[Soundcard] PCI vs. onboard using S/PDIF

I previously stated that the Phoebus is too expensive in my area. I like to keep it around 100 USD.

 

oh, didn't notice, About a Xonar D2 or D2X, Also the Xonar DG would work as it should be cheap in your area. Unless it massively over priced.

 

Xonar DG is good for its price but it doesn't offer DDL or DTS Connect. Which would be useful if using Toslink like I do.

 

I would be wary of the D2X if you plan on using Windows 8.

As of now there are no reliable drivers and I'm not sure if there will be.


T

 

I had a lot of Soundcards and i use Spdif for my Wharfedale 10.7 Surround Set.
There i hear all characteristics of onboard 889/a from Realtek, Asus D2X and Creative Titanium HD.

I stay with Titanium HD over SPDIF it have the best Sound.

 

It doesn't matter all sound cards sound the same over Spdif, the sound card is not used when your using Digital. The dac in the device that you have it plugged to is being used. So it was your Wharfedale sound system that you was hearing. Not the Titanium HD, Same with Xonar ST/X and any other sound card with Spdif out. The sound cards dac is only used when your plugging it thru analog. Then you will hear the sound quality of the sound card. With Digital the sound card just acts like a transport sending the data thru Digital.

 

Wasn't the path something like:

Source==[DDL/DTS]==digital==DAC--analog--Speaker

The optional DDL/DTS encoder is obviously in the computer, in integrated or card. (Unless Receivers make this more complicated?) That could have some effect.

If the DAC is in the computer, then the digital path is internal too.
If the digital path uses SPDIF, then the DAC is clearly outside.
All DACs are not alike.

You cannot avoid having both digital and analog paths. However, some are less equal than others.

 

GenClaymore is right.

DDL/DTS encoders compress the audio signal so you can fit 5.1 down a full bandwidth STEREO link, the quality of 5.1 is reduced.
Dont use them if you are after quality audio.
Especially dont use them if you are using a stereo external DAC !

ie, dont use DDL/DTS if you dont have to.

 

Absolutly correct what you are saying, but i can tell you there is a different. Why i cant tell you i m not a sound engineer.

 

I use DDL because my only option of connection to my 5.1 setup is toslink. It sounds crisp and clear !
Way better than with my onboard! Now I can truly hear 5.1 audio in games, music and videos. I can also hear positional audio with my headphones while gaming.

 

What about the Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D?

 

The driver is better as on a XFI, but the XFI have better Sound.
If you are Focus on Gaming the Rrecon3D over Spdif is ok. If you want good Headphone Sound then this Card sucks

 

Actually I listen to music most of the time.

The games I play is Battlefield 3 and World of Warcraft, but when I'm playing WoW, the in-game music and effects are off for my own music.

 

For Games Special Battlefield 3 the Recon3D makes a impressive Job a bit better as a XFI, if you focus more on Music then Choice a Asus Soundcard would be the best Choice, they are not that bad on Games.

As i said i try a lot of Soundcards over Spdif the old Titanium HD do this job at best, but its a bit expansive

 

I intend to use analog output and not S/PDIF or Toslink.

I think the ASUS cards makes a good standard.

 

Remember people: Even when using digital out, you are still going through the soundcards driver layer. I suspect there's some cleaning of the signal that goes on, as well as any software enhancements to make certain audio ranges more pronounced. I wouldn't say audio quality changes, just the overall signature.

 

This is true. I may not be a sound engineer but I have quite an acute ear. I most certainly notice a difference in sound when going through the X-fi soundcard instead of the realtek one. Besides of outputting the sound in a way the reciever can decode it into 6 channels. Cristallizer, equalizer, crossfade, etc.