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Sound Blaster Z OEM Shell Shocker

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  • Sound Blaster
  • Sennheiser 518
  • Components
  • Sound Cards
Last response: in Components
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August 7, 2013 9:35:10 AM

I've got a new computer in the works here, and I keep reading very conflicting reports about sound cards being a waste of money vs them being worth it. I'm initially leaning towards "you have a discrete graphics card because you don't want to trust the on-board gfx, so why use on-board sound?" camp. Anyways, sound cards are the only thing I really haven't spent a *lot* of time lately researching, so what is everyone's thoughts on whether this would be worth getting if the price is run?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

The shell shocker deal kicks in in a few hours. I've got this motherboard waiting for me at home

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

so you know what kind of on-board sound chip I've already got.
I will be using it for all my music needs, gaming, and all my video/"tv" watching as well. I have a slightly older Logitech 5.1 surround system, and a pair of Sennheiser 518 HD headphones to listen through.

More about : sound blaster oem shell shocker

August 7, 2013 10:32:59 AM

Cheap sound cards are only marginally better than onboard sound cards.

The only reason to use a discrete sound card is if you have a very high quality surround system (or surround headphones), or a pair of really expensive headphones.

Your headphones would probably be best served with a discrete card, either the Sound Blaster Z that you linked, or an audiophile card such as the Asus Xonar Essence STX or Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium HD.

The biggest difference between the onboard codecs and the discrete cards is the output signal-to-noise ratio. Onboard codecs from Realtek have SNRs in the range of 88 dB. Gaming sound cards are in the range of 110 dB, and audiophile cards are in the range of 122 dB.

The decibel scale is logarithmic. For a given fixed signal (normalized volume), the mean signal amplitude of an 88 dB DAC is 25,000 times higher than the mean noise amplitude. For the same signal with a 110 dB gaming card, the mean signal amplitude is over 300,000 times higher than mean mean noise amplitude. For the same signal with a 122 dB audiophile card, the mean signal amplitude is over 1.25 million times higher than the mean noise amplitude.

The drawback of audiophile cards is that they lack surround sound capabilities, so they're quite mediocre for gaming.
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August 7, 2013 10:53:22 AM

Pinhedd said:
Cheap sound cards are only marginally better than onboard sound cards.

The only reason to use a discrete sound card is if you have a very high quality surround system (or surround headphones), or a pair of really expensive headphones.

Your headphones would probably be best served with a discrete card, either the Sound Blaster Z that you linked, or an audiophile card such as the Asus Xonar Essence STX or Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium HD.

The biggest difference between the onboard codecs and the discrete cards is the output signal-to-noise ratio. Onboard codecs from Realtek have SNRs in the range of 88 dB. Gaming sound cards are in the range of 110 dB, and audiophile cards are in the range of 122 dB.

The decibel scale is logarithmic. For a given fixed signal (normalized volume), the mean signal amplitude of an 88 dB DAC is 25,000 times higher than the mean noise amplitude. For the same signal with a 110 dB gaming card, the mean signal amplitude is over 300,000 times higher than mean mean noise amplitude. For the same signal with a 122 dB audiophile card, the mean signal amplitude is over 1.25 million times higher than the mean noise amplitude.

The drawback of audiophile cards is that they lack surround sound capabilities, so they're quite mediocre for gaming.



Excellent. If the price is right, I suspect I might jump on it, as I listen to tremendous amounts of music. While I may not have the most discerning ear out there, I am a musician and appreciate quality sound. Just haven't kept up on sound card tech lately. I do love learning new things! Thanks for the reply. I don't need to spend $$$$ on an audiophile card, my surround sound speakers aren't spectacular. But I struggle to believe the on-board audio will trump a discrete card.
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August 7, 2013 11:22:39 AM

TallGuy314 said:
Pinhedd said:
Cheap sound cards are only marginally better than onboard sound cards.

The only reason to use a discrete sound card is if you have a very high quality surround system (or surround headphones), or a pair of really expensive headphones.

Your headphones would probably be best served with a discrete card, either the Sound Blaster Z that you linked, or an audiophile card such as the Asus Xonar Essence STX or Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium HD.

The biggest difference between the onboard codecs and the discrete cards is the output signal-to-noise ratio. Onboard codecs from Realtek have SNRs in the range of 88 dB. Gaming sound cards are in the range of 110 dB, and audiophile cards are in the range of 122 dB.

The decibel scale is logarithmic. For a given fixed signal (normalized volume), the mean signal amplitude of an 88 dB DAC is 25,000 times higher than the mean noise amplitude. For the same signal with a 110 dB gaming card, the mean signal amplitude is over 300,000 times higher than mean mean noise amplitude. For the same signal with a 122 dB audiophile card, the mean signal amplitude is over 1.25 million times higher than the mean noise amplitude.

The drawback of audiophile cards is that they lack surround sound capabilities, so they're quite mediocre for gaming.



Excellent. If the price is right, I suspect I might jump on it, as I listen to tremendous amounts of music. While I may not have the most discerning ear out there, I am a musician and appreciate quality sound. Just haven't kept up on sound card tech lately. I do love learning new things! Thanks for the reply. I don't need to spend $$$$ on an audiophile card, my surround sound speakers aren't spectacular. But I struggle to believe the on-board audio will trump a discrete card.


Some high end motherboards include on-board sound that is effectively a discrete sound card pasted onto the motherboard. These are rare though.

If you listen to lots of music, especially high fidelity music, you'd be well served with a discrete card.
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