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Do i need a sound card?

R

REDtoLINE

Member
Speakers i have: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836121120
Motherboard i have: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130484

Simple question, but complicated answer...i have heard many mixed answers from many people, now i have heard i cant get true 5.1 surround unless i have a sound card, and i have also heard that my sound quality would be the same as my mobo if i got a sound card, and that its pointless and a waste of money...what are your thoughts? I'm not a BIG sound buff, but i mean i bought these speakers so id like some nice quality...
 
Also, will the music quality make a huge difference as well, like is 128kbps ok, because it just seems like the quality is nicer when i play a 256kbps file or an actual cd...
 
I'm not the best to answer here, but...

Looks like you have some digital speaks. To use them properely I think you'll need a sound card for digital. I beleive the onboard audio only does analog.

Only mobo I know of with digital onboard is NF2 with Soundstorm.
 
I think tha you answered your own question. Just how much of a sound buff are you. I put some el-cheapo ($50) 4.1 speakers on my Dell rig, BUT I built a large box, kind of a low table. The sub fires into the box and the sound is really good. BTW I didn't pay a dime for any of the wood, all waste from a building site close to home, and yep I asked for it, didn't take the 5 finger discount.
 
Those speakers are good enough that I think a soundcard would be justifiable.

You can get an Audigy2 zs for $43 AR from Zip Zoom Fly right now for example.

You can't get 5.1 through the digital out on your motherboard unless it's already encoded (like on DVDs).

5.1 should work fine with your integrated audio. Try that and if it sound good to you, you can keep using it. If you think you want to try a soundcard, the A2 zs is a good buy right now.

Yeah, 128kbps is not so great. If you have the acutal CDs, use those or rip them using better techniques.
 
Originally posted by: Fern
I'm not the best to answer here, but...

Looks like you have some digital speaks. To use them properely I think you'll need a sound card for digital. I beleive the onboard audio only does analog.

Only mobo I know of with digital onboard is NF2 with Soundstorm.
Click to expand...

His own motherboard has digital out.

There are soundcards that do DDL if you want to stay digital, but I think he'd be better off using analog which will work perfectly well with those speakers.
 
You can connect for 5.1 surround, just not using the digital out conectors (coax or optical). You'll have to use 3 stereo minijack cable analog connections (Front L&R, Center & Sub, Surround L&R) from the ports on the mobo to the ports on the speaker controller. This is true for all mobos/sound cards, except the X-Mystique which can upconvert audio signals into a Dolby Digital Stream.

Not sure what you mean by music quality, but the higher the encode rate, the better the sound (as you've experienced). Especially on higher-end speakers is this noticeable.
 
Originally posted by: Aquila76
You can connect for 5.1 surround, just not using the digital out conectors (coax or optical). You'll have to use 3 stereo minijack cable analog connections (Front L&R, Center & Sub, Surround L&R) from the ports on the mobo to the ports on the speaker controller. This is true for all mobos/sound cards, except the X-Mystique which can upconvert audio signals into a Dolby Digital Stream.

Not sure what you mean by music quality, but the higher the encode rate, the better the sound (as you've experienced). Especially on higher-end speakers is this noticeable.
Click to expand...

I am using the 3 stereo minijack right now...the green/black/yellow...i just dont know what the quality factor is on my setup. If i blast the music totally loud, it doesnt sound too great, and i know it not the speakers...so im just wondering if its because i dont have a soundcard, or because the quality of my music is only 128kbps. I use napster with that $10 a month subscription...but all the music on there is only 128kbps...

Also, this is just regarding the computer end of my sound system, i will connect a PS3 (PS2 for now) using optical, so all my dvds and ps3 games will be perfect quality, its just the computer output that im concerned about...
 
When you're using digital in, "perfect" is not going to be the case. People spend thousands of dollars on sound processors to get better DACs etc to increase sound quality. Transmitting digitally just makes the Logitech Control pod do the work.

How do you know it's not the speakers that are your problem?
 
If you want good sound, somewhere in the mix you have to have good Digital to Analog Converters--or DACs. Now, you can get a nice soundcard like the BlueGears X-Mystique that has great DACs, or you can pipe it out via coax or toslink digitally to an external DAC like on the Logitech speakers (quality DACs? I dunno) or to a true receiver with really quality DACs. You can always output digitally, but remember that it is the DAC on the other end that is sending the actual analog signal to the speakers that is going to make the difference. That is why onboard sound is typically poor sounding because the DAC is usually right inside the CODEC and you have electrical interference from the motherboard itself that tends to lessen sound quality--UNLESS you are outputting digitally from your motherboard, and then the DAC on the receiver end matters.
 
Originally posted by: t3h l337 n3wb
Try to see if anyone will lend you a good sound card to test out 🙂 Then you'll be able to hear the difference.
Click to expand...

That would be cool :thumbsup:
 
yeah i wish i could rent an audigy 2 to see if i like the card and the drivers/software.
i'm still on my av710 vs audigy 2 debate in my mind 😛
 
Ok, i checked my settings on my motherboard, and there is an msi sound manager, this is where i can change my speaker configuration...but there is also an option to choose S/PDIF output as analog/digital/analog&digital...but this means i need to buy a coaxial or optical cable correct?

So just to get all this straighted out in my head, by doing that, its my speakers DAC doing all the converting correct? Do YOU think my speakers have a better DAC, or do you think my motherboard does?
 
