Questions about Soundcards & Digital Audio for a new PC

[ElementAMD]

My dad's old computer is dying and he is looking into getting a new one, and I've convinced him that it'd be better to buy the parts and let me build it. The issue with it is that he really wants to make sure that audio coming out of the PC will sound good (He has a stereo & an amp), and wants a digital out on the PC to connect to his equipment. My questions are:

1. Is digital out going to increase audio quality noticeably?
2. Are there any modern soundcards w/ digital out?
3. Is it worth it to get a soundcard?

Thank you in advanced for advice on this!

 

[mozga628]

that really is a loaded question... if the speakers are of low quality, no amount of upgrading the source will make them sound better.
if you are using good quality speakers (yamaha, comes to mind), yes the difference can be heard.

the easiest way to explain it (imho) is comparing 128k or 160k mp3 to 320k mp3.. if the speakers are poor quality the difference will be unnoticed.. a good set of speakers in your living room can be like being center stage in a music hall.

 

[ElementAMD]

that really is a loaded question... if the speakers are of low quality, no amount of upgrading the source will make them sound better.
if you are using good quality speakers (yamaha, comes to mind), yes the difference can be heard.

the easiest way to explain it (imho) is comparing 128k or 160k mp3 to 320k mp3.. if the speakers are poor quality the difference will be unnoticed.. a good set of speakers in your living room can be like being center stage in a music hall.

So would giving my dad a digital out port for audio on his PC be worth it for sound quality, or will a DAC or something similar work better?