question about sound card

[plaxxman]

I have speakers that are connected using USB rather than the sound input...Does speakers have to be directly connected to the soundcard for it to have any benefit? or does it not work this way? I have focal xs 2.1 speakers (AMAZING speakers but doesnt have sound input jack uses usb)

[Godlygamer23]

Yes. They must be connected to the sound card to allow it to do the work.

[piplupgao]

Yes a soundcard won't affect usb speakers at all

[Sarcasm]

If it's through USB, a sound card is useless. It'll use its own built in DAC.

[piplupgao]

Yes. They must be connected to the sound card to get the benefits.

[Physc]

going through sound card will possibly help out on the sound quality.

 

I'm saying "possibly" because the inbuilt DAC that comes with your speaker might be better than the one in your soundcard, which in this case theres no reason to plug the speaker to the soundcard.

[MayflowerElectronics]

going through sound card will possibly help out on the sound quality.

 

I'm saying "possibly" because the inbuilt DAC that comes with your speaker might be better than the one in your soundcard, which in this case theres no reason to plug the speaker to the soundcard.

 

It doesn't work like this, the speakers have a built in DAC, you must use this for the speakers to work. 

[Timmyfox]

It doesn't work like this, the speakers have a built in DAC, you must use this for the speakers to work. 

That's not entirely correct. By using the USB (or any other digital) input for the speakers you have to use the built in DAC (and it bypasses your sound card) indeed.

 

If you are able to use an analog input however, that's a different story. Some speakers may do some trickery and do some shady conversions internally (which can degrade audio quality) but for the very basics, by plugging them into your sound card using the analog input, you'll be using the DAC in your sound card which, if the speakers are properly designed, will pass on directly to your speakers because the signal is already analog when it exits your computer.

 

Which of these configurations is the most preferable comes down to which DAC is the best quality. The one built in to the speakers or the one in your sound card.

[MayflowerElectronics]

That's not entirely correct. By using the USB (or any other digital) input for the speakers you have to use the built in DAC (and it bypasses your sound card) indeed.

 

If you are able to use an analog input however, that's a different story. Some speakers may do some trickery and do some shady conversions internally (which can degrade audio quality) but for the very basics, by plugging them into your sound card using the analog input, you'll be using the DAC in your sound card which, if the speakers are properly designed, will pass on directly to your speakers because the signal is already analog when it exits your computer.

 

Which of these configurations is the most preferable comes down to which DAC is the best quality. The one built in to the speakers or the one in your sound card.

 

Either way, it won't matter since the DAC on board is fine if not better than most sound cards.

[ShearMe]

Either way, it won't matter since the DAC on board is fine if not better than most sound cards.

Woah, dem b fighting words.