Sound Cards, DACs, and Amps as Fast As Possible
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
- Sound cards, DACs, and amps are all highly discussed topics in the PC and audiophile worlds. Here's what I think you need to know about them...
Sponsor message: For a free audiobook of your choice go to audible.com/techquickie. - Наука та технологія
![If you can't hear this then you're not an audiophile [See description for link to followup video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/48PxwspDvrE/mqdefault.jpg)
I watched it 3 times and still know nothing.
DAC = Shit Audio In PC
Sound Card = Audio is Aight in PC, but could be better.
Caped Baldy That helped, thanks. I love your name.
You must be Jon Snow
Stryker oh god, maybe i am?
xD
I think you forgot to mention that if you aren't an audiophile, and there isn't anything physically wrong with your speakers/motherboard ect, then you probably don't need any of this.
^This is true.
The majority of people are fine with listening to beats out of their computer.
They are missing out, but if they go to a mid-high end audio store and can't tell / appreciate the difference they shouldn't buy anything different!
Once you try high-fi and summit-fi gear, there is no going back!
I have a FiiO E10K DAC + Schiit Asgard 2 + HiFiMan HE-400 planar magnetics and it's nirvana, man...
My end game setup will be Ragnarok + Yggdrasil + LCD-2's. I'm almost there Q_Q
Most people who aren't audiophiles may still prefer a better experience than they're currently getting, they might not even know what they're missing.
There's been a flood of newbie audiophiles in recent years and more than people realize. While the percentage of audiophiles to non-audiophiles is still very small, the number has been increasing dramatically... sadly, thanks to the popularity of Beats.
Anyway, my current setup is Sennheiser HD700 + Meridian Explorer² + Schiit Vali. It's a relatively expensive setup, but well worth the money. If people stop to think about it, a $500-$1,000 investment in high sound quality is extremely important. You need good sound for gaming, music, movie and stream video-watching, content production, etc. In my opinion, it's an essential part of everyone's tech setup. You don't have to upgrade sound nearly as often as graphic cards, either.
Gambit166 Bro my mp3s sound the same on both, you got ripped off man
These are top quality 720p youtube rips sound great on my sony speakers.
;)
I always wondered why my speakers had that hissing noise and why it grows when I start applications. Thanks Linus, these are super dope and informative!
Wow Linus, your timing is impeccable. I'm just about to buy a Amp/DAC combo, and I've been surfing around a lot to find out more about what I need. This is perfect, thank you!
Friberg: "WTF Flusha U WAT M8!"
hahahahahaha
I see what you did there.
Of course you did Gabe, we ALL did
This video didn't help at all
Always used external soundcards. Fast Track Pro did the job for years and was amazing. Now that it's started to show it's age, I upgraded to a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and it's incredible!
FANTASTIC! I've been having this exact question for a long time now and have never found a particularly satisfying answer.
i am an audio file :D
.flac or .mp3?
gr8 b8 m8 i r8 -8/8
nomnomnomlol xDD wma
.ogg is much more high fi for the common person.
.aiff is more compressed then wav but also loseless.
These Counter Strike jokes are amazing. Clearly there is a GO fan in the editing department.
Thank you for the information, and that was a really smooth transition into the audible bit.
I got an audio interface for my eletric guitar years ago, its an external USB Toneport UX2 and I use this as my main sound card even for gaming
Nice video. Just started using a DAC over my sound card, loving the difference. Need some good cans, though. #nomoney
Sennheiser 6XX is a great pick!
@@JimmyJaxJellyStax dt 990 pro
hehe, flusha, what a cheeky legend
Just bought a Fiio E10K and it makes a world of difference compared to my onboard. So much more detail and depth in the music I have been missing all this time.
Holy wow, that was an AMAZING analogy Linus! It really helped me understand this shebang.
....bit hypocritical saying improving your cars engine is a statement about your junk. Isn't this a channel, forum, and community for tech enthusiasts who 'supe' up computers? Was a bit miffed by that. I like to do both.
