Is on-board audio viable?

[Zenoth]

Excuse my ignorance on the subject (and I'm genuinely curious).

I've been building my own desktop PCs since the early 2000s. But I've always held the notion (from those years up to even now) that on-board audio was never, and would never be "as good as", or "as rich and accurate as" a dedicated audio card. It's definitely an old belief that may have been true for some time, but I'm feeling like I'm definitely the one who've never really bothered; and probably should have, since a long time actually. I'm asking this because I'm in the process of upgrading my entire system (from the Tower, to the HDDs, to the Motherboard, CPU, Memory and so on, no component won't be unchanged).

The one Motherboard I've been looking at is the ASUS Z170-A, and its list of audio-related features is rather impressive:

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- Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound
- DTS Connect
- DTS Studio Sound
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel.
- LED-lit Audio Shielding: Ensures precision analog/digital separation and greatly reduced multi-lateral interference, with a gorgeous illuminated trace path.
- Dedicated audio PCB layers: Separate layers for left and right channels to guard the quality of the sensitive audio signals.
- Audio amplifier: Provides the highest-quality sound for headphone and speakers.
- Premium Japanese-made audio capacitors: Provide warm, natural and immersive sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity.
- Unique de-pop circuit: Reduces start-up popping noise to audio outputs.
- Top notch audio sensation delivers according to the audio configuration.
- EMI protection cover to prevent electrical noise to affect the amplifier quality.
- Absolute Pitch 192khz/24bit true BD lossless sound.
- Power pre-regulator: Reduces power input noise to ensure consistent performance
Separate layer for left and right track, ensuring both sound deliver equal quality USB Ports.
---

I'm no audiophile enough to know if these technicalities are merely 'standards' for today's on-board audio on most modern Motherboards, but to the eyes it certainly looks like on-board audio came a [very] long way since I last bothered checking on the subject (without exaggeration I haven't looked into that in at least a decade, simply because I never needed to). I've always been using my X-Fi SB Xtreme Audio since... well since I bought it probably during the early 2000s (it's so old that I can't recall when it was actually released). That card is a tank, it's still working like a champ despite its age. And I'm surprised but there's still drivers released for it from SB even up to Windows 10 (which I'm using for it).

Now, I'm genuinely wondering if using on-board audio is now a completely viable, comparable and if not an even better choice nowadays, when compared with going with a dedicated PCI audio card like I've been used to all those years. And by the way, this is for gaming mostly, although for music as well (just listening though, I don't really compose music, heck I don't even rip music anymore; I just go on YouTube when I want to listen to something I don't have).

So yeah, how is on-board audio nowadays (or since a couple of years?) Vs a dedicated audio card? Are dedicated audio cards still "favored" by gamers and/or audiophiles alike? Or have we reached a point where it's now the dedicated audio cards that are perhaps becoming obsolete? I'd like to know what I must have missed since the past 10+ years on this matter.

Thanks guys.

 

[sandorski]

It is a lot better than way back when. Is it as good as a dedicated card? I doubt it, but about 10 years ago I switched from an Audigy Gamer to a combination of Onboard and USB based and have not gone back to a dedicated card. Unless you are using high end speakers/Headphones and very good audio sources, you probably won't notice much difference, I suspect.

 

[mnewsham]

Most true audiophiles hate add-on sound cards because they're still very susceptible to EMI (Electromagnetic interference), most audiophiles will use an off-board solution such as a USB DAC and whatever speaker/headphone amp of their choosing connected to the off-board DAC. Since it's USB and it's own separate device it will not be distorted by EMI from the components inside your PC case as can happen with onboard sound and add-on PCI sound cards.

Now if you just have $100 headphones or $100 speakers, none of this will particularly matter as your equipment isn't particularly high end, so onboard sound should be more than enough.

However if you have $400+ headphones/speakers, then you might wish to look into an off-board DAC solution.

Besides with a USB DAC you can take it anywhere you'd like and upgrade your PC without worrying about your sound.

 

[Zenoth]

Alright, thanks for the info guys, much appreciated. Then I'll just stick with my X-Fi and compare it with my next motherboard's on-board when my upgrade is done. Then I'll eventually choose which one I prefer and keep it that way. Because, indeed, my headphones only cost me about $85, and my speakers about $150 or so, so no high end audio components for sure.

 

[bigboxes]

I used to use an X-Fi with my previous build, but went with on-board for the rig in my sig. It's not able to get as loud as the X-Fi, but it's more than adequate for my needs. It wasn't worth the money (to me) to purchase a dedicated sound card.

As for my HTPC, I'm using my old mobo (Asus P6T Deluxe v2) that I used to use an X-Fi in. I decided just to use the optical out on the mobo and run an S/PDIF(toslink) cable to my Denon and let the receiver do the DAC. Sounds fantastic!

 

[whm1974]

on-board audio has become good enough that most people don't need sound cards. I would go with decent speakers or headphones first and then only get a sound card if the on-board doesn't sound good enough for you.

 

[Billb2]

Most true audiophiles hate add-on sound cards because they're still very susceptible to EMI (Electromagnetic interference), most audiophiles will use an off-board solution such as a USB DAC and whatever speaker/headphone amp of their choosing connected to the off-board DAC. Since it's USB and it's own separate device it will not be distorted by EMI from the components inside your PC case as can happen with onboard sound and add-on PCI sound cards.

Now if you just have $100 headphones or $100 speakers, none of this will particularly matter as your equipment isn't particularly high end, so onboard sound should be more than enough..

Well put!

 

[piasabird]

External Sound Amplifiers.

 

[OlyAR15]

Audio is only as good as its weakest link. And in most computer setups, the weakest link is the speaker or headphone. If you have really good speakers, a good soundcard could provide better sound. Another option is to use the digital out to a receiver or amplifier, then to your speakers/headphones.

Otherwise, if you have the typical crappy computer speakers or cheap set of headphones, you can save your money and stick with integrated sound.