Question regarding onboard sound solution

[DXMachina]

Hi guys, I have a question which I hope that I can get some clarity on.

My current audio configuration is as follows:

I am currently using my GTX 680's HD audio codec, and connecting through the 680's HDMI output to my Onkyo receiver. I understand that in this case, my 680 is functioning like an onboard sound card (and not using my motherboard's onboard sound) in this configuration.

My dilemma (which will determine my mobo choice):

I intend to build a new rig with a 980Ti as my GPU, and am deciding between 2 options for my audio:
1) I am quite intrigued by the MSI Z97 Gaming 9 AC's onboard sound. I have read reviews saying it is much better than most onboard sound solutions. I have done some reading up and found out that the only way to use the mobo's onboard sound through a HDMI output on a gfx card is to use S/PDIF (http://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2544).

2) Stick with my current configuration and use the 980Ti's onboard HD audio codec. In this case, I will just get a cheaper board like the Gaming 7 and save some money.

My question is, which solution will give me better audio?

From this link: (http://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answ...dia-based-graphics-card-to-work-with-my-hdtv?), it says that the nvidia's HD audio codec will generally result in better quality than analog or S/PDIF signals:

"The NVIDIA internal HD audio codec is superior to analog audio or S/PDIF signal. While S/PDIF is limited to compressed 5.1 multi-channel, the NVIDIA HD audio codec can support additional audio channels and also support more advanced audio formats used with Blu-ray movies."

But I am not sure if that is because it is assuming all mobo onboard sound solutions are crap.

Hope you gurus can help out, thanks and appreciate your kind help.

 

[enenyi]

I think if u have Onkyo receiver, u shld noe that Onkyo receiver is the one doing the decoding with its own DAC. So be it Nvidia onboard audio, motherboard integrated audio, internal/external soundcard, the moment u use SPDIF out, they only act as passthrough to Onkyo for decoding. So my advice: get the cheapest solution, since they all perform the same function of providing passthrough to receiver.

 

[Rashkae]

The question is if you want your Onkyo to do the decoding to analog, or have the soundcard do it.

Since the DAC on the Onkyo is designed and tuned for Onkyo, I'd stick with HDMI audio

 

[DXMachina]

Thanks enenyi & Rashkae, it's becoming clear after both of your inputs. I guess I'll just stick with the nvidia HDMI audio since it's just a passthrough to my receiver.

Another question though, if the audio capabilities on the nvidia card is just an audio codec and is just responsible for passthrough, then where is the audio source from? E.g. for onboard sound and dedicated soundcards, one can easily understand that they are the audio sources, but in the case for the nvidia GPU?

Sent from Nexus 5 using GAGT

 

[Alphas]

I am running on DTS encoded from motherboard spdif output. So the AV receiver will decode DTS in 5.1 no matter the source is stereo or 5.1.