My understanding of sound cards is wrong ?

[shankly1985]

I always though buy sound card it gives louder better audio over onboard, louder yes but quality not so much?

I just been reading up on Sound cards vs DACs and I came across loads thread and this video. Now what shocked me is the output impedance and how this effects your audio output my philips x1 is rated 30 Ohm and my sound card output is 22 Ohm that is a lot of audio I lost
I seen DACs like O2 have just 0.54 output impedance

So what is the point in recommending sound cards these days if even your Onboard has better output quality? just for being louder?

Ok I need to buy a DAC+AMP say £200 max and will be used for gaming and music with Philips Fidelio X1

Enjoy the Video its a real eye opener or ear opener

 

[shankly1985]

Thanks Rids. Its hard for me to say its pointless changing to DAC+AMP without ever trying that setup. But reading around on other forums like HeadFi etc seems a lot of people hate sound cards and treat them just like Gaming Headsets.

I been recommended O2+ODAC JDS Labs

 

[shankly1985]

Rroff whats your stand on this Sound Cards worth it over DACs + Amps ?

Before posting this thread I thought sell up and get DAC etc but now am just not sure. To pay £200 I would least expect something in return.

 

[shankly1985]

You guys have talked sense into me, so what I have taken from this thread the only real benefit for me is going higher end sound card like Asus STX.
Asus is out the window though there driver support for everything is shocking.

 

[shankly1985]

Last two Asus sound cards D2X and DS I needed to use Unified drivers because Asus taken so long to update to Windows 8 same with Motherboards I have owned..

I might be temped to try again. any difference with the STX 2 over STX 1 ?