Improving your car's engine is fine. Damaging everyone else's experience by making it unnecessarily loud is obnoxious :)
You should have said exhaust instead ;)
Techquickie i
Oblķnbj gt v ñ
Techquickie Why would I want my car to sound like a prius, I want to hear it when it kicks into a new gear.
Teradmc Someone's a bit sensitive about the small joke he made.
New guy did well. 10/10.
Pretty good round up. More concise than I could ever manage. A dedicated headphone amplifier is also a good idea if you want to subtract the headphone from the main speaker part of the circuit.
Actually was really hoping this video would be made soon!
is it just me or is Linus's..s voice getting higher?
You guys got me good. I thought the thumbnail was a redheaded Olivia Wilde XD
Lol hey Bill.
Hey, dude XD
fancy running into you two here =P
Yup, we were bound to run into each other watch tech videos haha. I was also baited by the thumbnail XD
This video actually gave me an answer to a question that I didn't know was going to get answered going into this video. Thanks linus
3:03 THANK YOU for honouring us producers who do all of the work~! You are awesome :D
So.. I dont have a problem with my onboard sound.. No hissing, no distortion and (at least in my opinion) Good Sound, i dont know if a new soundcard would make a big difference though.
What do you guys think ? Should i get a soundcard or nah ?
Nah.
I'd say buy the FiiO E10K from a website you can return it to. It's a USB DAC/AMP combo, it provides enough power for most high sensitivity/low impedance headphones, it has very clean sound and it's a very popular product so chances are you will hear a difference with:
1. High quality files i.e. 320kbps MP3 or FLAC
2. High fidelity headphones
well, i dont know if it would make a big difference :(.. im just a simple gamer..
Well I purchased a sound card for my PC and rarely use it, has lots of noise coming off it, onboard is far better if you set up a good EQ. I wouldn't buy another sound card unless it was external
*****
If you aren't hearing any distortion or interference and it sounds fine then keep what you have. If you don't find yourself needing any more inputs/outputs than you have then you're good. If you know someone with a high quality audio set up then ask if you can listen. Also as Fixedup89 said onboard soundcards are definitely not the way to go, you want something external.
1:59 Those headphones? Those are the Sennheiser HD201's, they retail for $25.
better to get the Sennheiser HD 6XX
I don't need amplification. But would love as clean sound as I can get. If I buy just a dac without volume control, and connect it to my blue yeti which has volume control. Will the yeti then intefere with the sound/make it worse?
Awesome Linus. Also, crosstalk is also a large issue with on-board solutions which is much less an issue with DACs, AMPs or combo units. Not only does less crosstalk make stereo music more enjoyable, but it also makes directional sound in games far more accurate and use-able.
Best script writer NA, more CSGO jokes plserino
Linus you're so amazing! if only you knew the amounts of people you helped build their first PC ((including me))and teach on more complicated computer stuff :3 stay strong bro you're my hero!
Great script. much better than your average techquickie videos. plus I love the Gardiens of Galaxy refrence at the end.
been suffering from noise for a while.. tried a soundcard, didn't fix it.. got a external amp/dac (FiiO E07K) and solved it.. the E09K dock is pretty awesome aswell since its a dedicated amp that goes nice with the E07K..
Friberg :D flusha hacker
people who buy gaming headsets might not need a dedicated soundcard or dac, because those headsets are garbage no matter what.
then can you recommend a good headset?
@@brawndon7875 depends on your budget , if you got +300$ you can get a decent headset like 6xx with good dac/amp
I use a PCIe soundcard to connect to my audio rack to my mixer, then to a focusrite mix master, then speakers. Amazing sound quality when producing music.
Thanks, I like the analogy about the highway vs computer noise :) I came looking for more of a Sound Card Comparison, but this discussion still brings up MORE Questions, because I have Software which REQUIRES a High Performance Internal Sound Card, and at the same time everything I am using to Create the Music is geared towards an Audio Interface, some even come with one built into the equipment. So now we have the Question of how to Use MULTIPLE Sound Interfaces. I believe that is not really a problem as long as you select each individual Interface inside the Software Settings but it would be nice if someone knew everything about what I am talking about and could give me a little deeper insight on the matter.
