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Topic: Onboard sound vs. Discrete Soundcard for driving headphones (Read 6238 times) previous topic - next topic
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Onboard sound vs. Discrete Soundcard for driving headphones

I'm just kind of curious as to whether or not this matters:  My current setup goes Realtek HD Audio ALC888 -> PocketAmp v2 -> Sennheiser HD555.  I'm wondering if I can get any mileage with respect to sound quality out of a "Better" source, such as a sound card or external, USB DAC.  This thread: http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....showtopic=77416 seems to suggest that it really can't matter, due to technical limitations.  Tbh, some of the technical jargon goes over my head, though.

Any input would be appreciated.

Onboard sound vs. Discrete Soundcard for driving headphones

Reply #1 –
Quote from: EmX on
This thread: http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....showtopic=77416 seems to suggest that it really can't matter, due to technical limitations.  Tbh, some of the technical jargon goes over my head, though.


Thats not really what that thread is talking about.  Basically if theres problems with your current sound (hiss, distortion, etc), a better DAC might help.

Onboard sound vs. Discrete Soundcard for driving headphones

Reply #2 –
Quote from: EmX on
I'm just kind of curious as to whether or not this matters:  My current setup goes Realtek HD Audio ALC888 -> PocketAmp v2 -> Sennheiser HD555.  I'm wondering if I can get any mileage with respect to sound quality out of a "Better" source, such as a sound card or external, USB DAC.  This thread: http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....showtopic=77416 seems to suggest that it really can't matter, due to technical limitations.  Tbh, some of the technical jargon goes over my head, though.

Any input would be appreciated.


My 3 computers have Gigabyte boards, AMD Phenom II processors and Realtek ALC889 codecs. The one I use for the most audio work has a Niles Audio DA to feed 2 Technics receivers, one for some old Advent speakers and the other for the Koss electrostatic headphones, and the speakers in the monitor. The main issue I've run into is ground loops between the cable TV feed and the power company ground. That cable hum was fixed with a galvanic isolator from RMS communications. The other loop was from the DVI cable to the monitor and the audio feed from the DA. In that case the noise level changed with the screen image. That one was fixed with a 10 ohm resistor 'loosening' the ground in the audio line. The noise level is way down and while I haven't measured it, it's quiet enough to not bother with it.

I have no reason to want a different audio output.

G²

Onboard sound vs. Discrete Soundcard for driving headphones

Reply #3 –
Hi there,

I have an ALC887 onboard and my case has a front audio panel. I did two things:

1. connected the headphones (32 Ohm) to the back panel of the mainboard and then to the front. Front was louder. So I guess back panel only has line-out and is not meant for headphones.
2. connected the headphones to an iPod Classic and then to the front panel. Couldn't hear any difference.

Also according to reviews of mainboards with HDA onboard sounds they're pretty decent anyway.

Regards
 

Onboard sound vs. Discrete Soundcard for driving headphones

Reply #4 –
With modern sound chips, there is really only one strong reason to get a USB DAC, discrete sound card, etc - electronic noise.

I've used the HD555 with my sound card and found it to be fairly noise free.  Once music is playing this is not an issue at all, even with classical.  With your PA2V2 in the mix, I seriously doubt there will be any audible improvemen from buying a new sound card.

Quote
1. connected the headphones (32 Ohm) to the back panel of the mainboard and then to the front. Front was louder. So I guess back panel only has line-out and is not meant for headphones


The front and rear outputs are typically the same.  I'm not sure why you are hearing a volume difference.  Do you have a front and back output in your volume mixer?  Either way, both should be fine to drive headphones.

Onboard sound vs. Discrete Soundcard for driving headphones

Reply #5 –
Quote from: odigg on
Quote
1. connected the headphones (32 Ohm) to the back panel of the mainboard and then to the front. Front was louder. So I guess back panel only has line-out and is not meant for headphones


The front and rear outputs are typically the same.  I'm not sure why you are hearing a volume difference.  Do you have a front and back output in your volume mixer?  Either way, both should be fine to drive headphones.


Hi,

I don't have designated headphones volume control. The two controls I can use to change the volume are Master and Front, both affect front and back panel.

Onboard sound vs. Discrete Soundcard for driving headphones

Reply #6 –
Quote from: odigg on
The front and rear outputs are typically the same.  I'm not sure why you are hearing a volume difference.


On sound cards front outputs quite often come with better operational amplifiers. It is possible that manufacturer of your motherboard decided to take the same route when implementing ALC887. But if the difference is audible as a difference in volume than it might mean that this implementation was not fortunate... I still stay clear of onboard audio, I have too often seen things like this or loose audio sockets on motherboards which all makes me think this way or the other it is some sort of a built-in obsolescence. A sound card or a DAC are separate pieces of hardware that you can use for years while you swap your computers for newer models.

Onboard sound vs. Discrete Soundcard for driving headphones

Reply #7 –
Quote from: micmac on
I don't have designated headphones volume control. The two controls I can use to change the volume are Master and Front, both affect front and back panel.


In that case (assuming B.Fink is correct) there are probably two different circuits driving the front and back jacks.  However, this is NOT an indication of a difference in sound quality nor is it an indicator that one jack is meant for headphones and one is not.

Quote
I still stay clear of onboard audio, I have too often seen things like this or loose audio sockets on motherboards which all makes me think this way or the other it is some sort of a built-in obsolescence.


I really don't agree with this at all.  If manufacturers were building onboard solutions poorly to support obsolescence they could do a much worse job.  Why use audio chips that measure and work well?  Why not use some junk hardware that is only appropriate for really cheap speakers?  If they did that people would know to immediately buy a separate sound card.

I suspect poor quality audio jacks is probably just indicative of the build quality of the motherboard.  I haven't heard many complaints about the Audio jacks with Asus, Gigabyte, Intel, and companies that build decent quality motherboards and price them above the really "cheap" stuff.  This computer I've sitting at has onboard audio jacks that have survived for more than 5 years and I've only seen the quality of onboard audio solutions improve since then.

Onboard sound vs. Discrete Soundcard for driving headphones

Reply #8 –
As far as I remember, all realtek 88x codecs have built-in headphone buffers on every output, but they can be manually switched on and off from the driver control panel (the buffer is on if the output is designated as "headphone"). On the other hand, when the headphones are plugged into the chassis front panel output the amplifier probably automatically switches on. This may explain the difference in volume levels.

Onboard sound vs. Discrete Soundcard for driving headphones

Reply #9 –
Quote from: odigg on
The front and rear outputs are typically the same.  I'm not sure why you are hearing a volume difference.  Do you have a front and back output in your volume mixer?  Either way, both should be fine to drive headphones.


Agreed!

Standard motherboard wiring harnesses typically put the jacks in parallel.

Of course, if you have an audio interface that has 5.1 or 7.1 channels, then the words front and rear have two different meanings.