Sound card worth it?

mattjd · 12 Mar 2010 at 20:03

Hey i am going to build a new PC in april I have sorted all of the parts thanks to the people on this forum

But now I want to know whether a sound card is worth it or on board sound with an Asus mobo will do.

I have Logitech X-540 speakers if that helps.

MeatLoaf · 12 Mar 2010 at 20:25

Yeah i think its worth it if you can get one cheaply enough.

mattjd · 12 Mar 2010 at 20:45

Cheers.

I will try and find the cheapest sound card with optic fibre slot so I can use it downstairs if needed

datalol-jack · 12 Mar 2010 at 20:50

It will depend on the Asus board you are getting, really. Some come with good integrated sound or even a discrete x-fi offering. In general, discrete sound cards offer good value for money and support a wider range of sound related standards. If you are a fussy listener, I say get one, funds permitting.

mattjd · 12 Mar 2010 at 20:57

What are peoples opinions on the X-Fi Sound Blaster Titanium? Is it worth the money? It does look very ncie though

Randomface74 · 12 Mar 2010 at 21:29

It's the card I'd buy.

otis1337 · 15 Mar 2010 at 09:02

happy user of Creative XtremeMusicV2 card here, but if you got the money go with the Asus range, better/more upto date technology, X-FI's are getting a little old now and with no real change even to there newer cards from the older.

A sound card Vs onboard is a like night and day, worth it totally.

Infam0us · 15 Mar 2010 at 10:31

X-Fi Music here and its great!

gurusan · 15 Mar 2010 at 10:44

if you are going to be using the optical spdif then don't bother with a sound card at all!

86JR · 15 Mar 2010 at 10:53

Dont bother with one if using digital output, ie optical or coaxial.

But for everything else go for one. I wouldnt use creative personally.

I think im going to buy an Asus Sonar, they have excellent SQ.

It will definetly be on my purchase list when I finally get round to buying IPL speakers and a decent amp!

Goldfingers · 15 Mar 2010 at 11:32

gurusan said:
if you are going to be using the optical spdif then don't bother with a sound card at all!

Use what then? The mobo spdif connector?

Marsman · 15 Mar 2010 at 14:01

Yep, if the mobo has SPDIF, then buying a sound card to use SPDIF is rather pointless.

reflux · 15 Mar 2010 at 14:04

Marsman said:
Yep, if the mobo has SPDIF, then buying a sound card to use SPDIF is rather pointless.

I did not know this.

otis1337 · 15 Mar 2010 at 14:55

reflux said:
I did not know this.

I don't agree, using standard 3.5mm jacks still makes a big difference.
onboard sucks, would never go back, playing on my mates computer with no sound card is horrible, and the music sounds so plain and flat.

Marsman · 15 Mar 2010 at 15:37

You are talking about analogue, not digital. A sound cards job is essentially to convert digital to analogue. SPDIF is a digital connection, so if you are connecting a speaker system via SPDIF, then the speaker system, whether it be an AV amp, or speakers like Logitech's Z5500, then they are converting the digital data to analogue, not the sound card.

Goldfingers · 15 Mar 2010 at 16:50

This is strange. So the digital signal = purest form. And a soundcard's purpose is to convert this to an analogue signal while losing as little quality as possible?

Marsman · 15 Mar 2010 at 17:47

In simple terms, yep that's the jist of it. The SPDIF connection just passes on the 1' and 0's to an external DAC (digital to analogue converter) to convert. Take the Z5500's by Logitech, you can connect by either SPDIF or analogue, by using SPDIF you are using the speakers built in sound processing. Connecting with analogue, you are using whatever sound device the speakers are connected to. Sound card or onboard sound in a PC for eg. If someone owning the Z5500's has a sound card like a Xonar D2X, then the D2X will have better DAC than the Z5500's, so connecting with SPDIF, that is bypassing what the D2X is capable of. If someone was using onboard sound, say on an older motherboard, then the Z5500's will have better DAC. It would make sense to connect via SPDIF, assuming the motherboard has it. If not, then someone could buy a cheap sound card with SPDIF.

Goldfingers · 15 Mar 2010 at 18:41

Marsman said:
In simple terms, yep that's the jist of it. The SPDIF connection just passes on the 1' and 0's to an external DAC (digital to analogue converter) to convert. Take the Z5500's by Logitech, you can connect by either SPDIF or analogue, by using SPDIF you are using the speakers built in sound processing. Connecting with analogue, you are using whatever sound device the speakers are connected to. Sound card or onboard sound in a PC for eg. If someone owning the Z5500's has a sound card like a Xonar D2X, then the D2X will have better DAC than the Z5500's, so connecting with SPDIF, that is bypassing what the D2X is capable of. If someone was using onboard sound, say on an older motherboard, then the Z5500's will have better DAC. It would make sense to connect via SPDIF, assuming the motherboard has it. If not, then someone could buy a cheap sound card with SPDIF.

Ah now that is somthing that makes sense! Thankyou.

mattjd · 16 Mar 2010 at 17:33

Ahh thats interesting. The Mobo im buying has a Optical slot so I might as well save up for a Sound card with just the analogue plugs for my speakers in my room and then use the mobo's Optical for my sony amplifier downstairs.

Tripnologist · 17 Mar 2010 at 12:40

mattjd said:
I might as well save up for a Sound card with just the analogue plugs for my speakers in my room.

Good call. It can make a huge difference.

My wife and I have the same speakers (Aego 2.1) but I have an Xfi while she's using onboard and the difference is night and day when listening to the same things.