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Realtek ALC892 onboard vs gimmicky sound cards

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xFALL3Nx

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Looking to improve quality, do not want to use a headset.

Using Realtek ALC892 paired with Klipsch pro media 2.1's

Usage: 50% media, 50% gaming

Budget, unlimited.

Done some google, no clear answers on the ALC892s, any help would be GREATLY appreciated -THANKS!
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#4 ·
That is a powered 2.1 set-up. I am not sure how much difference you will hear in upgrading to a sound card, unless you are experiencing noise now. Your Realtek codec will only determine your control interface. And well, there is a sewer pipe on the main page. That should be the end of the discussion for most people and is enough for me to buy a soundcard to make it go away.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by cuad View Post

Stick with onboard. Oh wait, you use speakers. Never mind then. I don't know.
Click to expand...
Quote:
Originally Posted by c-attack View Post

That is a powered 2.1 set-up. I am not sure how much difference you will hear in upgrading to a sound card, unless you are experiencing noise now. Your Realtek codec will only determine your control interface. And well, there is a sewer pipe on the main page. That should be the end of the discussion for most people and is enough for me to buy a soundcard to make it go away.
Click to expand...
WHAT?! Sewer pipe?!

Quote:
Originally Posted by cuad View Post

Stick with onboard. Oh wait, you use speakers. Never mind then. I don't know.
Click to expand...
Well i just got this board and it sounds way worse than my last onboard AMD mobo that was 2 years older. Sound is super flat.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiihokatti View Post

Stay with onboard or get a cheap soundcard/DAC like Behringer UCA222.
The chip used tells you nothing as everything around it can be badly designed. Like some front panels... Or mic/line-in inputs...
Click to expand...
Wait wat. I can use a dac with a powered speaker setup?!
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Well i just got this board and it sounds way worse than my last onboard AMD mobo that was 2 years older. Sound is super flat.
Click to expand...
I see this all the time, but with headphones. Most likely you're using different settings on this new onboard than you used on the last onboard.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by cuad View Post

I see this all the time, but with headphones. Most likely you're using different settings on this new onboard than you used on the last onboard.
Click to expand...
I was, I used the realtek software's EQ to get more highs.

I got a sub for lows, I love me some mids and high. 100% a hi-fi nut. Thinking of picking up a pair of superluxx 668B's!
 
#9 ·
"super flat" = "not what people are used to - as it was recorded"

People wonder why $2500 studio monitors sound like crap compared to a $99 Sony all-in-one from Best Buy. It's because most people's ears are accustomed to jacked up treble and bass, with a pronounced midrange dip.

Honestly, unless there's noise or distortion ruining your audio experience, you can adjust to your heart's content in the RealTek control panel and probably get the sound where you want it. Upgrading to a high quality external DAC will get you a better S/N ratio, improved stereo separation and imaging, and extended frequency response. But, you're probably going to need a $250+ set of headphones to hear the difference.

Greg
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by hammong View Post

"super flat" = "not what people are used to - as it was recorded"

People wonder why $2500 studio monitors sound like crap compared to a $99 Sony all-in-one from Best Buy. It's because most people's ears are accustomed to jacked up treble and bass, with a pronounced midrange dip.

Honestly, unless there's noise or distortion ruining your audio experience, you can adjust to your heart's content in the RealTek control panel and probably get the sound where you want it. Upgrading to a high quality external DAC will get you a better S/N ratio, improved stereo separation and imaging, and extended frequency response. But, you're probably going to need a $250+ set of headphones to hear the difference.

Greg
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Hahahaha, it's a well known fact onboard audio is inferior. I don;t know how, but it seems like I pissed you off. Sounds like your defending your child hahaha. Not sure what you mean buy "people" but most "people" are dumb. I consider myself an audiophile. I'm very picky on sound and audio IMO can make or break a game. It's one of the most important things for me.

Your telling me a dac won't improve sound quality over 5 year old onabord audio codec with a pair of superlux headphones? top kek. You must have dead ears.
 
#12 ·
Going from a dedicated sound card to onboard the main difference I noticed was that I needed to turn it up to 11 to match the previous volume. You may need to do the reverse. As for difference in quality, I wouldn't know because I didn't compare them (it wasn't actually my speaker setup).
 
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#13 ·
In my case, the SBZ made a huge different on my CM Pulse R headset. Adjusting the EQ gave far better results on the SBZ compared to my ALC chip on the UD4 motherboard. Just my experience.
 
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#14 ·
TL;DR the previous comments on this thread, but I wohldnt get a sound card at all, go get yourself a O2/ODAC, or its schiit varient of the same price range, the only difference really being how it sounds, and that is a heavily debated topic. Either way both are digital so you would getting accurate sound reproduction. the sound signature produced by the DAC is only minor compared to the effect of your headphones. So you would probably be getting more value for money per say getting decent headphones but a good DAC will last a long time and through many headphone changes if you decide to go down the audiophile path
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by xFALL3Nx View Post

WHAT?! Sewer pipe?!
Click to expand...
Under the Environment sound effect settings.
PWk2vga.png


I don't see why this would be a bad thing. My Xonar DG came with pretty much the same stuff, It's defaulted to off, and while there is a sewer pipe there are a lot more settings some of which can sound cool but should in no situation be left on. Ever.

