support "real" 7.1 surround, so the soundcard wouldn't provide it. You could always try out razer sorround and make virtual 7.1.

You will hear a difference in sound quality, may not be a great one though. If you got a legacy PCI slot I would recommend this: http://www.frys.com/product/6886716?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG and if you are willling to add 10$ get this: http://www.frys.com/product/6886756?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG. I recommend these since I have never even heard of Diamond soundcards, and therefor knows nothing about them.

[TheSLSAMG]

I would say to buy an ASUS Xonar DG. It costs $30 and it has a headphone amp for higher powered headphones.

[gabrielopardo]

Yor headphones don't support "real" 7.1 surround, so the soundcard wouldn't provide it. You could always try out razer sorround and make virtual 7.1. 

 

You will hear a difference in sound quality, may not be a great one though. If you got a legacy PCI slot I would recommend this: http://www.frys.com/product/6886716?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG and if you are willling to add 10$ get this: http://www.frys.com/product/6886756?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG. I recommend these since I have never even heard of Diamond soundcards, and therefor knows nothing about them.

What does the USB one do? Is it like the asus soundcard? or would I use that along with the asus soundcard?

[Volbet]

What does the USB one do? Is it like the asus soundcard? or would I use that along with the asus soundcard?

It's an external USB soundcard, with both a DAC and a headphone amp.

[gabrielopardo]

It's an external USB soundcard, with both a DAC and a headphone amp.

And its better than the PCI one right?

[Volbet]

And its better than the PCI one right?

The PCI card would be a better solution, because of the better interface. The Xonar DG also have an headphone amp and is a very decent DAC

[Hyydrah]

I would say that for thirty dollars you probably won't see any difference over the sound quality that your onboard audio has

I heard that it does, such as with the Audigy SE. http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102003&SortField=1&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

 

I guess it really depends on the motherboard you're comparing it to, though.

[ShearMe]

The PCI card would be a better solution, because of the better interface. The Xonar DG also have an headphone amp and is a very decent DAC

 

Better interface how? USB has a better chance of avoiding interference than PCI. Also, I'd wager money that the DACs are likely in the same family of chips.

 

That said, the U3 isn't too good with low impedance headphones, which OP likely has: http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/11/asus-u3-dac.html