Soundcard recommendation

[UptheToon]

I'm not an audiophile or anything like that. I want an upgrade from my onboard card.

Is there any latest soundcard which gives an improvement from the onboard chip.

I usually use for gaming and listening to music.

Asus Xonar STX and X-FI HD was what i was considering. But they said the former is more for audiophiles.

 

[Duinchlfc]

I'm not an audiophile or anything like that. I want an upgrade from my onboard card.

Is there any latest soundcard which gives an improvement from the onboard chip.

I usually use for gaming and listening to music.

Asus Xonar STX and X-FI HD was what i was considering. But they said the former is more for audiophiles.

sound blaster Z.More than enough for your needs and friendly to the wallet.Plus it gives your dolby surround for games

 

[UptheToon]

sound blaster Z.More than enough for your needs and friendly to the wallet.Plus it gives your dolby surround for games

do the types of speaker affect sound performance?

i'm using altec lansing 2.1 speakers.

 

[Duinchlfc]

most definitely,if you have rubbish output.Even the best sound card won't make much of a difference.Maybe you can do a benchmark.Listen to something now and same thing again with the new sound card.

With the soundblaster Z.There is a crystalizer effect which cleans up and makes audio clearer and i always have it on.

 

[Rogue]

do the types of speaker affect sound performance?

i'm using altec lansing 2.1 speakers.

Speakers are the most important since recent on-board sound chip is good enough(ALC1150 or Sound Core). Quality 2.1 speakers like m50w swans.

In my opinion for recent general users in order of setup quality priority - Speakers > soundcard/DAC > headphone >sound chip.

 

[UptheToon]

Speakers are the most important since recent on-board sound chip is good enough(ALC1150 or Sound Core). Quality 2.1 speakers like m50w swans.

In my opinion for recent general users in order of setup quality priority - Speakers > soundcard/DAC > headphone >sound chip.

i have a logitech gaming headset and a decent altech lansing 2.1 speakers.

which means guess i have to upgrade my 2.1 speakers too.

what is a soundchip by the way?

 

[UptheToon]

most definitely,if you have rubbish output.Even the best sound card won't make much of a difference.Maybe you can do a benchmark.Listen to something now and same thing again with the new sound card.

With the soundblaster Z.There is a crystalizer effect which cleans up and makes audio clearer and i always have it on.

soundblaster z is it power consuming? mine is a 750w PSU. is it enough?

 

[Ark Law]

Unless TS has I) Golden Ears, II) all sources are lossless and III) has quality speakers, please don't waste your money on internal soundcards, of which you are paying mostly for their marketing of "ZOMG SOUND TECHNOLOGY" mumbo jumbo

My own setup: onboard ALC898 to swans M50W

 

[Duinchlfc]

Unless TS has I) Golden Ears, II) all sources are lossless and III) has quality speakers, please don't waste your money on internal soundcards, of which you are paying mostly for their marketing of "ZOMG SOUND TECHNOLOGY" mumbo jumbo

My own setup: onboard ALC898 to swans M50W

care to share which onboard sound lets me have surround effects for my games? So i won't need to get any internal sound cards anymore

 

[Felfirez]

care to share which onboard sound lets me have surround effects for my games? So i won't need to get any internal sound cards anymore

What do you mean? Your 990x mobo supports onboard surround sound output.

 

[Duinchlfc]

What do you mean? Your 990x mobo supports onboard surround sound output.

surround for movies yes via DD or DTS but none for gaming.

 

[UptheToon]

Unless TS has I) Golden Ears, II) all sources are lossless and III) has quality speakers, please don't waste your money on internal soundcards, of which you are paying mostly for their marketing of "ZOMG SOUND TECHNOLOGY" mumbo jumbo

My own setup: onboard ALC898 to swans M50W

why do some people say the clarity of a soundcard instead of the internal one the difference is very obvious?

some like you say there is no difference and is wasting money.

so many conflicting theories.

 

[shadow84]

why do some people say the clarity of a soundcard instead of the internal one the difference is very obvious?

some like you say there is no difference and is wasting money.

so many conflicting theories.

Because everyone's ears are different and hear differently.

 

[royfrosty]

why do some people say the clarity of a soundcard instead of the internal one the difference is very obvious?

some like you say there is no difference and is wasting money.

so many conflicting theories.

That is because sound is subjective. Everybody ears are different. Some can hear it and some cant. It is also the same as why some people buy cheap $10 earphones and why some people buy 2-4k earphones.

To people whom have golden ears will be able to hear every single details will feel that the $10 earphones sounds like crap.

On the other hand people whom listen to a $10 earphones and went on to try a 2k earphones will not noticed any difference if their ears cant hear or feel it.

When it comes to sound/audio it is subjective.

 

[Ark Law]

why do some people say the clarity of a soundcard instead of the internal one the difference is very obvious?

some like you say there is no difference and is wasting money.

so many conflicting theories.

Person A:
Then: 2-star speaker + decent onboard
Now: 2-star speaker + entry level soundcard (eg DX)
Comment: WTF did I waste money on an DX for? I can't tell sh*t between onboard and soundcard!

Person B:
Then: 5-star speaker + decent onboard
Now: 5-star speaker + quality soundcard (eg STX)
Comment: I recommend the STX because there was an improvement in SQ for me

Person C:
Previously: 2-star speaker + decent onboard
Then: 5-star speaker + decent onboard
Now: 5-star speaker + quality soundcard
Comment: People should upgrade their speaker first, and think about soundcard later

 

[Gondon72]

come come..test your ears...

An Audiophile Workout: Philips Golden Ears Training | InnerFidelity

 

[Ark Law]

come come..test your ears...

An Audiophile Workout: Philips Golden Ears Training | InnerFidelity

Fwah, I got noob ears

Stuck at gold ears bass ext 50hz, treble ext 11khz and the 18eq test. Using laptop onboard ALC272 + HD25. Had to switch to Amperiors to pass the silver ears final 3 reverb tests

 

[UptheToon]

come come..test your ears...

An Audiophile Workout: Philips Golden Ears Training | InnerFidelity

very interesting... i think before buying soundcard anybody can do that test first.

i think the difference all very obvious. with a good speaker the difference will be there.

 

[Gondon72]

Fwah, I got noob ears

Stuck at gold ears bass ext 50hz, treble ext 11khz and the 18eq test. Using laptop onboard ALC272 + HD25. Had to switch to Amperiors to pass the silver ears final 3 reverb tests

good lah...at least passed the silver test

very interesting... i think before buying soundcard anybody can do that test first.

i think the difference all very obvious. with a good speaker the difference will be there.

If anyone switch speakers and cant hear difference, means you can saved alot of money.

 

[royfrosty]

Go home then try.