Sound Cards Still Popular? What is its purpose?

TwistinFool

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Feb 17, 2015
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So on my first PC build a while ago I purchased a decent Omega sound card. I always wanted to get a surround sound system, but never did. The only thing I used the sound card was for my corsair headset that could plug into it.

My question is, did this really make a difference? I never noticed a real difference from the onboard sound card vs the the Omega? I always wondered if it were the headphones that gave the great quality or if it were the sound card.

Do people still use these cards today for any other use besides a surround sound system or even a decent sound system?
 
Solution
External DAC+AMPS have become the real deal. They are usually far superior compared to sound cards. If you have a half decent motherboard I so no reason to get a sound card.
Yes they are still popular but not so much as yester year You really want to have really good set of 5.1 or 7.1 speakers to enjoy the sound from a true soundcard.
I used to buy every sound blaster each time a new one came out but later just used the onboard was enough for headphones and speakers.
 

TwistinFool

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Feb 17, 2015
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Thanks for the replies. Another quick question regarding on board sound, is there a difference in using the USB vs the output jack in the backs vs the jack in the front? Or is it essentially using the same audio chipset of the motherboard?