Today most mainboards are equipped with an onboard sound chip, so why do you need an additional sound card? In this guide you will learn why it is still worth investing in a sound card, how to successfully navigate through the wealth of technical terms relating to sound cards and how to make your decision between a sound card, an onboard chip or another solution can meet.
What exactly does a sound card do?
The task of a sound card and the onboard sound chip is the same: providing sound to the connection options for playback devices such as loudspeakers or headphones. The D/A converter, also called DAC (digital-to-analog converter), is important for understanding this process.
The task of the D/A converter is to convert binary digital data from a video, computer game or other sound source into small analog current fluctuations. These signals are then passed to membranes in their speakers, which vibrate, creating sound waves. This is how the PC, sound card and the respective output device convert zeros and ones into sound – your signal becomes music.
When does it make sense to use sound cards?
The aforementioned D/A converter is now an essential part of every modern mainboard. The question of whether it is worth purchasing your own sound card is therefore justified. Especially with regard to the audio quality, there is almost always room for improvement.Various components can affect the audio quality: Other hardware components can cause interference signals, which often affect a poorly shielded sound chip on the mainboard. Furthermore, deficiencies in the audio quality quickly become noticeable at higher volumes. The sound can appear weaker, for example the bass is less powerful, or the sound starts clipping at a certain volume. Onboard sound chips often prevent headphones or speakers from developing their full potential.
All in all, one can say that a sound card in the price segment above 30 euros always improves the audio quality compared to the onboard sound. Whether this is noticeable depends on the connected speakers or headphones. Stereo boxes in the price segment from around 80 euros and headphones from 40 euros make the upgrade acoustically noticeable with a sound card.
Internal, external or interface?
Here are some of the many ways you can improve your sound experience. This allows you to better decide which solution suits your needs.
Internal sound cards: Better surround sound
If you work primarily with headphones, a headphone amplifier with a USB port can be your solution. In addition, software can be used to simulate surround sound for your headphones. An internal sound card such as the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy RX bundles various functions via a PCIe slot on the mainboard: it represents an upgrade over the sound chip, strengthens the headphone performance and offers surround sound simulation via the driver.In order to avoid background noise, internal sound cards require a particularly high shielding, the so-called signal-to-noise ratio (SNR, expressed in decibels). The Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus, for example, has an SNR of 122dB. Signals sent, such as audio playback, are perceived as being 122dB louder than any background noise.
Surround sound is created in different ways depending on the playback device. With headphones, this is done by software. However, if you are aiming for clear surround sound on external speakers, make sure your computer’s onboard sound is compatible with Dolby Digital Live, Dolby Digital Plus, or DTS Connect formats. If this is not the case, the onboard chip needs an upgrade to enable surround sound.
If there is no internal slot: external hard drive or audio interface?
External sound cards now offer some of the features of internal sound cards, but require a USB slot to operate. Two variants are usually used: USB sticks such as the DELOCK 63926 or small sound card boxes such as TERRATEC 324195 or Creative Sound BlasterX G6.Musicians or sound engineers are better served with an audio interface. Audio interfaces are nothing more than sound cards, but have a variety of more specialized connections such as line ins/outs and mic ins/outs and controls. In this way, music professionals can connect their equipment, such as mixers or instruments, to a PC. In contrast to the previously mentioned solutions, audio interfaces focus on latency. If a singer hears his own voice through headphones, for example, the sound experience can be severely disrupted by various effects or delays in transmission.
The sound of an upgrade
The variety of the offer can be overwhelming at first. But as soon as you understand the principle of a sound card and have formulated your own wishes, you will quickly find what you are looking for. All in all, sound cards are not a must, but they achieve good results with a small investment. Good loudspeakers or headphones are often the prerequisites for an inexpensive upgrade, in which only one sound card is purchased. In the reichelt online shop you are guaranteed to find the right solution for your needs – you will be amazed by the good result.
Image: Adobe Stock
