Is a Sound Card Worth it/which one to get?

AnubisOne · Apr 20, 2015

I'm looking into getting a sound card, but I wanted to get some input on 1) whether it will be worth the investment and 2) which one to get.

I've never used a sound card before. I have always just used the on-board audio, but I have read around that music, games, and movies sound better through a sound card.
If anyone can give some input as to whether they think its worth the money and name some budget (<= $100) sound cards to look at that would be great.

Thanks

ATMINSIDE · Apr 20, 2015

What headset/speakers are you using?

AnubisOne · Apr 20, 2015

kilipsch promedia 2.1 when in my room and no headset yet (looking at getting a logitech g430). When i have the computer in the living room i have it set up to a denon receiver and 5.1 surround.

EarthDog · Apr 20, 2015

An alc1150 based on onboard solution should be fine really. Unless you have high end speakers or cans, you likely won't notice the diffefence between it and a high end (and costly) discrete card.

NiHaoMike · Apr 20, 2015

A sound card is really only for headphones or recording stuff. For speakers, you'll be much better off with a digital amplifier which works every bit as well from onboard.

ATMINSIDE · Apr 20, 2015

Waste of money. You won't hear the difference on the speakers and the G430 you mentioned uses USB.

Audioaficionado · Apr 21, 2015

I just run an optical toslink from my motherboard's I/O panel to my Yamaha receiver. Sounds great! I let the receiver's DACs handle the signal.

AnubisOne · Apr 21, 2015

Thanks for all the input guys. Sounds like a Sound Card isn't worth the money for me.

Glad I didn't buy one yet, haha.

NiHaoMike · Apr 21, 2015

Audioaficionado said:
I just run an optical toslink from my motherboard's I/O panel to my Yamaha receiver. Sounds great! I let the receiver's DACs handle the signal.

To elaborate on that, the "DAC" in a digital receiver isn't really a DAC in the conventional sense. Instead, it's split up into the modulator and output filter, with the output stage in the middle. It is also noted that any analog inputs it has have to be digitized to drive the modulator, so the digital inputs are always the best quality.

Is a Sound Card Worth it/which one to get?

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