Would I need a soundcard to get the best from...

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...some DT770's and a EHP-02 amp?

Currently using a gaming headset with the onboard sound from a ASUS Rampage IV Formula.

Thanks in advance.
 
I'd say yes get a sound card even a cheap xonar dg you'll see a difference especially dolby headphone in games and movies
If you just want HQ for music listening then an external 24bit / 96khz usb capable dac would be better
 
Onboard sound is fine, what soundcard can do is often greatly exaggerated by people.

Sound cards come in to their own if your onboard sound is suffering from a lot of interference, or you want a feature that your onboard sound doesn't support, things like Dolby Digital Live, which upmixes any sound source to 5.1.

Outside of that, an add on sound card won't increase the audio quality except if you've got a set of headphones that exceed the power output that your onboard sound isn't able to support.
 
Disagree, many think the new (supposedly good) Realtek is still poor on the Z87 and go out and buy a soundcard.

On-board may have came on but a good soundcard is still better unless you are simply using digital only.

Good soundcards need good speakers/phones.
 
"Many think" isn't really an indicator on the truth of a situation.

"Many think" that they can hear better audio with more expensive cables, it doesn't make it true.
 
So what you are saying is your have an opinion and do you think other may have so also?

And for analogue up to a certain point good cables over poor ones do make a difference.

I can tell you that the Realtek 1150 is not to good as it is on this very Mobo, my older X-Fi was better and this ZxR is much better all IMO of coarse.

You are going to have a lot of thread to spot6 in as I know many here have told peeps like the OP a good soundcard is better.
 
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There's informed opinions, and stuff people say and try and claim it's okay because it's their opinion.

Also cables don't make a "difference" with analogue signals in terms of quality. A poor cable will degrade signal quality, an adequate cable will be the best you get, a "good" cable won't improve the sound above the adequate properly specified cable.
 
You are moving goalposts/clutching at straw now as that is not what I said above.

How about telling me something I do not know or helping the OP or moving on.

@ OP for your set up not really, use Digital or USB to an Amp and then it does not matter.
 
Unless you're spending upwards of £80 on one, you will not notice the difference with that amp (principally cos it has a dac built in and is a fantastic little unit) and the DT770s which are surprisingly easy to drive. If we were talking some serious high-impedance cans, then you might well need a soundcard.
 
Thanks guys. I guess the thing to do is get the DT770's and amp and then see how it goes from there. Can always add a card after if I think it needs it.
 
Unless you're spending upwards of £80 on one, you will not notice the difference with that amp (principally cos it has a dac built in and is a fantastic little unit) and the DT770s which are surprisingly easy to drive. If we were talking some serious high-impedance cans, then you might well need a soundcard.

The 02D is the one with the DAC, the 02 is just a headphone amp.

Onboard audio might be OK, although I'm not too sure about these SupremeFX offerings. Asus etc, like to slap X-Fi on the motherboard features, but all it is is a software overlay, not an actual X-Fi chip. Anybodies guess as to what the actual onboard is that is used. Some are better than others.

When using headphones from onboard audio though, it's the amplification that can result in lacklustre sound. Proper amplification makes a notable difference. As you've already said, get the headphones and an amp, then go from there.
 
The 02D is the one with the DAC, the 02 is just a headphone amp.
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When using headphones from onboard audio though, it's the amplification that can result in lacklustre sound. Proper amplification makes a notable difference. As you've already said, get the headphones and an amp, then go from there.

You are quite correct, seems I misread the OP.
 
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