Front Panel IO ports vs rear motherboard audio ports?

[Smooth1076]

To my hears, with multiple headsets and phones, my front case audio jacks sound better and louder than my motherboard audio jacks. All windows sound enhancements are disabled. Is it just because my motherboard doesn't have very good onboard sound?

 

[DonkeyOatie]

What motherboard? What system?

 

[Smooth1076]

What motherboard? What system?

Asus P8 Z77-vlk and NZXT source 220 windowed edition