uncredited male
Member
I still run with one of the Xi-Fi models when I use speakers. If X-Ram makes a comeback I am all set.
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PC Sound cards. Do you still use them?
- Thread starter nkarafo
- Start date
breadtruck
Member
I have one in my PC, but I dont use it anymore... I always use headphones, and lately they have been USB, so the card has nothing plugged in it.
Silent Hill
Banned
Not used one for years to be honest.
SliChillax
Member
No, especially a HELL NO if you're using headphones because of noise interference. External DAC is the way to go.
D
Deleted member 325805
Unconfirmed Member
Still using my 10 year old Creative XFI XtremeGamer and it's still miles better than onboard, especially when it comes to using a microphone. I will hopefully grab a newer model sometime soon though as it's basically supportless now, although it still works fine on Windows 10 so I'm in no rush.
derExperte
Member
My Sound Blaster Z sounds vastly better than my Realtek onboard audio so yes.
I had some interference problems and background hiss. Eventually I got sick of it so I shelled out for a Xonar Essence. Since then my PC audio has been beautifully clear and crisp.
Most people won't care about sound cards. If you have cheap headphones and/or speakers you probably won't care. If you don't have any interference problems you won't care. If you don't have sensitive hearing, you won't care.
It's easy to just go with the cheap audio port on a motherboard, but I think dedicated cards still have their use.
Most people won't care about sound cards. If you have cheap headphones and/or speakers you probably won't care. If you don't have any interference problems you won't care. If you don't have sensitive hearing, you won't care.
It's easy to just go with the cheap audio port on a motherboard, but I think dedicated cards still have their use.
D
Deleted member 325805
Unconfirmed Member
I'll take it off your hands.
snickothemule
Member
I output from motherboard to my Pioneer receiver and it rules. I haven't touched a soundcard since 2003.
Nero's Neptune
Member
Audigy 2 represent!
I haven't use on-board audio in years just because back then they were EXTREMELY noisy. Especially since I got into high-end headphones, that was an issue. I'm sure it's changed now, but I really have no reason to use anything but my card.
I haven't use on-board audio in years just because back then they were EXTREMELY noisy. Especially since I got into high-end headphones, that was an issue. I'm sure it's changed now, but I really have no reason to use anything but my card.
The Audigy 2 was pretty terrible actually in terms of pure sound quality. The X-Fi was significantly better. I wouldn't be running "high end" headphones out of an Audigy 2, you might want to invest in a decent DAC.
Yes, I do. My Asus Rampage IV Extremes onboard died (apparently a somewhat common issue) Sound cards are also better than onboard to me at least, even for the relatively cheap card I have (SoundBlaster X)
My setup was using a Schiit Vali 2 with my parents old(1980's maybe?) DT 880 Pros(even before my SBX days) till one of the cans blew out during a movie.
Seeing so many people saying external DAC's are the way to go, I might have to check out the Modi 2 or something when I grab a new pair of phones.
My setup was using a Schiit Vali 2 with my parents old(1980's maybe?) DT 880 Pros(even before my SBX days) till one of the cans blew out during a movie.
Seeing so many people saying external DAC's are the way to go, I might have to check out the Modi 2 or something when I grab a new pair of phones.
SliChillax
Member
Anything advertised for "gamers" is laughable. No audio expert recommends internal sound cards. Always go with an external usb dac. I also used to have an Asus Xonar DX and it was total shit. Changed them twice because I thought they were defective but they were worse in some cases than the onboard mobo audio of the Asus Sabertooth P67 that I had back then. Too much noise with headphones it was painful. Then I got an external dac and it was heaven.
hendersonhank
Member
Tom's Hardware did a blind test and basically couldn't tell a difference between onboard Realtek and dedicated cards, which is exactly the result I would expect.
natsuyasumi
Member
I guess it's vaguely on topic that I paired my X-Fi Titanium HD with a ButtKicker Gamer 2 chair shaker. I haven't played with it much yet (don't game lately) so my jury's still out on if it was worth $150. The way I have it configured the bass shaking comes slightly delayed, so that might hurt the impact somewhat. I got interested in it after seeing VR enthusiasts liked it.
That's ignoring the excellent headphone virtual surround dedicated cards offer though. That is unmistakably an upgrade for anyone who games with 'phones.
nkarafo
Member
In default settings maybe.
However, the Audigy line (for example) has some settings in the audio panel called "advanced EAX settings" or something like that (i'm not on my main PC right now so i could be wrong). In there, i found some presets that completely change the sound and the change is so big that after i use the setting i like, i miss it if it's not there. The sound becomes stronger, clearer and the bass deeper.
These settings are not available on the cheaper Audigy cards as far as i remember. Only on the medium/high range cards of the same line. I don't know if these options exist in later models, that's why i don't really want to upgrade.
There were some cheap Audigy cards (i have those too), some medium range and some expensive ones (i actually have all of them). The cheaper (smaller size) weren't great (they don't even support all the software and filters) but the others are much better.
D
Deleted member 22576
Unconfirmed Member
I use a teeny usb Dac meant for laptops and it's quite nice.
the state of PC audio hardware is confusing and there's no good all purpose solutions.
the state of PC audio hardware is confusing and there's no good all purpose solutions.
