Do I need a soundcard as well?

Dodger

Dodger

Dodger

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I will be buying the Onkyo HT-X22HDX 3D Ready Ultra Compact 2.1 Home Cinema System.

I am planning on connecting the Amplifier/Subwoofer of this system to the Gigabyte Z77X-UD3H Motherboard's optical port to transfer data only.

As a result, my understanding is that any sound played from the PC will be processed by the Onkyo system RATHER THAN the onboard sound system of the motherboard - please correct me if I am wrong here?

If I have the correct understanding so far, I am getting confused with whether or not I need a soundcard?

I ask this question because I am planning on connecting Creative Aurvana Live Headphones to my PC to get the full SURROUND SOUND effect during gaming i.e. hearing detailed locational footsteps etc.

Is it possible to connect these headphones using a 2x RCA Male to 1x 3.5mm Stereo Female Y-Adapter to the Amplifier/Subwoofer? :confused: as the Onkyo Amplifier/Subwoofer does NOT have a Microphone socket.

OR

Would I need to purchase a soundcard with a headphone Amplifier JUST to connect my analogue headphones into?

I would like to do my headphones JUSTICE, that is why I am asking this question?

Please help, i'm a little confused at the moment :(
 
You're correct, when audio comes from a speaker it is always analogue and as such has to be converted using a DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter). When using optical it transfers the data digitally so the receiver in this case the Onkyo HT-X22HDX deals with the converting, so no need for a soundcard at all, the Onkyo comes with Burr Brown DACs.

As for your headphones I'm not too sure, thing is the Onkyo reciever only has 1 output through HDMI so your headphones can't be plugged into that anyway.

You could buy a FiiO e7 which will really help just for the headphones, it is a portable USB DAC and amp which you can pick up for around £50.
 
spacedskunk said:
You're correct, when audio comes from a speaker it is always analogue and as such has to be converted using a DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter). When using optical it transfers the data digitally so the receiver in this case the Onkyo HT-X22HDX deals with the converting, so no need for a soundcard at all, the Onkyo comes with Burr Brown DACs.

As for your headphones I'm not too sure, thing is the Onkyo reciever only has 1 output through HDMI so your headphones can't be plugged into that anyway.

You could buy a FiiO e7 which will really help just for the headphones, it is a portable USB DAC and amp which you can pick up for around £50.
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I am just not sure if I need a portable AMP or a decent sound card (Asus Xonar DX) in order to get a surround sound type effect from my headphones so that I would be able to locate positioning in FPS games for instance.

This is the bit i'm confused about :(
 
The Asus DG (PCI) or DGX (PCI-E) is all you need, it supports optical out still and has a built in amp. It also features 5.1 virtual surround sound (Dolby headphone) and is very cheap.
 
spacedskunk said:
The Asus DG (PCI) or DGX (PCI-E) is all you need, it supports optical out still and has a built in amp. It also features 5.1 virtual surround sound (Dolby headphone) and is very cheap.
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I thought the onboard sound of the motherboard (Z77-UD3H) is on par with the DGX?

If I wanted to better that, I would need to go the DX route of am I mistaken?
 
Your headphones use a normal stereo jack and your headphones only have 2 drivers so whatever analogue signal being sent to them HAS to be 2 channel only.

This means that the positional audio effects are just software. It really is game dependent more than anything else.
 
Dodger said:
I thought the onboard sound of the motherboard (Z77-UD3H) is on par with the DGX?

If I wanted to better that, I would need to go the DX route of am I mistaken?
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It will be an upgrade simply because it has an headphone amp and has Dolby Headphone which is the virtual 5.1 engine. Your headphones are stereo so the only way you'll get surround is emulating it which the DG/DGX simulates.

It will be wasted money going any higher than the DG/DGX simply because there is no headphone amp in the DX, and you'll be using the same Dolby Headphone engine the DG comes with.

