Is this Sound card Better than mine?

[mclaren85]

Hello,

As a half audiophile, I would like to have a Creative Sound Blaster Sound card since it is affordable right now. But my onboard soundchip is Realtek® ALC4082 Codec + ESS SABRE9018Q2C combo DAC. Do you think I could get distinctive benefits from changing sound card? What else do you suggest at the same price range for a better sound quality? (Ps: I mostly listen music not a hardcore gamer.)

 

[Bill_Bright]

To me, gamers don't need "audiophile" quality audio because so much of the gaming experience involves the visual side of things. Plus, much of the sound in games is exaggerated too for better special effects, not for better (more faithful) audio reproduction "accuracy".

And frankly, the vast majority of the remaining computer users don't need audiophile quality audio either because even if we (and I do mean "we") consider ourselves discerning listeners with calibrated ears, when we listen to music on our computers, it typically is, more or less, background music - even if played loudly.

And last, if you consider even a 1/10 audiophile could easily justify spending $200-$300 on just the left-front speaker alone, forget about the right-front speaker or the pre-amp and amplifier electronics, and the audio source (file, CD, DVD, streaming service, etc)., then 1,200TL ($64.51USD) sound card is like listening to an AM transistor radio.

That sound card is just one component. You told us nothing of your speakers or the electronics that drive them. If your current speakers are your bottleneck, a new sound card is not likely to produce any significant improvement.

Not trying to burst your bubble here - but people need to be realistic when it comes to computer sound. Even a very modest sound system for a budget home theater system could easily cost $2000 (37,200TL) or more.

Having said all that, as seen here, the audio on that motherboard was rated as "Excellent". If looking to get better sound, maybe look into better speakers.

 

[8tyone]

Your onboard atleast according to me is very competent to the discrete sound card you are planning to buy, so dont get it. I would have suggested Asus Xonar Ae but thinking about it now its not worth it; Instead get a new speaker if you are up for it.
You did not share your Altec Lansing speaker model.

 

[erocker]

I really don't see the point in sound cards if onboard is good. Only reason I'd get one is if the onboard sounded bad. Even then, I'd opt for a USB device instead of populating a PCI-e slot.

 

[P4-630]

The onboard audio is pretty good these days for decent motherboards.

 

[Solaris17]

To me, gamers don't need "audiophile" quality audio because so much of the gaming experience involves the visual side of things. Plus, much of the sound in games is exaggerated too for better special effects, not for better (more faithful) audio reproduction "accuracy".

And frankly, the vast majority of the remaining computer users don't need audiophile quality audio either because even if we (and I do mean "we") consider ourselves discerning listeners with calibrated ears, when we listen to music on our computers, it typically is, more or less, background music - even if played loudly.

And last, if you consider even a 1/10 audiophile could easily justify spending $200-$300 on just the left-front speaker alone, forget about the right-front speaker or the pre-amp and amplifier electronics, and the audio source (file, CD, DVD, streaming service, etc)., then 1,200TL ($64.51USD) sound card is like listening to an AM transistor radio.

That sound card is just one component. You told us nothing of your speakers or the electronics that drive them. If your current speakers are your bottleneck, a new sound card is not likely to produce any significant improvement.

Not trying to burst your bubble here - but people need to be realistic when it comes to computer sound. Even a very modest sound system for a budget home theater system could easily cost $2000 (37,200TL) or more.

Having said all that, as seen here, the audio on that motherboard was rated as "Excellent". If looking to get better sound, maybe look into better speakers.

I agree with Bill. There are exactly 3 times in my entire life I can honestly say I was wow'd by my computers sound.

1: I was trying to play morrowind and was using the onboard audio of my AMD duron system (on my VIA chipset mobo). I bought a soundblaster live 24bit and I could hear foot steps and other sounds like leaves and I was actually floored.

2: I replaced my headset years ago from "gamer" headsets to a normal decent pair of stereo audio technica's (~$100) and to my own ear sounded fantastic! I mean everything before it was so flat (and I dont mean neutral)

3: Finally; I moved from my onboard sound (motherboards got better so ditched sound cards some years ago) to an external DAC because my headset at the time was pretty high impedance. The difference was noticeable now that I had the power to drive them correctly (though this was no real fault or even a remark of the onboard audio quality)


Now it has evolved. I have a more expensive headset and still use a DAC but the reality is it was preference. Only 3 times in my life did my audio change enough for me to be excited, and on two of those occasions it was my choice of headset. Only once in history was it the actual limitations of what my sound card could do. For my use anyway.

