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Thread: Use an old soundcard

  1. #17
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    Re: Use an old soundcard

    I did look at DACs a few years ago. I'm assuming you can't use the same sort of software, that you get with cards, which means the cards still have the edge. I'm not sure about that Pob, does the software enhance or not, the sound. I prefer the surround and enhanced sound even for music. To be honest once a system is working, I tend not to think about the components.

    I don't think many people realise just how much our minds filter and edit, both what we see visually, but what we hear.

  2. #18
    OilSheikh
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    Re: Use an old soundcard

    Question

    My RX 580 has HDMI audio as well. Will this be even better than the Creative soundcard ?
    I currently have speakers plugged into the Creative. Should I instead be plugging them to my HDMI monitor ?

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    Re: Use an old soundcard

    Quote Originally Posted by OilSheikh View Post
    Question

    My RX 580 has HDMI audio as well. Will this be even better than the Creative soundcard ?
    I currently have speakers plugged into the Creative. Should I instead be plugging them to my HDMI monitor ?
    Depends on the TV, but I doubt it has a better DAC than the soundcard.

  4. #20
    OilSheikh
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    Re: Use an old soundcard

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    Depends on the TV, but I doubt it has a better DAC than the soundcard.
    My monitor is a HDMI LG IPS LED

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    Re: Use an old soundcard

    HDMI just carries the raw digital audio before any digital to analogue processing, the quality is entirely dependent on what is doing that conversion (i.e. the DAC as kalniel says), the amplification, etc. It will completely bypass any of the soundcard's capabilities.

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    Re: Use an old soundcard

    Quote Originally Posted by OilSheikh View Post
    My monitor is a HDMI LG IPS LED
    I doubt it has a better DAC than the soundcard.

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    Re: Use an old soundcard

    I have an X-Fi elite pro that I got second hand. I've binned the breakout box as it refused to work with Windows 10 (lack of drivers most likely, I tried everything I could think of). I still accept the inconvenience because the sound quality is awesome in comparison to onboard. I'd always advise getting a decent set of headphones or speakers (budget of £80-120 seems to be the sweet spot) and then seeing if upgrading the sound card is worth it. Post processing on the X-Fi is pretty damn good but for some things Audigy is far better. It's all down to the post processing.

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