Question about DAC

[somedude988]

Do external DACs do the same thing as sound cards, or do you want both for optimal sound quality?

 

[astrallite]

If you mean "DAC" as in those little cute headphone amp/processors, as opposed to the disambiguation (digital to analog converter), then they share the characteristic that they amplify and process sound (usually through USB), although their functionality simpler than what sound cards provide, since the latter has a software back end linked to the Windows Operating System.

 

[AMW1011]

A USB external DAC does not require a sound card, it takes the information form the USB port and converts it to an analog sound.

 

[somedude988]

Thanks for the replies!