Sound via monitor v Soundcard

[Geffen]

Is there any benefits or cons from using the sound via HDMI/Displayport via the motherboard sound card?

I've recently brought a new monitor with displayport and have plug my speaker into that as it convenient when switch source between my PC and Raspberry Pi. I haven noticed much difference in sound quality but wondered if there is any pro or cons.

 

[Marsman]

If you haven't noticed much difference, then there really aren't any cons worth thinking out.

Normally, I wouldn't expect the audio output on a monitor to be all that special, because it is first and foremost, a monitor; or to put it another way, the focus of design and costs goes into it being a display. Any audio output surely has to take a back seat. I would expect a sound card which is designed only for sound output to be better.

However, at the end of the day, it's your ears and brain that decide what sounds good and what doesn't. If connecting the speakers to the monitor to you, doesn't sound much different, then stick with it. the only other reason to spend money on a sound card, would be if you had 5.1 speakers, or used headphones and wanted the features that go with that.

 

[Rexxar]

My setup is...

Motherboard Sound ---> Monitor ---> Speakers
Xbox HDMI ---> Monitor ---> Speakers

Which is why i have it setup like that, if it was purely the PC connected, it would go direct to the speakers.