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Onboard sound good for headset?

S

shwick

Member
I'm getting a MSI P67A-C43 mobo with Realtek ALC892 onboard sound and a Creative Fatal1ty, or Fatal1ty Professional headset.

Is the onboard sound all I need for that headset?

I have used a soundcard before, the Audigy 2, I have it installed on my current machine. It's an old card though.

Has onboard sound(Realtek ALC892) advanced enough that I don't need a card?
 
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It really depends on how much you value sound quality. Onboard audio sounds good probably for the majority of people, but that doesn't mean there isn't a clear difference especially when using high quality headphones. You're never going to get the most out of quality headphones with just onboard audio.

Personally I value the Dolby Headphone 7.1 virtualization and the equalizer profiles of Asus Xonar gaming cards much more than the small inherent increase in sound quality compared to onboard audio. They just make everything sound less tinny and more natural.
 
^ Asus xonar dg with dolby headphone and a headphone amp can be had for just 30 eur or so. That and a regular 3.5mm jack headset is much better than a USB headset.
 
I don't mind paying for the higher quality, I just wanted to know if it was worth it.

Right now I'm considering,
ASUS Xonar D1/DX
HT Omega Striker
Xonar dg

Would a Xonar DX be overkill for a Creative Fatal1ty?
 
I would recommend the DG if you just listen with headphones. It's only half the price of DX but comes with a headphone amp. It costs less because it's lower quality in other ways, but still better than onboard sound.

I own the DX and use it with Sennheiser PC350... The PC350 wouldn't be worth much to me without the sound card's equalizer and Dolby Headphone, to be honest. It'd be probably the same with the Creative headset, but YMMV. The only way you'll know is if you try it
 
I'd advise spending money on a better set of cans first. Avoid any sound gear labeled with "gamer" branding. It's generally overpriced, over-warm, muddy trash.

You can always just move your Audigy 2 into the new machine if you don't like the onboard.
 
mfenn said:
I'd advise spending money on a better set of cans first. Avoid any sound gear labeled with "gamer" branding. It's generally overpriced, over-warm, muddy trash.

You can always just move your Audigy 2 into the new machine if you don't like the onboard.
Click to expand...

I was just going by newegg reviews and it looks like most people bought the Creative Fatal1ties. Then again most people bought the antec 900 and it has terrible dust management, which i dislike.

What set of "cans" would you suggest for that sound card?

And are you saying I should use onboard if I stick with Creative Fatal1ties?
 
mfenn said:
You can always just move your Audigy 2 into the new machine if you don't like the onboard.
Click to expand...

This.

Onboard audio is one of those things... good enough for most, but some just won't accept it no matter what.

If you have no qualms about using it but were just concerned with sound quality, you then have to try it yourself. Remember, it costs nothing extra to try onboard audio.
 
Zap said:
This.

Onboard audio is one of those things... good enough for most, but some just won't accept it no matter what.

If you have no qualms about using it but were just concerned with sound quality, you then have to try it yourself. Remember, it costs nothing extra to try onboard audio.
Click to expand...

I have heard the quality difference between onboard and third party card before and have heard the difference.

Since you are recommending I transfer my old audigy 2 I am assuming you mean it will be better than the onboard on that motherboard.

This means onboard has not advanced enough for me.

I want to now buy the ASUS Xonar DX.

I am asking which pair of cans would go best with it.

Preferably something with a long warranty as I've found cans break frequently.

Thanks.
 
Asus Xonar DX works great my Sennheiser PC350. The expensive Asus Xonar Xense sound card was actually bundled along with PC350 - Asus and Sennheiser collaborated in the development of those products so that they would work exceptionally well together. I believe DX is just a lower-end cousin of Xense, which could explain why I think the PC350 goes so well together with it.

However, PC350 has a rather high ohm resistance which, on paper, DX shouldn't be able to drive properly. But I have zero issues, I think it works just fine.
 
Ok I understand. I actually already have a logitech usb mic that I use.

Unfortunately the lowest price i can find the hd555 is $170, I live in Canada.

What soundcard would you recommend for a set of $100 headphones? I guess you have to go off what newegg is selling and that's pretty much hte PC161.

Like honestly are they that cheap?

If I decided to go with the PC161 what soundcard would be a good fit, would the Xonar DX be overkill.
 
Xonar DG would be fine, the headphone amp might even make it better than DX for your purposes
 
well thanks for the expertise all

currently plan on getting the xonar dg and SENNHEISER PC161 cans
 
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shwick said:
Unfortunately the lowest price i can find the hd555 is $170, I live in Canada.
Click to expand...

Critical detail! D:

If you can swing a little over $100, check out the Grado SR 60's. Like all Grado's, they don't look like much but man do they sound nice.
 
yeah that's not happening where I live unless it's on newegg

but even then I would rather get headphones from a local retailer with a long warranty as I find they are one of the most delicate pieces of a computer
 
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