Z270 (or X399) mobos with quality Microphone Input (Mic-In)

[SeanTek]

There's a lot of variety in the Z270 motherboard space, and at the high end, motherboards try to differentiate themselves with high-quality audio components. But do any of these motherboards have quality 3.5mm (1/8") Microphone Input (Mic-In) jacks?

By quality, I mean that there is no perceptible hum, buzz, or hiss at reasonable recording volumes given a quality microphone. The sound chips on motherboards are completely useless to me unless they can do a good job at passing a clean signal. That would be 90% of the motherboards out there, but I'm wondering if there is that top 10% or whatever that can do the job without needing to buy an add-on PCIe card or external USB DAC/ADC product. The mic-in should sound good enough that you could record a podcast or narrate a Twitch session without much EQ fiddling.

I'd also take suggestions on X399 motherboards...

 

[Topweasel]

There's a lot of variety in the Z270 motherboard space, and at the high end, motherboards try to differentiate themselves with high-quality audio components. But do any of these motherboards have quality 3.5mm (1/8") Microphone Input (Mic-In) jacks?

By quality, I mean that there is no perceptible hum, buzz, or hiss at reasonable recording volumes given a quality microphone. The sound chips on motherboards are completely useless to me unless they can do a good job at passing a clean signal. That would be 90% of the motherboards out there, but I'm wondering if there is that top 10% or whatever that can do the job without needing to buy an add-on PCIe card or external USB DAC/ADC product. The mic-in should sound good enough that you could record a podcast or narrate a Twitch session without much EQ fiddling.

I'd also take suggestions on X399 motherboards...

X370 or X399? X370 is Ryzen (sub $500 CPU's) and one is ThreadRipper ($700+ CPU's). I am thinking you meant X370 since you are looking at Z270 options (unless you meant SL-X and X299).

 

[SeanTek]

X370 or X399? X370 is Ryzen (sub $500 CPU's) and one is ThreadRipper ($700+ CPU's). I am thinking you meant X370 since you are looking at Z270 options (unless you meant SL-X and X299).

I meant X399, but I guess I should have said X370 or X399. Basically high-end boards...

Examples in the Z270 chipset space are the Gigabyte Z270 AORUS GA-Z270X-Gaming K7, 5, and K5. These all use Realtek ALC1220 chipset with "support for Sound Blaster X-Fi MB5". An example in the X399 chipset space is the Gigabyte X399 AORUS Gaming 7, which also uses ALC1220 but supports "Sound BlasterX 720°".

I think the Sound Blaster components are just licensed software drivers, so the real question of capabilities comes down to the ALC1220 and surrounding chips (which are not necessarily all the same).

 

[Topweasel]

I meant X399, but I guess I should have said X370 or X399. Basically high-end boards...

Examples in the Z270 chipset space are the Gigabyte Z270 AORUS GA-Z270X-Gaming K7, 5, and K5. These all use Realtek ALC1220 chipset with "support for Sound Blaster X-Fi MB5". An example in the X399 chipset space is the Gigabyte X399 AORUS Gaming 7, which also uses ALC1220 but supports "Sound BlasterX 720°".

I think the Sound Blaster components are just licensed software drivers, so the real question of capabilities comes down to the ALC1220 and surrounding chips (which are not necessarily all the same).

Okay thanks for the clarification. So I'll assume that also applies to X299? Just want to make sure I have all bases covered.

In the mean time I'll see what I can come up with.

 

[Topweasel]

Alright looking at all the big names. The ROG X270, X370, X299, and X399 have specialized Sabre 1220 chips (not the standard ALC1220). But has all the same "talking points" of the better MSI's and ASrocks and most Gigabytes. Though they throw in the range of the recording. But honestly the only board out of dozens that seems to put any extra effort into audio is the Gigabyte Aorus Gaming 9 X299. It uses a non 1220 chip and seems to go a little more overboard in signal cleaning over any other board out there. Even their X270 Gaming Ultra only has a 1220 chip.

So I guess the rule of thumb is that if the advanced 1220 boards are fine all of them seem to take the same steps for signal quality. Asus goes a minor step further with their ROG options but very minor. Gigabyte on a single board has gone the extra mile, but I don't know whether this helps mic in as much you would care about.