So... is my onboard sound card rubbish?

s0ck · 28 Aug 2007 at 02:07

I've always kinda assumed whatever gets packaged with the mainboard is the cheapest, nastiest stuff the manufacturer could find. Not sure if this has change in recent years but I can see sound cards for 100 quid and wondering why anyone would need one?

I have an Asus P5B-Deluxe. It, allegedly, comes equipped with the following:

Code:

ADI AD1988B 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Support Jack-Sensing, Enumeration, Multi-streaming and Jack-Retasking
- Coaxial / Optical S/PDIF out ports at back I/O
- ASUS Noise Filter
- ASUS Array Mic

I play games with my relatively cheap Technics RP-F400 headphones and my mp3s sound pretty good too. I'm sure there must be a valid reason for splashing out on a fancy sound card but in my limited experience, it largely boils down to the speakers/headphones in use. I've listened to a few other setups (including this mainboard with different Sony headphones) and they were not as good. Is it a case of if I want 34343.1 sound with mega uber bass and volume level 300 then I would need such a card?

just Scott · 28 Aug 2007 at 02:36

Crap in crap out.

Any audiophile will tell you that you need a good source if you want your headphones/speaker to sound their best. Sounds cards aren't great sounding sources, especially not the X-Fi cards as they're mainly for gamers, not people who care about sound quality as much. However you can get some good ones, such as the M-Audio Audiophile cards and the E-MU 0404 (USB version is also good).

If what you have now sounds good to you, then fine -- as long as you're happy stick with it.

mattyrigby00 · 28 Aug 2007 at 10:37

if it gives out good sound, no reason to change it.

Alexrose1uk · 28 Aug 2007 at 12:28

Onboard sound isnt as bad as it used to be, but its still not great. The main reason people buy sound cards generally boils down to people getting sound cards for better sound quality or better featureset/accelleration.

Gamers usually go for the X-Fi, as the sound quality is still a fair shot better than most onboard - noticable even with EQ off with decent speakers/phones as you may be able to hear more sounds, or hear different sounds much more clearly than before, and they have all the features for surround sound gaming etc.

Audiophiles generally go for the e-mu, m-audio, xonar, auzentech etc because in general, they provide the greatest sound quality, and clarity across the frequency range, providing you chose thier better cards, and also often have greater recording facilities and connectivity options.

As mentioned earlier, carp in carp out. If you're happy with the sound quality from your onboard there's no need to worry. I chose an x-fi as I game and listen to music a lot, the sound quality is still a lot better and clearer than when I was using my mobo's onboard (very muddy and dull in comparison) and the front panel of connectors is a godsend for connecting pretty much anything I need to without going down the back of my pc. If I gamed less, and was buying now, I would likely have seen what the Xonar, or Auzentech take on the X-Fi would be like.
As it happens though, I've had my X-Fi for over a year now, and Im very happy I splashed out on it, combined with my amp and speakers, it sounds far and away better than nearly anyone else's PC I know, possible exception of my other mate's setup who's been using a similar amp/speakers to mine, and is now using a DAC he's been raving about for the last 1/2 weeks, that I haven't had chance to hear yet