I see you're holding a keyboard lovingly. What are you trying to do? What do you already have? What is your budget?
make advertisement shorter at the end of the videos, usually i end up the videos before it really ends
Flusha VACation confirmed
I'm glad someone picked up.....
I have a Cakewalk UA-25 EX and I love it. At the time they were sellingfor a few hundred so I picked up a second hand one for around £100. Full 24 bit 96KHz audio, solid construction, loads of connection options and it just works. This thing has 2 jack XLRs that support phantom power +48v , Toslink and USB. This beauty also has a headphone out ( via 1/4" TRS jack , toslink link out, phono out and 2 1/4" TS jack outs. Finally it does also have midi in/out but I have never used that.
It is a lovely like DAC/ADC and I can't fault it slightly and it drives my headphones lovely. I have had it a few years and I haven't had a single problem apart from moving to windows 8 however the driver for this is sorted now.
I believe this thing is more aimed at professionals but it's still a great option for computers.
Awesome video, as always!
REQUEST::
Buying guide on DSLR cameras would be great!
1:55 "amplication"
Call me out if I'm crazy, but that DJ at 3:05 did NOT look like he was giving the salute for "yeah brah!"
Script was awesome. Didn't even notice a difference from the other ones. Well done :)
Really awesome script imo. Didn't notice it was different till you said it. Did seem fresher, no information lost. 10/10
Iam still just as confused as I was before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep pressing 2:30 repeatedly xDD
Black Faia oudt! Oudt! Out! Out! Out!
This video didn't suck! Good job dudes
I had one on ISA, that had a connector for a floppy, IDE and 2 memory banks. 5.1 exit
Who is the redhead on the thumbnail?
T. Rietbergen my girlfriend...
Olivia Wilde
T. Rietbergen Thirteen
T. Rietbergen It's Olivia Wilde
guthxchild0 xfr
d
there's never enough coverage on topics! if he stopped trying to be funny and used video , motion audiable cues for things then he could explain it alot quicker then us just seeing he mouth moving
I get perfect sound from my on board audio. I'm currently running an old MSI X58 board which was brand new when I got it from Amazon. I don't pick up any sound distortions with my on board audio, so an audio card is something I can do without.
just got a E10K for my HD598 and it sounds so much better compared to onboard :D
Being an audiophile is pretty easy, you just have to never be satisfied with your audio and tell everyone that the audio they have is crap even if they can't tell the difference. Seriously though this stuff is only useful to people that work with it, I don't understand why some take it as a hobby, sounds super dumb.
***** 'cept monitors have a much more tangible difference for everyone. Audiophilla is for a select few, who should be taking a job on it.
***** Well if they can keep their hobby to themselves that'll be fine.
JukaDominator There are a lot of people who spend lots of money on screens, yet can't tell the difference between them. Same thing.
Jay Anderson Mostly because the market forces them, this one is a conscious choice.
JukaDominator The market doesn't force anyone to buy anything. Knowing that Im posting this on ltt video I know Im doomed to hate, but it is exactly like buying a high end graphics card. Those few FPS that you get for double the price really don't matter. Same goes for sound. That little extra frequency range or lower noise floor really won't matter, but if you're an enthusiast you'll want it just because.
Sorry a audio card is a waste of money, the onboard sound is good.imo
most of the latest realteks are good enough for most of the users. getting a fancy soundcard doesn't make your crappy headphone/speaker setup sound good. it's actually garbage in > garbage out theory !
Of course it is if you're not an audiophile or a producer... Producers tho won't get an audio card but an external audio interface (beginners) and other much more expensive solutions. Also sound engineers and producers will ground every single component inside the case and the case itself and every other electronic device to minimize the noise as much as they can.
berzu21 Exactly. I started noticing this when I got a MBP as laptop (yeah shame on me, w/e). The audio chips in those are significantly better and made the onboard audio on my desktop PC sound downright crappy. This was the main reason why I went for a USB headset. They have their own DAC built in so if you pick a nice USB headset it's already a lot better.
