Yet another sound card question!

[MayPool]

So my current audio setup is the onboard audio on my ASUS P8P67 Pro motherboard that I connect my stereo system (see photo below) to. Finally, I would plug my headphones into the stereo.

Yeah, I know. Pretty badass.

My question is: would I benefit from a dedicated sound card instead of the onboard audio?

[CoolBeans]

Yes, you will always  benefit from a dedicated sound card instead of the onboard audio

[Godlygamer23]

Yes.

[sabot]

Get the best Asus one in your price range! You will not regret it. I have been meaning to get my own sound card, right now I am using a sound blaster usb one since it was lying around my house :D

[ShearMe]

Probably not.

[MayPool]

Roger that! I'm thinking of buying the Asus Xonar DS or the Creative Sound Blaster Recon 3D PCIe. Would go for the Xonar D1 but they've stopped selling it here (Iceland). Which one would you recommend?

[DirkaFat]

Yes, you will always  benefit from a dedicated sound card instead of the onboard audio

This is confusing. I've been told by someone on this forum that sounds cards just increase volume (amp). You're saying sound cards always have a benefit?

[CoolBeans]

This is confusing. I've been told by someone on this forum that sounds cards just increase volume (amp). You're saying sound cards always have a benefit?

Yes

[Godlygamer23]

Roger that! I'm thinking of buying the Asus Xonar DS or the Creative Sound Blaster Recon 3D PCIe. Would go for the Xonar D1 but they've stopped selling it here (Iceland). Which one would you recommend?

The Sound Blaster Z is better than the Recon3D.

[t0wer]

Spend the money on better headphones or speakers, the difference will be more noticeable. Skip a sound card and go with an external dac if you must upgrade your source

[h264]

This is confusing. I've been told by someone on this forum that sounds cards just increase volume (amp). You're saying sound cards always have a benefit?

 

Well, there's the "of course it will", with no explanation "bandwagon" and there's the "Read the FAQ" with no explanation "bandwagon".

 

Believe whoever you like.  I had to learn the hard way, and so can you.

[mr moose]

This is confusing. I've been told by someone on this forum that sounds cards just increase volume (amp). You're saying sound cards always have a benefit?

 

What it all comes down to is this:  If you ran a business what vehicle would you need? a car, ute, truck, bus, or semi trailer?  Answer: it depends on your business, you wouldn't buy a semi trailer if your business is delivering small packages in the city. You'd buy a van or ute.  It is exactly the same with PC sound, there is no point in buying a sound card if you are tone deaf and only use a $4 set of pc speakers. On the other hand if had a rather decent pair of headphones or a modest speaker setup, then you would benefit from a better decoder/dac.  Depending on your headphones you might even benefit from an amp. 

 

For my setup (basic headphones and custom listening room) an external USB sound device and amp is the best solution, a $200+ soundcard will give me no extra benefits. but the on board audio suffers too much interference.  

 

My 2c anyway.

[h264]

a better decoder/dac.  Depending on your headphones you might even benefit from an amp.

 

Well, the problem with that is 90% of DACs, even the crummiest of the crummy, made in the last 5 years are above the level of audible transparency.

 

Now the amps, I'll buy that notion.  Especially if you have low impedance headphones, and most of us do, you're getting inundated with products that were made for yesterday's headphones.

 

Either way, your right, monetarily speaking it makes little sense to buy these very expensive soundcards if you don't already have a stable of headphones that really need that amount of power.  Most of which aren't even made anymore.

 

 

ute.

 

I still remember Lenny Loosejocks: "Aw shucks! the ute's buggered!".  Now THAT was an OLD flash game.  wait, what were we talking about again?