Sound card advice

[aps_88f3]

Hey everyone! Hope this is in the correct category.

Just looking at a new build and considering whether or not to include a dedicated sound card.

My previous ROG motherboard had supremefx on there and although I can say from first hand experience there was more depth and fidelity to the sound in comparison my older cheaper mother board, I would love to hear from users that have experience with sound cards as unfortunately I don't have direct access to one. Currently looking at a ASUS board that has crystal sound 2 on it..

I will be using a pair of Shure SE535 in ear monitors most of the time, however (when no ones home) I wouldn't mind hooking up my pair of Swan m200 mk3 reference monitors and an old sherwood 10" sub I have, if anyone has any similar configurations or experience and would like to share I would greatly appreciate it!

So far Creative sound blaster ZxR have caught my eye....

Cheers

 

[Flying-Q]

Some of the sound chips on modern motherboards are quite good and for most of us audio-stunted people they are plenty good enough. If you want outstanding sound quality and fidelity, such as for mastering etc. an add in card with good op-amps is essential. If you were happy with the built-in sound on the RoG board then any good sound chip will feel OK to the ear.

Tell us what motherboard you are considering and we can guide you further.

 

[aps_88f3]

I believe its an ASUS Z97-A motherboard, comes with crystal sound 2 on board. I don't plan on doing any professional work but I do want to be getting the most out of my hardware, and from experience using my in ear monitors with a portable quality dac compared to when using it with the ROG motherboard, there is a difference.

Whether or not this is a worthy comparison I am unsure..

 

[Flying-Q]

This external DAC is, I presume, either optical or coax SPDIF fed rather than USB? Being a digital feed the conversion from audio data to digital sound data has already been done by the internal sound chip before being fed to the onboard DAC or via SPDIF to your external DAC. Th external DAC will have a different output profile from the onboard amp. You will hear this difference. If it is USB fed then the external unit is doing the audio data to digital sound data conversion as well. What is more important is which do you prefer?

 

[aps_88f3]

Actually the one I was referring to is neither, it is portable with its own power source and storage much like an ipod although with profound advantages. (except cost lol)

In terms of either internal or external I don't really have a preference, I imagine there would be enough desk space and a spare usb port to comfortably accommodate the external dac, however I have used neither and my main concern would be the sound as well as having the required outputs.