Expensive sound card or use Receiver?

[erazor51]

Which one will be better? an expensive sound card or keep using the graphics cards hdmi sound that's connected to my Yamaha RX-V667 receiver?

My receiver is powering Monitor Audio Vector 5.1 speakers and I have the AMD 6970 card passing audio to my receiver via HDMI.

The receiver displays PCM when I play games, music and movies but sometimes some movies display DTS, Dolby Digital, DTS-Master, Dolby Digital TruHD etc on the receiver screen.

So basically you guys are saying if I was to buy an expensive sound card and connect it via the multi channel analogue source on my receiver i will end up with even better sound?

Thanks

 

[sadbuttrue]

So basically you guys are saying if I was to buy an expensive sound card and connect it via the multi channel analogue source on my receiver i will end up with even better sound?

Thanks

For your setup you are already getting the best possible sound quality via HDMI. The RX-V667 has excellent 192khz burr-brown dac.

A dedicated sound card comes into its own when paired with a high quality stereo amplifier and some decent speakers.

 

[erazor51]

For your setup you are already getting the best possible sound quality via HDMI. The RX-V667 has excellent 192khz burr-brown dac.

A dedicated sound card comes into its own when paired with a high quality stereo amplifier and some decent speakers.

Oops i posted this on another thread and accidently added my reply.

Thanks, I didn't know that, i was getting confused when people on other forums were saying i'll get better audio from a sound card. Not that i am complaining about the sound but just wanted to know the facts.

Thanks

 

[someguy]

well, i was wondering about this and maybe someone could shed some light on what i say below, since it is not fact but conjecture.

The Graphics cards seem to have Realtek audio chips and if the card is doing any sort of processing like upmixing to 5.1 or something before sending the digital output to the Yahama you might be losing quality at that hop. A HDMI is a digital interface so it shouldn't be applying any DAC until it reaches the Yahama.

I am just curious if processing and outputting sound via the realtek is a potential problem if it is upmixinng stereo or something before sending the signal to the Yamaha (equalizer). So i guess as long as the Realtek chip is not applying and effects or processing to the audio the Yamaha would/should do, such as processing the DAC from the digital signal, you would get as good a sound as any sound card.

do you tell windows/ati to output the sound in a particular way, if relevant?

also i guess a sound card would be better if you had an analogue connection from your pc to your Yamaha, but since you are using a digital should not apply in theory.

 

[erazor51]

well, i was wondering about this and maybe someone could shed some light on what i say below, since it is not fact but conjecture.

The Graphics cards seem to have Realtek audio chips and if the card is doing any sort of processing like upmixing to 5.1 or something before sending the digital output to the Yahama you might be losing quality at that hop. A HDMI is a digital interface so it shouldn't be applying any DAC until it reaches the Yahama.

I am just curious if processing and outputting sound via the realtek is a potential problem if it is upmixinng stereo or something. So i guess as long as the Realtek chip is not applying and effects or processing to the audio the Yamaha would do the DAC from the digital signal.

I don't think it does any processing since the receiver displays PCM? I think it sends raw data but i could be wrong.

 

[erazor51]

This is a reply i got off another forum:

The DAC and its supporting analogue circuits are worse on AV amps (unless wildly expensive) than on good sound cards, this is the point we have been making.
Its the quality of the digital to analogue conversion that determines the sound quality.

The Sabre32 reference DAC is what you really want if you can afford it.
My external DAC and the Oppo 105 player both use this DAC.

 

[someguy]

Well, being that i am unaware of any previous discussion you have had, are you looking to spend a few thousand or just make sure your existing setup is properly setup? If you were talking going on a spending spree his post might be vaguely accurate, otherwise it is unhelpful posturing.

You don't by reference devices to play games and watch the odd movie, you mostly by them out of need ( a requirement of your occupation) or absolute luxury items. There are many suitable devices and set-ups to fulfil day to day needs and your device looks more than enough when considering some of the specs, for example they have Burr Browns as the previous poster said.

 

[ethan]

For "improving stereo/music" you could buy an external Dac like the Teac from richer sounds. I found this to be better than the Xonar Essence ST for music and they are more or less the same price. You would then continue to use your receiver for 5.1 etc and simply disable hdmi in Nvidia control panel and then use the usb on the Dac when required. Best of both worlds which is what I am doing (only I'm using a Dacmagic plus for music and an RX-A1010 for 5.1.)