Would I benefit from a DAC or sound card over my motherboard?

[InfamousGeezer]

Hi folks.  I need help.  I'm not sure how to understand DACs and Sound Cards.  I was wondering if I'd get better sound from my 363D headset with a DAC or Sound Card?  I'm wondering if my motherboards sound is good enough not to require a sound card?  I have a ASUS Z97-A Motherboard https://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/Z97A/ and I considered these 2. 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Syba-Stereo-Headphone-Amplifier-SD-DAC63057/dp/B009WN7QT4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-1&keywords=dac usb headphone amplifier&tag=viglink_thaus-21  (not sure if this supports 7.1 sound?)

 

Or

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-XONAR-DG-CMI-8786-profile/dp/B008C4JTJY/ref=sr_1_16?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1409782887&sr=1-16&keywords=xonar&tag=viglink_thaus-21

 

 

[ItsTheDuckAgain]

honestly I wouldn't do either - that headset good for gaming mostly.

 

most external DACs/AMPs are stereo only - which is good - those things are made for the audiophile user with high quality headphones that actually know that stereo is all you need for music and 7.1 is a gimmick for games. sry - just the way it is in a nutshell, of course one could argue differently all day long, wouldn't change anything though :-)

 

a soundcard is most of the time the place to start when upgrading sound, that mainboard of yours already got shielded (mostly) audio, upgrading to a dedicated soundcard might make a small, if noticeable at all, diffrence with your headset.

 

for a ton more infos on the matter, since sound is not a thing you can cover with one forum post if you want to be serious about it: check the audioboard here in this forum and read the sticky threats, tons of very good inforamation there as well as some mythbusters.

[johnno124]

watch this video, it should help you decide.