I don't ever play with the EQ or gimmicky features like dolby surround, but I have noticed the Xonar is better performing with overlapping sound effects in rapid succession and the 3D sound seems to be clearer, but I don't use it and do fine with regular stereo sound.

I bought my sound card not because I was unsatisfied with the Realtek, but because I wanted another separate input/output audio device. I haven't been able to notice much of a difference in quality between the two other than for overlapping sounds, but I don't have an expensive headset so maybe I'm not the best judge.
 
#16 ·
One issue of going with an amp\dac stack would be lack of surround imaging if the OP wants that. I don't know if the mobo he has supports virtual surround and has optical out. If it did he could utilize the virtual surround software. I run optical out from my SBZ to my DAC\amp so I can have the surround imaging for games\movies, which I really like. Obviously the klipsch prom's won't play well with the amp, so he would need a setup that allows them to use the external DAC. Ideal setup is soundcard with a good DAC to connect the speakers to and then use the optical out to go to external dac\amp for the cans. Of course if the soundcard DAC is acceptable for your cans you can just use the headphone out to an external amp. Personally I prefer my bifrost uber and Valhalla for my cans. The SBZ is fine for running my A2+ with sub.
There are so many options out there. It really depends on your goals. I want to post more but I am on a much needed vacation and I gotta run.

I know you don't want a headset, but they really are fantastic compared to speakers for somethings, IMO.
I think you would benefit from a SBZ or ASUS equivalent soundcard over the onbaord ALC codec. I notice a difference over on board on my MSI mobo and the feature set of the sound cards is nice as well.
 
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Discussion starter · #17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by hanzy View Post

One issue of going with an amp\dac stack would be lack of surround imaging if the OP wants that. I don't know if the mobo he has supports virtual surround and has optical out. If it did he could utilize the virtual surround software. I run optical out from my SBZ to my DAC\amp so I can have the surround imaging for games\movies, which I really like. Obviously the klipsch prom's won't play well with the amp, so he would need a setup that allows them to use the external DAC. Ideal setup is soundcard with a good DAC to connect the speakers to and then use the optical out to go to external dac\amp for the cans. Of course if the soundcard DAC is acceptable for your cans you can just use the headphone out to an external amp. Personally I prefer my bifrost uber and Valhalla for my cans. The SBZ is fine for running my A2+ with sub.
There are so many options out there. It really depends on your goals. I want to post more but I am on a much needed vacation and I gotta run.

I know you don't want a headset, but they really are fantastic compared to speakers for somethings, IMO.
I think you would benefit from a SBZ or ASUS equivalent soundcard over the onbaord ALC codec. I notice a difference over on board on my MSI mobo and the feature set of the sound cards is nice as well.
Click to expand...
I deff want some headphones. I said I don't want to use a headset. I hate headsets, wish they didn't exist. These pro media 2.1's are not high end by any means, but I'm hoping I'll see a difference with a sound card. If I don't I'll just return it.

Wish I could borrow a sound card to give it a try!
 
#18 ·
Order one from amazon dude. They have a great return policy. I buy everything I can from them. If you go creative the regular Z is just fine unless you want the input features of the ZXR(daughter board). ASUS has some great cards as well. My last sound card was an ASUS XONAR and it was great. I wanted to try Creative a virtual surround so I switched up. As for headphones check out the new Phillips Fidelio X2's, HD598, 600, 650. All great cans and relatively affordable. The new massdrop AKG 7xx are suppose to be awesome and I am planning on getting a set when they go on sale again.
 
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Discussion starter · #19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by hanzy View Post

Order one from amazon dude. They have a great return policy. I buy everything I can from them. If you go creative the regular Z is just fine unless you want the input features of the ZXR(daughter board). ASUS has some great cards as well. My last sound card was an ASUS XONAR and it was great. I wanted to try Creative a virtual surround so I switched up. As for headphones check out the new Phillips Fidelio X2's, HD598, 600, 650. All great cans and relatively affordable. The new massdrop AKG 7xx are suppose to be awesome and I am planning on getting a set when they go on sale again.
Click to expand...
I'll prob give the creative ago, been using their audio stuff since I was 8 (1998 gateway rig)

As far as cans go, Teksyn on youtube (hosted by logan from tiger direct) has INCREDIBLE audio videos. Infact, I find logan and his crew more helpful than OCN. I do know people like two cables and pioneer are absolute experts, so I posted hoping they'd chime in.

Thanks for the info though, thanks to everyone! +1 rep to all
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xFALL3Nx
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