SirMossyBloke
Member
natsuyasumi
Member
Which implementations have you tried and found lacking?
roadrunn3r
Member
That is just a bad equalizer and I wouldn't recommend using those presets. Equalizers generally fool even people who work with audio into thinking they are hearing improvements so I don't blame you. Just keep in mind you don't need to EQ anything and you shouldn't unless the audio is badly produced which I doubt is the case.
nkarafo
Member
I don't know... I can't reproduce the sound on a simple equalizer, not even close. It's not like the bass becomes louder. It becomes deeper. In the same way, the highs are not just louder or quieter. They become cleaner. Can't really explain it. The preset i made just sounds so satisfying : /
Upgrading to the right equipment would most likely give you the same/better effect without all the distortion. If you're happy with what you have now then it doesn't really matter at the end of the day, you might be better off just sticking to it.
secretanchitman
Member
Haven't used them in more than a decade. Onboard is good enough, especially if it has S/PDIF or optical out. I haven't built a computer in a while but most video cards have HDMI so they can output 7.1 if I'm not mistaken.
nkarafo
Member
Yeah but don't get me wrong though, i still want to test something new, the card is like 12 years old anyway. An external DAC sounds like a good idea because i can still keep my current card on the internal PCI and use it at the same time, even do a lot of comparisons this way.
Nero's Neptune
Member
I've never found it to be "terrible", even compared to higher end dedicated DACs. Even with a headphone as brutally detailed as the Sony MDR-CD900STs it sounds very clean.
roadrunn3r
Member
It doesn't have to be a simple equalizer just a bad one. They usually mess with phase/distortion and just ruin the original quality to put it simple. I do not own that soundcard but if it isn't only eq, it could just be some exciter/compression which honestly is even worse. A lot of what you hear depends also on your speakers and room acoustics and some minimal EQ for correction purposes could be beneficial. Anyway if you are happy with it keep doing it, don't mind my rumbling.
Ricerocket
Member
X1 was pushing SHAPE but that went nowhere and AMD had trueaudio and it seems to have died. After that, there doesn't seem to be any benefit to sound cards other than the AMP they carry to drive certain higher grade headphones?
I purchased one because its the first DAC/Headphone Amp combo to be a pretty dead simple piece of kit that does the following:
- 24bit/96Khz, so software volume control is guilt free
- Microphone input right next to the headphone output
- Optical in
- Line out (3.5mm or Optical in the SBXG5's case)
- Low headphone output impedance
- Manufacture states 2.2ohm, I'd like better, no idea if this has been measured to be true either.
I am not an expert. But setup and testing methodology is everything. Looking at your image, I have no idea what you measured. So much in testing is important, I don't know much about it unfortunately. But I do know that to even trust someones RMAA results I would have to know the absolute levels used, load applied, PC sound hardware used, and settings of the PC and device being tested.
I miss objective driven sites and the work of NwAvGuy. No one has picked up that torch, to measure stuff accurately to see if manufacturers are being true. It's expensive and thankless to do I know. dScopes are $$$$.
Word. Modern mobos can be pretty good. With mine, the front panel headphone out has a slight hiss. But other than that, lol right?
roadrunn3r
Member
Why do people spend hundreds on expensive dacs when you could just a get a Steinberg UR22 for 150$ which does everything you need on a good level, acceptable AD/DA and has even ASIO drivers if you decide to use music production software one day. I will never understand audiophiles and their 300$ gold cables. 
Yeah, you can just switch between them in playback devices.
JustCheezze
Banned
Only using a sound card because I snagged a 2nd hand, mint condition Creative Soundblaster ZxR for $70 couple or years ago. Only using it with my Swan Hivi M50w though, headphone amping is relegated to an external Aune X1 Pro.
Does the ZxR sound good? Yes, especially for 70 bucks it was a steal of the year for me.
BTW, lots of hyperbole bullshit in this thread about Realtek having shitty DACs. They did, back in 04-09. Those were the days they sounded like ass. But since 2011, Realtek has made significant improvements in their DACs. The 1150 is actually very decent, when coupled properly with the right amps.
In fact, part of the reason why integrated solutions sounded like shit before was because mobo makers didn't know a damn thing they were doing in regards to sound. They take the cheapest TI amp, slap it on and wire them. There was no proper voltage calibration, no op-amps, no separate powerline. So don't just blame Realtek blindly.
Does the ZxR sound good? Yes, especially for 70 bucks it was a steal of the year for me.
BTW, lots of hyperbole bullshit in this thread about Realtek having shitty DACs. They did, back in 04-09. Those were the days they sounded like ass. But since 2011, Realtek has made significant improvements in their DACs. The 1150 is actually very decent, when coupled properly with the right amps.
In fact, part of the reason why integrated solutions sounded like shit before was because mobo makers didn't know a damn thing they were doing in regards to sound. They take the cheapest TI amp, slap it on and wire them. There was no proper voltage calibration, no op-amps, no separate powerline. So don't just blame Realtek blindly.
SliChillax
Member
... if you have expensive headphones you should know better and buy an external dac.
Omnii-chan
Member
I have some Asus sound card. The only reason I bought one was because I spend a lot of time playing with overseas friends and I don't want them to hear tons of static on my mic.
It works a charm, can only hear my voice clearly and absolutely no static.
If I wasn't chatting long periods of time, I wouldn't bother with one. Listening to videos or music sounds only slightly cleaner to my ears compared to motherboard sound and I'm not an audiophile.
It works a charm, can only hear my voice clearly and absolutely no static.
If I wasn't chatting long periods of time, I wouldn't bother with one. Listening to videos or music sounds only slightly cleaner to my ears compared to motherboard sound and I'm not an audiophile.