Disadvantages to using frontpanel audio?

[Minzo]

Hello, currently I'm using the headphone jack on the top of my case that's connected to my motherboard. Is there any disadvantages to using this port instead of the one on the back of the motherboard?

[XTankSlayerX]

More potential for interference...

 

Other than that...

 

There aren't; any I think

[Minzo]

What makes you think so?

I don't think that this is the case. I'm just curios.

 

 

More potential for interference...

 

Other than that...

 

There aren't; any I think

 

I get no interference (that I notice). So I should be all set then?

 

[_JohnB330ci]

Potentially more interference, they both run off of the same audio chip so its virtually the same.

[IanDrexP]

Hello, currently I'm using the headphone jack on the top of my case that's connected to my motherboard. Is there any disadvantages to using this port instead of the one on the back of the motherboard?

If your case is a generic, low quality one (like my old case) or is older than your motherboard then the front panel audio panel may degrade the sound quality. In my experience it caused white noise and distortion.

[Minzo]

If your case is a generic, low quality one (like my old case) or is older than your motherboard then the front panel audio panel may degrade the sound quality. In my experience it caused white noise and distortion.

The case is a NZXT H440 and I bought it at the same time as the motherboard.

[IanDrexP]

The case is a NZXT H440 and I bought it at the same time as the motherboard.

Then there is no problem! Just make sure the front panel audio header is snugly plugged into the motherboard.

[BoredErica]

If you don't hear a difference then there's no difference.

[IanDrexP]

The case is a NZXT H440 and I bought it at the same time as the motherboard.

I would suggest using the rear IO of your motherboard instead though if it isn't a hassle on your part since according to your motherboard, it has extra audio-related features like "Crystal Sound 2" and etc.

 

REFERENCE: https://www.asus.com/ph/Motherboards/Z97A/overview/

[BoredErica]

I would suggest using the rear IO of your motherboard instead though if it isn't a hassle on your part since according to your motherboard, it has extra audio-related features like "Crystal Sound 2" and etc.

 

REFERENCE: https://www.asus.com/ph/Motherboards/Z97A/overview/

It's definitely not a given that those features are even a good thing. ASUS is the king of marketing a ton of features nobody wants.

[Vegetable]

If you don't hear a difference then there's no difference.

did you know water is wet?

[BoredErica]

did you know water is wet?

Why don't you hate on the OP then?

 

People in audio are often wary that they're not hearing a difference and it's all their fault.

[IanDrexP]

It's definitely not a given that those features are even a good thing. ASUS is the king of marketing a ton of features nobody wants.

There is no proof of it being bad also. So why not use the feature since you paid for it anyways.

[BoredErica]

There is no proof of it being bad also. 

Actually people around here would generally disagree with you. ASUS audio marketing has been bullshit.

 

 

 

So why not use the feature since you paid for it anyways.

That makes no sense.

[Guest]

The most noticeable drawback would be static interference. Depending on where your audio cable are running in your case (if it is near your GFX or your hard drives), you *might* hear some static. In my Define R5, the cable is very good quality and doesn't go near anything that could create static, so I am fine.

 

The other thing is features. I think it is the Xonar DGX or DG that has an headphone amp, but this amp is only for the headphone out on the back of the card. It is not working for the front panel output. So you might have other features like these not working for front panel, but other than the headphone amp, I didn't see anything else.

 

Because my headphones don't require a lot of power (~32 ohms I believe) and I don't have any static, I am using the front panel and has been working fine for me.

[BoredErica]

The most noticeable drawback would be static interference. Depending on where your audio cable are running in your case (if it is near your GFX or your hard drives), you *might* hear some static. In my Define R5, the cable is very good quality and doesn't go near anything that could create static, so I am fine.

 

The other thing is features. I think it is the Xonar DGX or DG that has an headphone amp, but this amp is only for the headphone out on the back of the card. It is not working for the front panel output. So you might have other features like these not working for front panel, but other than the headphone amp, I didn't see anything else.

 

Because my headphones don't require a lot of power (~32 ohms I believe) and I don't have any static, I am using the front panel and has been working fine for me.

Let's not uh, rate headphones via impedance.

 

If the front panel was OK in the first place, probably shouldn't have bought the sound card in the first place, negating that point.