Higher end cards are made for a good stereo output to speakers, but you don't need it since your receiver deals with that.
 
sorry dodger didnt get back to you in teh other thread as i wasnt sure on an answer ... but seeeing as your headphones dont have 5.1 in them ( its a gimmick anywy ) theres little point in getting the soundcard tbh.

to get the full surround experience as you say ... just get the full onkyo set-up when you can afford it ...
 
TALON1973 said:
sorry dodger didnt get back to you in teh other thread as i wasnt sure on an answer ... but seeeing as your headphones dont have 5.1 in them ( its a gimmick anywy ) theres little point in getting the soundcard tbh.

to get the full surround experience as you say ... just get the full onkyo set-up when you can afford it ...
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The DG/DGX card is ok for £20, it'll at least give virtual 5.1 and some ampidge.
 
Thanks again everyone for the help and opinions. I went and bought the DGX for getting a little more ampage and dolby headphone technology for my headphones. I did not need anything better than the DGX because I have my Amplifier in the Onkyo to do that for me.

For £20, it's a bargain :-)
 
The virtual Surround on the DGX is gimmicky and sounds crap, I turn it off. In fact, all the DSP effects on the DGX (such as flexbass) are also not worth using.

The only reason I bought a DGX is because I buy budget motherboards so the onboard isn't that great. Also the headphone amp is nice if you have budget headphones and speakers with high impedance drivers, it really gets the most out of them, but I doubt it's actually any better than your motherboard audio considering it has a 110dB SNR whereas the DGX is only 105dB.
 
JonSmith said:
The virtual Surround on the DGX is gimmicky and sounds crap, I turn it off. In fact, all the DSP effects on the DGX (such as flexbass) are also not worth using.

The only reason I bought a DGX is because I buy budget motherboards so the onboard isn't that great. Also the headphone amp is nice if you have budget headphones and speakers with high impedance drivers, it really gets the most out of them, but I doubt it's actually any better than your motherboard audio considering it has a 110dB SNR whereas the DGX is only 105dB.
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I went for the DGX merely because of the Dolby Headphone technology. Whether that is worth £20 I shall soon find out :D
 
Dodger said:
I went for the DGX merely because of the Dolby Headphone technology. Whether that is worth £20 I shall soon find out :D
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I think you'll be disappointed I'm afraid, trying it out just now didn't enhance my perception of the sounds, but rather made them sound distant with too sharp a cutoff as well as some unwanted reverb.

I will state that the headphone amp is brilliant considering the price, you can even use it with speakers to get maximum volume (or accentuate certain frequencies) without losing quality.
 
JonSmith said:
I think you'll be disappointed I'm afraid, trying it out just now didn't enhance my perception of the sounds, but rather made them sound distant with too sharp a cutoff as well as some unwanted reverb.

I will state that the headphone amp is brilliant considering the price, you can even use it with speakers to get maximum volume (or accentuate certain frequencies) without losing quality.
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You'll find that with a lot of software enhanced surround sound effects make things sound less clear in a way, but it's all designed with purpose. If something sounds muffled it means it's simulating things behind you for example, things that are too sharp are close and in front.

You said yourself sounds are more distant and it is exactly what it is simulating, so in a way you've proved it does work, you just might prefer the ordinary stereo.
 
spacedskunk said:
You'll find that with a lot of software enhanced surround sound effects make things sound less clear in a way, but it's all designed with purpose. If something sounds muffled it means it's simulating things behind you for example, things that are too sharp are close and in front.

You said yourself sounds are more distant and it is exactly what it is simulating, so in a way you've proved it does work, you just might prefer the ordinary stereo.
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Interesting :D

I've never had Dolby Headphone so I might like it, I might not, will just have to wait and see I guess :p
 
None are, unless they have USB connection and use Dolby Headphone. Dolby Headphone is a feature found on most Asus Xonar sound cards, some USB headsets and some higher end motherboards.
 
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