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Topic: Motherboard Digital Output versus Sound Card (Read 7161 times) previous topic - next topic
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Motherboard Digital Output versus Sound Card

I've finally finished ripping my CD collection and now I'm confused about audio playback. I was using Foobar2000 until my PC crashed (or to put it more correctly the program that was supposed to be increasing the C: partition removed the MBR and left my machine unbootable). Now I'm using MusicBee which seems the nicest music player I can find and gets great support from the author. Foobar2000 is nice once fully customised but MusicBee is great straight off.

Anyway, my PC is connected to a Cyrus 8XPD Qx amp which has a built-in DAC and can accept Digital Coax, Optical and USB. I'm currently using Digital Coax built into the Asus Blitz Formula motherboard. It sounds good, but the I started reading that I could improve the sound by using ASIO. When I try enabling this in MusicBee it says I don't have an ASIO compatible sound card. So I'm now totally confused as I thought I was previously using ASIO with Foobar2000.

So my questions are:

1. Is there any advantage of getting an ASIO compatible sound card given that I'm only using the digital output?
2. Are digital outputs on motherboards technically inferior to those on sound cards?
3. Should I be using USB rather than Digital Coax and what are the pros and cons?

I've read various things on this forum about the differences between sound cards and motherboard audio but all the ones I've read have been about the DAC built into the sound devices and as I'm not using the sound device DAC that really doesn't apply to me.

Any advice much appreciated.

Leo

Motherboard Digital Output versus Sound Card

Reply #1 –
If you're using Windows Vista or Windows 7, use WASAPI instead of ASIO.  I also had to turn down the output buffer to get WASAPI to work.

1. If you're using the Digital Output as PCM for stereo, then yes, bitperfect audio can be worth it.
2. The outputs should be the same.  Noise levels, Harmonic Distortion, etc may be better on a discreet soundcard
3. Can't help you on #3.

Motherboard Digital Output versus Sound Card

Reply #2 –
Quote from: LeoL on
I started reading that I could improve the sound by using ASIO.

Could is the operative.  Where did you read this?  If claims of audible superiority aren't backed by double-blind tests then they are worthless.

You can begin your research here:
http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?ti...g_Windows_Mixer
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....showtopic=16295

Motherboard Digital Output versus Sound Card

Reply #3 –
You could also try asio4all, it works with many non-asio cards and chips.

http://www.asio4all.com/

Glass half full!

Motherboard Digital Output versus Sound Card

Reply #5 –
Quote from: LeoL on
I've finally finished ripping my CD collection and now I'm confused about audio playback. I was using Foobar2000 until my PC crashed (or to put it more correctly the program that was supposed to be increasing the C: partition removed the MBR and left my machine unbootable). Now I'm using MusicBee which seems the nicest music player I can find and gets great support from the author. Foobar2000 is nice once fully customised but MusicBee is great straight off.

Anyway, my PC is connected to a Cyrus 8XPD Qx amp which has a built-in DAC and can accept Digital Coax, Optical and USB. I'm currently using Digital Coax built into the Asus Blitz Formula motherboard. It sounds good, but the I started reading that I could improve the sound by using ASIO. When I try enabling this in MusicBee it says I don't have an ASIO compatible sound card. So I'm now totally confused as I thought I was previously using ASIO with Foobar2000.

So my questions are:

1. Is there any advantage of getting an ASIO compatible sound card given that I'm only using the digital output?
2. Are digital outputs on motherboards technically inferior to those on sound cards?
3. Should I be using USB rather than Digital Coax and what are the pros and cons?

I've read various things on this forum about the differences between sound cards and motherboard audio but all the ones I've read have been about the DAC built into the sound devices and as I'm not using the sound device DAC that really doesn't apply to me.

Any advice much appreciated.

Leo

I think WASAPI is the better and simpler solution software-wise to easily ensure bit-perfect (in Windows) and no interruptions. ASIO is intended for professional recording applications.

With regard to the mobo, it depends on whether the onboard sound resamples the audio or not. Some of them (a lot, only recently) resample everything to 48 KHz including your 44.1 KHz CD-sourced audio. This is technically bad although frankly blind testing might demonstrate you couldn't hear any difference anyway. In any case if it will work natively in 44.1 KHz and puts that out the coax, then you're in business - it's just acting as a transport, not a DAC, and a discrete soundcard would not be an improvement in any manner at all.

If the above is all too hard then the USB connection would skip everything and provide a simple and reliable connection. The difference is your PC will see the DAC as a soundcard now, as an alternative to your mobo, which means you won't be using the mobo soundcard drivers and software interface. Since you're just looking for bit-perfect stereo output I doubt that's an issue.
 

Motherboard Digital Output versus Sound Card

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Bad Monkey on
If the above is all too hard then the USB connection would skip everything and provide a simple and reliable connection. The difference is your PC will see the DAC as a soundcard now, as an alternative to your mobo, which means you won't be using the mobo soundcard drivers and software interface. Since you're just looking for bit-perfect stereo output I doubt that's an issue.


I think this maybe the simplest solution as well? I have a USB DAC cable and Windows sees it as a USB sound device and I just have foobar set to use this for output, everything else goes through the onboard sound, nice and simple

Motherboard Digital Output versus Sound Card

Reply #7 –
If you were considering spending a little cash something I would like to recommend is one of the multi channel pro-am USB or Firewire audio interface such as the Focusrite Saffire 6, Tc Konnekt 6 or even the M-Audio Fast Track Pro.

I'm not making any claims about superior sound quality, although I doubt you will be disappointed, what amazed me was how quickly I came to appreciate how handy it is having access to the multi channel facilities in windows. A bit like what probedb does - if you want you can route bit perfect audio from the likes of foobar direct a one stereo pair and anything else to another. That means you can play music on speakers and talk via Skype or listen to youtube on headphones. Ot mix any number of channels together, or route different programs to different systems - BBC iPlayer for example. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination. Add effects. being able to record anything instantly on Reaper or Audacity is a plus as well. leave all your audio gear connected permanently. Rip vinyl easy.

They are really designed for DAW and DJ use. So they can listen and manipulate a cue track but I woudn't be without one now. So versatile and outstanding value.

I don't have any commercial interest or anything and I realise it will not suit everyone but it worked for me and I'd like to share.