![creative_sound_blaster_z_01[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/Y3XVEbY.jpg "creative_sound_blaster_z_01[1].jpg")
Is there any point in getting a dedicated sound card?
I kinda want an Optical In for hooking up my PS3, but it's not enough to make me buy one.
Is the audio quality any better?
Currently using an integrated ALC892 and ATH-TAD400 .
i use a usb audio interface since i record stuff with my mic, and need little to no latency, but i'd use one regardless since you can plug optical in some of them too, plus they have better resale value than those shitty internals.
>>52523824
If you don't hear any hissing or weird digital noises from your integrated audio and it's enough to drive whatever you plug into it, I don't think a dedicated card is going to make much of a difference.
If you want to get a sound card anyways, consider buying an external USB one; it's easier to use with more devices and potentially less prone to picking up interference from other parts.
>>52523859
>>52523845
Thanks anons.
Any recommendations for an external one?
Preferably under $100 and I'd really want the optical in.
I'm actually quite happy with the integrated one, but not having to dick around with cables every time I feel like turning on the console would be pretty nice. Line-In picks up too much interference sadly.
>>52523879
For optical-in quality doesn't matter since it's a purely digital signal, just get any interface that has the plug.
Looking at sweetwater.com I can't find any sub-$200 interfaces with optical though.
Get a USB DAC for example Fiio ones
>>52523879
>>52523931
This is the same issue I'm having OP. So far though, I don't hear any audio issues so maybe I'll be fine; but it would be nice to know I have options. I use a Turtle Beach Earforce DSS so optical is the only way to go for me, too.
>>52523824
no, get an external DAC
>>52524357
This. Sound cards are overpriced and lower quality than a DAC.
>>52524331
You wouldn't benefit from an sound card at all because your DAC is inside your Turtlebeach shit.
Only advantage I can think of is hardware mixing
>>52524380
>Sound cards are overpriced and lower quality than a DAC.
Sound cards >>ARE<< DACs.
>>52524442
Yes, you're point being? Is this your first day on /g/?
>>52524449
My point being that I'm correcting this anon who's implying that a DAC is only an external box sitting on your desk or wherever.
That onboard audio your motherboard has is also a DAC.
>>52524380
>>52524357
>>52524442
>>52524466
Well I've been looking around and all external solutions I can find with comparable specs to OP pic and a optical in are at least twice as much.
>>52524466
You realize in audio threads on /g/ "DAC" is almost always shorthand "External USB DACs" right? No one wants to waste the time typing that out when everyone understands what you mean by "DAC".
The few times people are actually talking about the DAC chip itself it's always in context and impossible to confuse with an external USB DAC.
>>52523824
If you go for usb make sure you get asynchronous usb dac.