[Guest]

Let's not uh, rate headphones via impedance.

 

If the front panel was OK in the first place, probably shouldn't have bought the sound card in the first place, negating that point.

 

You don't need a very powerful amp (such as an O2 for example) to drive 32 ohms headphones. So I was referring that an onboard audio, which usually doesn't have a powerful amp is OK with these kind of headphones. It might be another story with 250 ohms headphones which might require an external/headphone amp.

 

I didn't buy any soundcard. I read that the headphone amp feature on the Xonar was not available on the front panel connector and I thought that some flavor of onboard soundcard might have features that are disabled for front panel connector as well. Which is why I thought it was worth mentioning it to the OP.

[BoredErica]

You don't need a very powerful amp (such as an O2 for example) to drive 32 ohms headphones. So I was referring that an onboard audio, which usually doesn't have a powerful amp is OK with these kind of headphones. It might be another story with 250 ohms headphones which might require an external/headphone amp.

 

I've plugged by HD800s into my cell phone.

Again, let's not talk about impedance, especially not by itself. It's a very fuzzy spec.

 

 

 

I didn't buy any soundcard. I read that the headphone amp feature on the Xonar was not available on the front panel connector and I thought that some flavor of onboard soundcard might have features that are disabled for front panel connector as well. Which is why I thought it was worth mentioning it to the OP.

If he bought a sound card for a good reason and he's hooking it up in front, yeah, that would make no sense. Although I have to say, most of the time when sound cards are purchased, the reasoning behind it makes no sense too.

[Guest]

You don't need a very powerful amp (such as an O2 for example) to drive 32 ohms headphones. So I was referring that an onboard audio, which usually doesn't have a powerful amp is OK with these kind of headphones. It might be another story with 250 ohms headphones which might require an external/headphone amp.

 

Hifiman HE-400i: requires 56mW to reach 110dB

Beyerdynamic DT-880 Pro: requires 25mW to reach 110dB

 

In particular the Hifiman requires a lot of current, which many integrated amps are not well-equipped to provide. In short, please refrain from posting information that is wrong.

[Guest]

Hifiman HE-400i: requires 56mW to reach 110dB

Beyerdynamic DT-880 Pro: requires 25mW to reach 110dB

 

In particular the Hifiman requires a lot of current, which many integrated amps are not well-equipped to provide. In short, please refrain from posting information that is wrong.

 

Thanks for the information.

 

Has it occurred to you that sometimes people can post information that is incorrect but they believe that this information is true ? When I posted this few hours earlier, I firmly believed what I posted to be correct. Sometimes people can be misinformed or believe they have the correct information but they are wrong. I'm telling you this because every time a member is "wrong" in a topic, you finish your post by saying not to post information that is wrong. Sometimes, we don't know that this information is wrong. You are very knowledgeable in Audio stuff and I personally appreciate it (I'm sure others do as well). However, there is a way to let people know that the information they posted is incorrect and not rub it in their face and tell them to shut up.

[Guest]

Thanks for the information.

 

Has it occurred to you that sometimes people can post information that is incorrect but they believe that this information is true ? When I posted this few hours earlier, I firmly believed what I posted to be correct. Sometimes people can be misinformed or believe they have the correct information but they are wrong. I'm telling you this because every time a member is "wrong" in a topic, you finish your post by saying not to post information that is wrong. Sometimes, we don't know that this information is wrong. You are very knowledgeable in Audio stuff and I personally appreciate it (I'm sure others do as well). However, there is a way to let people know that the information they posted is incorrect and not rub it in their face and tell them to shut up.

 

Yes, and it's an epidemic. It's gotten worse with the phenomena of YouTube personalities.

 

I expect people to do a minimum of due diligence and verify their information or else not post until they have done so. A great way to do that is to hang around in the audio sub for about 2 minutes, since we get erroneous posts on headphone impedance about as often.

[spwath]

Yes, and it's an epidemic. It's gotten worse with the phenomena of YouTube personalities.

I expect people to do a minimum of due diligence and verify their information or else not post until they have done so. A great way to do that is to hang around in the audio sub for about 2 minutes, since we get erroneous posts on headphone impedance about as often.

Yeah I have learned that hanging out here.

I also learned to not post info unless I'm sure it's right, as misinforming people is bad