IMO having spent the $$$ and done the combinations. I can say if you are a normal person or a normal gamer, the onboard sound of pretty much any current motherboard with multichannel will do what you want. and if it sounds like garbage you should look into a better headset or speakers. If you get to the point that onboard sound is not doing what you want, then its because you already dove deeper into audio than most people and you probably (but maybe!) wouldnt be making this thread.

 

[freeagent]

I just use my GPU, works good

 

[1freedude]

Where do you get your tunes?

 

[cvaldes]

Most onboard audio chips on today's motherboards are quite decent. The question is what happens to the analog audio signal after it leaves the DAC; there's more EMI inside today's PC cases than ever before.

If you can get decent analog out quality (i.e., if you're happy what you hear), you might consider saving the money.

These after-market sound cards might have better chips and there's undoubtedly a better DAC. Yet most importantly they introduce EMI shielding around key areas. A better solution is to use an external DAC which largely eliminates the PC's internal EMI as negative influence on sound quality.

I'd say that 80% of a sound system's quality is governed by speaker (or headphone) quality so it's a better budgetary strategy to focus on quality speakers than a sound card.

A lot of people will mention speaker placement and room alterations for improving sound quality however the reality is most people need their computer desk at a certain location, usually not in a room that is optimal for music listening.

 

[Wheeljack4219]

I would just use a sound blaster ae5- or ae-7. 32bit 384khz sound. The ae-5 sucks because you need to use a molex to power the rgb strip that comes with. I had the ae-5 with win 10 home 64 bit and it died. Not sure if it was the lack of molex (not sure if the card needed for extra power for the card itself). I want to get the ae-7 because afaik it doesn't need molex power or any extra power and use it with a logitech z625 2.1 system.

 

[ir_cow]

For me, only reason to get a sound card is if you play HD-Tracks. Game audio is so compressed anyways that a decent onboard audio solution is indistinguishable. It gets complicated when you start to add $400+ headphones and $1,000+ speakers into the mix though. Those are higher quality and can actually make things sound "worse" if the source audio is crappy.

 

[mclaren85]

You did not share your Altec Lansing speaker model

Yes, sorry to add my speaker model: It is Altec Lansing BXR1121 2W output per satellite and 7W output for subwoofer.

Altec Lansing BXR1121 2.1 Stereo Speaker System - 15W

Buy Altec Lansing BXR1121 2.1 Stereo Speaker System - 15W Review Altec Lansing BXR1121

www.bhphotovideo.com

 

[Operandi]

But my onboard soundchip is Realtek® ALC4082 Codec + ESS SABRE9018Q2C combo DAC.

Thats a good chipset but how it performs is largely up to how the engineer implemented it so there really is no easy to know without listening to or measuring the differences. That said...

Yes, sorry to add my speaker model: It is Altec Lansing BXR1121 2W output per satellite and 7W output for subwoofer.

Don't bother with those speakers. As a general rule of thumb your source (DAC/soundcard) should be 15-25% of the budget of your system and at least 50% should go into the speakers.

Also, wow, how old are those things!? Pretty impressive they are still going.

 

[mclaren85]

Also, wow, how old are those things!? Pretty impressive they are still going.

I really don't know how old my speakers. Given the lack of new Altec speakers in the market, I had to buy as a second hand.

I firmly believe that Altec is the best in speakers.

And there is no other good brand to buy for pc anymore. Please don't tell me logitech
I remember like 10-15 years ago, the speaker market was so competitive.

 

[P4-630]

I use this set

 

[mclaren85]

I use this set

View attachment 267182

Could you specify the power output please?

 

[P4-630]

Could you specify the power output please?

2x60

 

[GreiverBlade]

if i had that audio on my mobo ... i wouldn't use a external equiped Sabre DAC

damn there are mobo around with an ESS 9018Q2C onboard???

ah... 400chf+ mobo ...

edit: ah ... i rember during the Pentium II era i had an Acer Veriton which onboard soundcard was a ESS Solo1

 

[mclaren85]

To me, gamers don't need "audiophile" quality audio because so much of the gaming experience involves the visual side of things. Plus, much of the sound in games is exaggerated too for better special effects, not for better (more faithful) audio reproduction "accuracy".

And frankly, the vast majority of the remaining computer users don't need audiophile quality audio either because even if we (and I do mean "we") consider ourselves discerning listeners with calibrated ears, when we listen to music on our computers, it typically is, more or less, background music - even if played loudly.

And last, if you consider even a 1/10 audiophile could easily justify spending $200-$300 on just the left-front speaker alone, forget about the right-front speaker or the pre-amp and amplifier electronics, and the audio source (file, CD, DVD, streaming service, etc)., then 1,200TL ($64.51USD) sound card is like listening to an AM transistor radio.