I still haven't gotten a solution that's a bit more robust but it's something I'm saving up for.
Depends, I have had onboard sound that had a lot of static. However the one i have now, an Asus board with the sound components on a separate corner of the mother board, is a lot better. I think buying a usb sound card can be worth it if you have a cheap motherboard.
especially when it a matter of driver support. windows natively supports pretty much every on-board chip. where some like creative believe in pump and dump where they give driver support for the first 6 months and after that you're supposed to by a new card with you're OS.
Can't say I've noticed any distortion with my Xonar Essence STX soundcard, so I'm pretty satisfied, I don't have room for an external amp or speakers larger than the Corsair Sp2500 speakers anyways, didn't cost me much to achieve sound that is pretty enjoyable for such an affordable price
Now that you mention it, I hear some cracking on my old compaq speakers from time to time.
FRIBURGERRRRR
Ayy, my 970 MoBo got a dedicated area for the sound card... Such an amazing MoBo....
do sound cards convert to analog or just process the digital audio differently? I ask because I'd like to use both an internal sound card to process and output a high quality digital output and then from there run it into an external amp and DAC.
So, if I plug my PC in my HT via optical digital from my onboard audio and plug my headphones on my HT I'll be fine and no problems as mentioned in the video?
I was wondering why I got audio feedback in some games when I do certain actions. The hissing is barely noticeable though, and only happens when I'm playing games, so it really isn't a problem.
"wtf flusha m8" made my day lmao
Scarlett 2i2 is a great choice for small "home studio" options.
Pretty happy with my ASUS ROG Xonar Phoebus and Razer Tiamat 7.1, for streams, I use a Blue Yeti. Since when playing a game, my headset just has background noise on voice.
Since Techquickie was meant to host to host short videos that can be shared with non-tech savvy people, you need to remember to briefly clarify what certain abbreviations you use mean, (DAC, EMI, etc), either through the scripted writing or with a short on-screen text popup. Otherwise there would be some confusion for those who haven't watched a corresponding previous video.
Would love to have seen examples of the problems like the hissing, and crackling sounds, and then showing the difference a good DAC, sound card, or external devices make and showing the improvements with respect to DAC, AMP, etc.....this will allow us to get intuition
Thanks for the video Linus!
I get that static sound on my computer and wondered why it was doing it. Using my monitor headphone jack fixes it though.
My brother started hearing strange noises from his speaker. At first we thought Edward Snowden was trying to get in touch with him . Thank's Linus for clarifying.
For all of you guys asking if you should get a soundcard just go for a cheap one like the ASUS Xonar DG, it will help to isolate the signal plus it has an integrated headphone amp. Its only $30 so its worth a try and even if its not a huge improvement it is still an upgrade to your PC, there is nothing to lose.
i used to have a sound card, but i have since moved on to Bluedio Bluetooth headphones on my pc, they don't sound bad , and i prefer the convenience of not having wires over audio quality.
I have MSI Z97-Gaming 5 LGA 1150 Intel Z97, please do tell me if i should configuring or if i should install some fancy driver for taking full advantage of it ? currently i have installed realtek driver
I got a logitech ( or is that logi now..) z506 5.1 system connected straight to the MSI B85M E45 MATX motherboard, i have had no issues on the sound.
I do have some issues getting the rear speakers to actually get noisy but that ive been told is a standard surround sound thing and isnt an issue.
IDK whether they have any of this, except that they do allow for higher volume than headphones can get straight from the pc itself. No EMF as mentioned here, i can get some funny, loud noises when touching the jack connectors with my fingers but they aint connected to the pc if that happens.
Linus, do you think hyper-threading the cpu can contribute to the hissing noise in onboard sound? But any way great video keep it up!
To add to this, if you are using speakers, make sure your connection is TRS (the connector typically on the end of headphones, but bd sure its not a mono cable which look almost the same) the difference between these and your red n white pjono cables is that they cancel out any interference along any point of the cable via 2 copies of the audio signal and polarising one if them at the start of the cable then polarising it again at the other end which makes the interference cancel itselc out perfectly.