AFAIK, on music and the like, you may not hear much of a difference between onboard and a sound card, especially on good motherboards. The difference comes in when gaming, especially with EAX, etc. and fast movement when the sound card takes over the sound processing with all effects and has to handle surround as in 4.1 or 5.1 speaker setups. There also may be some benefits in DVD movies and audio of a sound card.

With my Asus A8N-E, there did not seem to be much difference in music (I got my Audigy 2 ZS Gamer sound card a week or so after I setup my system) but in D3, yes, I could hear the difference even with my old Altec Lansing 4.1s.
 
Wait and get Soundblaster's new X-Fi line of sound cards. Check out the reviews and specs for them. Up till now they appear to be amazing. Really hope getting one.
 
Originally posted by: REDtoLINE
Ok, i checked my settings on my motherboard, and there is an msi sound manager, this is where i can change my speaker configuration...but there is also an option to choose S/PDIF output as analog/digital/analog&digital...but this means i need to buy a coaxial or optical cable correct?

So just to get all this straighted out in my head, by doing that, its my speakers DAC doing all the converting correct? Do YOU think my speakers have a better DAC, or do you think my motherboard does?
Click to expand...

If you're running the three cables to the speakers, your mobo's DAC is doing the converting. If you connect the digital out (coax or Optical) be warned that you will only get sound out of the front right and left speakers unless you're playing a DVD and passing the bitstream to the Logitech box.
 
I have a step down from those speakers. I went and bought one of those X-FI cards and the difference between onboard audio and this is incredible. Music sounds a lot better and games sound AMAZING!... The bump I got in FPS is also nice too 😀
 
Ok I read your MB specs and it has SPDIF out for sound which is digital but your speakers should have inputs for 5.1 digital sound and your Sound utility should allow you to configure it for 5.1 ..

 
OK, I'm trying to learn a bit here as well. And I think this goes to OP's original question.

Correct me if I'm wrong (which is the point btw): His mobo offers both analog & digital output. His speakers accept both analog & digital input.

So, if he uses the analog output from the mobo, it's the DAC in the mobo which is being used?

If he uses the digital output from the mobo, it's the DAC in the speakers that is being used?

Also, seems to date he's only used the analog output from the mobo. So, before buying a soundcard wouldn't it be wise that try the digital output first? (in otherwords, change his cableing and the ports used on the mobo & speaks).

Thanks,

Fern
 
Originally posted by: Mrcrowley
Ok I read your MB specs and it has SPDIF out for sound which is digital but your speakers should have inputs for 5.1 digital sound and your Sound utility should allow you to configure it for 5.1 ..
Click to expand...

Welcome to AT.

Yeah, his motherboard has
SPDIF output
Analog output

Speakers have
SPDIF input
Analog input

SPDIF will do stereo just fine, and will send an AC3 stream to his control pod for things that are encoded with Dolby Digital like DVDs for 5.1 output. It will not be able to do 5.1 for games.

Analog should be able to do stereo, 5.1 for DVDs, and 5.1 for games.
 
Originally posted by: Fern

So, if he uses the analog output from the mobo, it's the DAC in the mobo which is being used?

If he uses the digital output from the mobo, it's the DAC in the speakers that is being used?
Click to expand...

Right.



Originally posted by: Fern

Also, seems to date he's only used the analog output from the mobo. So, before buying a soundcard wouldn't it be wise that try the digital output first? (in otherwords, change his cableing and the ports used on the mobo & speaks).
Click to expand...

Yeah, he probably has a 75-ohm RCA cable lying around (like the yellow video one in sets of yellow/white/red) and he could connect from his digital coaxial out on his motherboard to the input on his speakers.
 
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: Mrcrowley
Ok I read your MB specs and it has SPDIF out for sound which is digital but your speakers should have inputs for 5.1 digital sound and your Sound utility should allow you to configure it for 5.1 ..
Click to expand...

Welcome to AT.

Yeah, his motherboard has
SPDIF output
Analog output

Speakers have
SPDIF input
Analog input

SPDIF will do stereo just fine, and will send an AC3 stream to his control pod for things that are encoded with Dolby Digital like DVDs for 5.1 output. It will not be able to do 5.1 for games.

Analog should be able to do stereo, 5.1 for DVDs, and 5.1 for games.
Click to expand...

Dude, I wish we could sticky this info for people trying to hook up their sound systems. In the last week I've seen this (or similar) asked at least 5 times. That is the best and most concise answer I've seen given.
 
Originally posted by: Aquila76
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: Mrcrowley
Ok I read your MB specs and it has SPDIF out for sound which is digital but your speakers should have inputs for 5.1 digital sound and your Sound utility should allow you to configure it for 5.1 ..
Click to expand...

Welcome to AT.

Yeah, his motherboard has
SPDIF output
Analog output

Speakers have
SPDIF input
Analog input

SPDIF will do stereo just fine, and will send an AC3 stream to his control pod for things that are encoded with Dolby Digital like DVDs for 5.1 output. It will not be able to do 5.1 for games.

Analog should be able to do stereo, 5.1 for DVDs, and 5.1 for games.
Click to expand...

Dude, I wish we could sticky this info for people trying to hook up their sound systems. In the last week I've seen this (or similar) asked at least 5 times. That is the best and most concise answer I've seen given.
Click to expand...

I have a lot of practice I tend to be the one answering it a few times every week, how do you think I got this post count? 😉

I'd put it in my sig, but I'm out of space.

Soundcard and speaker manufacturers should do a better job explaining the differences because there are far too many people that don't know digital isn't necessarily better for sound.
 
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