That sound card is just one component. You told us nothing of your speakers or the electronics that drive them. If your current speakers are your bottleneck, a new sound card is not likely to produce any significant improvement.

Not trying to burst your bubble here - but people need to be realistic when it comes to computer sound. Even a very modest sound system for a budget home theater system could easily cost $2000 (37,200TL) or more.

Having said all that, as seen here, the audio on that motherboard was rated as "Excellent". If looking to get better sound, maybe look into better speakers.

Waovv text book explanation. Thanks a million! And yes, I think I should start considering to get a better speaker from a "better" (if any) company.

 

[Bill_Bright]

As a general rule of thumb your source (DAC/soundcard) should be 15-25% of the budget of your system and at least 50% should go into the speakers.

Oh? And where is this general rule written or stated? Frankly, I think it nonsense to put any number in there.

Please bear in mind I've been into audiophile quality consumer electronics long before I got into computers. And I got into computers professionally back in 1975 when I literally stood inside a NORAD Air Defense Command mainframe computer I was tasked to interface a "SLFCS" command and control radio system to.

So I am not just asking out of curiosity.

 

[mclaren85]

Oh? And where is this general rule written or stated? Frankly, I think it nonsense to put any number in there.

Please bear in mind I've been into audiophile quality consumer electronics long before I got into computers. And I got into computers professionally back in 1975 when I literally stood inside a NORAD Air Defense Command mainframe computer I was tasked to interface a "SLFCS" command and control radio system to.

So I am not just asking out of curiosity.

What?? You had the privilege to work in Norad? And also not so many engineer even entitled to work with SLFCS. You either must be so lucky or so clever. I think both

damn there are mobo around with an ESS 9018Q2C onboard???

Forgive me to asking, have you dissappointed or is it too much?

 

[Bill_Bright]

I worked for NORAD, not in. That is, I was assigned to the Communications squadron on the base and part of the AF Communications Command (AFCC). And we were tasked to support NORAD. I was lucky to be selected to go back to school to learn how to support that new (at the time) radio system. So while I worked in the NORAD "blockhouse" building, I was not "in" NORAD.

Interesting tidbit. Some may have heard about a 5 mile long antenna that was dragged behind an Air Force jet? All true. And that was for this system. Initially, they were on EC-135 planes (based on the Boeing 707). But that plane was too small and could not hold a wench big enough to pull the antenna back in when deployed. So they had to fly over an ocean or Great Lake then cut the wire. Eventually they got E-4 aircraft (military version of a 747) and it could carry the necessary wench.

I worked and supported the ground version of that radio system. Our antennas also had 5 miles of wires, but wrapped around inside a large circular antenna, similar to this one.

 

[GreiverBlade]

Forgive me to asking, have you dissappointed or is it too much?

oh no no no, i meant, my mobo has a bog basic ALC codec onboard ... and usually when i use my earphones (IEMs, Fiio FH1s) i use my Fiio KA1 USB DAC which use an ESS ES9281AC Pro chip
planning to get either a Fiio K5 Pro ESS using a ES9038Q2M or a new K3 (also using ESS ES9038Q2M chip) as the KA1 is more for my phone usage ... but i am used to Sabre DAC sound signature and i used various DAC till now, either running Asahi Kasei Microdevice (AKM chips) and Ti Burr Brown (from the time Burr Brown was still not bought by Texas Instrument, prio to 2000 )

i meant it as "awesome GIMME!"

 

[OolongGoat]

I have been running a sound card in my system since the SoundBlaster Live! It's just a habit of mine that I try not to rely on the motherboard for everything. I have had to turn devices on a motherboard off, not so much lately, to allow for add-in cards to work properly. Having to manage IRQs was so much fun.

I look at audio the same as I do high end TVs and displays, just because a spec sheet says something, it doesn't mean anything if the person using it can't tell the difference.

As others have said, I would invest in a better set of headphones and/or speakers if you primarily listen to music.

The EAX and 3D Audio of the older Creative, Auzentech, Aureal Vortex cards has been mostly abandoned, which was one of the advantages of the dedicated hardware.

I currently switch between an AE-5 and EVGA Nu Audio Pro as well as Sennheiser 598 and Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pros.

I do not use any of the surround effects or enhancements. I simply use them in a Direct Mode, passing the audio directly to my headphones without anything extra being done by the sound card. There are some subtle differences in amplification and soundstage of the cards. The headphones used also matters.

It comes down to personal preference and finding the right components that suit your tastes and ears.

 

[mclaren85]

do not use any of the surround effects or enhancements

I simply love that my audio is being processed and enhanced. That's why I would like to get a card and it's specific software. (DTS, Dolby etc)

Ps. I love punchy sounds