Excuse the typos, modern day touch screen tech for you.
And I'm about to order a Behrigner UCA 202 today, too. I got a new mixer and have to try and run it through my old 302usb, but theres a crapton of background his coming from the charging. Hopefully a different device and new charger will fix this.
Being an audiophile is such a blessing and a curse...
You can reduce noise with shorter cables or use BALANCED CONNECTIONS (like XLR)
I lolled at the Friberg/Flusha pic, nice.
If you buy anything to reduce hissing or pops, try changing components of your system. My speaker power cable somehow became damaged which led to hissing. A sound card wouldn't have done anything to fix that.
Is the FiiO E10K Olympus 2 worth the money for my Audio Technica ATH-M50x?
My onboard soundcard + mix-amp is doing just fine.
I lol'ed pretty hard at that flusha reference.
I LOL'ed so hard at the Friberg photo..
Nice friberg integration. 10/10
I have felt the difference between your built-in soundcard and something like a portable amp dac combo is mostly sound stage and imaging rather than the sound quality itself.. There are some really good built-in cards that are quite good..
So what should one look for when getting a Soundcard or DAC then?
My laptop's built in Sound card/DAC is quite good (loud, *THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN **_MP3_** AND **_FLAC_*,no hissing/clicking)
I think my interface has it's own sound card. It's already outside the PC so I think I will stay with that when I build a DAW specific computer? although admittedly I need to learn more before commiting.
I love my ASUS Xonar Essence STX II
the script was nice, I would love to see a techquickie on cpu/gpu architecture, what it is, what it does, how it changes performance.
Please do different type of speakers (there's 3 types but I don't know what they are or how they work please explain)
another plus for external Amps is the higher availability of passive speakers. hard wired logitechs and the like can be a cable management nightmare
SO BASICALLY, good audio and computers are pretty much incompatible because of some issue we haven't resolved yet involving interference when outputting audio. External Dacs+Amps aid in this by taking the data and turning it into the audio signal externally?
HAHAHA that Friberg absolutely devastated my lungs.
Dat awesome mix reference
I have a Audio Engine D1 powered by a Magni amp, using a optical cable, its a sweet little setup. great sound when listening to music, and awesome spacial audio for gaming... its well worth the $260 setup for this external DAC/AMP.... Im using Beyers DT990 premium (open ends)250 Ohmes, but other folks might want to try different head phones to color there music,
The funny thing is I have a SoundBlaster AE5 ( Internal sound Card ) Sound BlasterX AE-5 is a SABRE-class PCI-e DAC with 122 dB DNR audio stream at up to 32-bit / 384 kHz* playback Dynamic Range: 122 dB, THD+N (DAC): 0.00032[%] (Bi-amp) Analog Impedance: 16-600Ω. I do in fact run analog out to a Rolls Buz off for grounding loop isolation balanced out to a Presonus Tremblor 10 and balanced out from the Tremblor to a pair of Adam A77X monitors and I use it for listening. I had a buddy bring over his DAC and it was an ok DAC in the $500 range and the DAC sounded Exsagerated and too bright as if the gain was turned up whereas the Internal sound card was very Honest in its playback and they both had a lower floor noise that was inaudible... I know people have an idea \ or knowledge about noise and what it does but your setup but isolation can be completed internally and is in this sound card and also the Sound blaster is physically EMI shielded. I have listened to many setups and I have yet to hear this noise in the playback, maby this was a thing in older sound cards but has been eliminated now in the high end. Note I do not record on this setup I only use it for listening. Recording may have an impact I do not know. But my playback is silent I have full dynamic range it is cristal clear. It comes down to taste and what you like for your playback and how you want it to sound. I go for a very SQ purest approach I want to hear it exactly how it was meant to be heard by the musician. I get that with an internal PCIe carded sound card setup.
DACs better for studio headphones?
can we get a video on if gamer glasses actually work?
Bought an Asus Xonar DG, getting a lot of noise, no problem with the onboard one though.