Onboard Audio VS Fulla 2 VS Magni 3 for AD900Xs?

[MrShinny]

Hi guys!

 

So let me just give you guys a bit of a back story on my audio. So I currently have a high-end laptop for gaming that I'm about to replace with a desktop. The desktop has the z370 Maximus Hero wit h " Industry-leading 8-channel HD audio with dual headphone amplifiers and ROG exclusive SupremeFX S1220 CODEC driven by Japanese capacitors." I currently use an older gaming headset which I despise which I am going to replace with a AD900x. I don't know how the onboard audio will sound. I mainly game and stream, usually listening to music in the background while playing, depending on how competitive the game I'm playing is.

 

So my question is, how good is the onboard audio compared to using the Fulla 2? And will I even need a DAC/AMP combo? If not, how good is the onboard audio compared to the Magni 3? (I know it's just an amp)

 

Thanks for all your help!

 

(My budget is around 100 dollars, and I don't have to spend it on a AMP/DAC, so if it's not worth it please tell me) 

[FloRolf]

It won't be worth it unless onboard really sucks. 

[MrShinny]

5 minutes ago, FloRolf said:

It won't be worth it unless onboard really sucks. 

Can't really tell though because I don't have the PC yet

[orbitalbuzzsaw]

The ASUS SupremeFX is some of the best onboard audio out there. I wouldn't worry about spending extra money on an external audio solution unless you're a fanatic audiophile. Spend that extra money on a better graphics card instead

[MrShinny]

7 minutes ago, orbitalbuzzsaw said:

The ASUS SupremeFX is some of the best onboard audio out there. I wouldn't worry about spending extra money on an external audio solution unless you're a fanatic audiophile. Spend that extra money on a better graphics card instead

Better than 1080ti for 100 bucks?

[EsaT]

45 minutes ago, MrShinny said:

I currently use an older gaming headset which I despise which I am going to replace with a AD900x. I don't know how the onboard audio will sound. I mainly game and stream, usually listening to music in the background while playing, depending on how competitive the game I'm playing is.

With any accurate neutral source those should be very bass neutral.

ATH-AD line simply isn't strong on bass.

Which is actually good thing for distinguishing foot steps etc details in competitive gaming. And also getting good directionality/positioning.

 

If implementation of integrated sound card avoids interference then getting to human ear's accuracy doesn't need special parts.

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/high-end-pc-audio,3733-19.html

That ALC889 is clear step behind better Realtek chips and at level of budget sound cards.

Anyway fashion "DACs" don't even have features good for gaming.

[GamerDude]

4 hours ago, EsaT said:

With any accurate neutral source those should be very bass neutral.

ATH-AD line simply isn't strong on bass.

Which is actually good thing for distinguishing foot steps etc details in competitive gaming. And also getting good directionality/positioning.

Actually, I believe the AD1000X and higher, you actually do get a slightly better bass (perhaps better mid-bass slam, or perhaps lower than that). My memory of the ATH-AD2000 I'd owned is somewhat fuzzy, I did like the overall presentation of its sound signature, and I don't recall thinking bass was lacking at all, imaging was pretty good......man, I found it to be breathy, with a simply to-die-for female vocals presentation. I'm not sure about the ATH-AD900X, but I do believe it's closer in sound signature to the AD1000X except that it may not be good when it comes to imaging and clarity.

[xtroria]

TBH with that kind of motherboard you won't need an amp. I have Z170MX-Gaming 5 and it's enough to drive headphone's that less sensitive than AD900X

[MrShinny]

On 7/3/2018 at 4:34 PM, EsaT said:

With any accurate neutral source those should be very bass neutral.

ATH-AD line simply isn't strong on bass.

Which is actually good thing for distinguishing foot steps etc details in competitive gaming. And also getting good directionality/positioning.

 

If implementation of integrated sound card avoids interference then getting to human ear's accuracy doesn't need special parts.

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/high-end-pc-audio,3733-19.html

That ALC889 is clear step behind better Realtek chips and at level of budget sound cards.

Anyway fashion "DACs" don't even have features good for gaming.

So I won't really hear a big enough improvement to make it worth buying it?

[EsaT]

1 hour ago, MrShinny said:

So I won't really hear a big enough improvement to make it worth buying it?

There's zero non-bad design related reasons why integrated sound card couldn't drive those headphones more than well enough for accuracy of human hearing.