Is a sound card worth it?

flying_squid

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Jun 2, 2014
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im looking at building a mini itx computer and am using gigabytes GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 and was wondering if getting an Asus Xonar DGX 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card would be worth it since this mobo has pretty good onboard audio. sound is pretty important to me, i'm looking on hooking up my denon receiver to this computer for my rbh 5.1 surround with buttkicker. do i need a sound card at all?
 
Solution
What denon receiver. A lot let you plug HDMI right in, in which case a soundcard isn't needed and will give you surround sound. 2nd option is Tosklink optical, which most receivers and mid-high end motherboards have. Either of those options would be first and not need a soundcard.

For the most part, digital sound is digital sound. A fancy soundcard wouldn't do anything for it. The receivers DAC's are what convert the sound to analog for your speakers.
What denon receiver. A lot let you plug HDMI right in, in which case a soundcard isn't needed and will give you surround sound. 2nd option is Tosklink optical, which most receivers and mid-high end motherboards have. Either of those options would be first and not need a soundcard.

For the most part, digital sound is digital sound. A fancy soundcard wouldn't do anything for it. The receivers DAC's are what convert the sound to analog for your speakers.
 
Solution

arossetti

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Feb 22, 2013
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In my opinion the sound card is not worth it. Especially in an ITX gaming build. Onboard sound has come a long way and is really good in gaming. Just use the S/PDIF to your receiver. Also, if you go the headset route, a good set of USB headsets will have an embedded sound card anyway. But really it's a matter of personal taste.
 

flying_squid

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Jun 2, 2014
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ill be using this http://usa.denon.com/us/product/hometheater/avreceiversht/avrs500bt and ill be hooking my monitor up via HDMI, i got a buddy who works in a/v stuff,he will be a able to help me hooking it all up