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Differences between DAC/AMP and Integrated soundcard

post #1 of 2
6/20/10 at 4:03am
Thread Starter 

Hi,

Can you please explain me what are the differences between integrated soundcard and DAC/AMP or 300$ DAC and 1000$ DAC.

I know that almost every DAC/AMP is better than integrated soundcard. But I don't know why.

Is it the quality of used components or what ?

Thanks

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post #2 of 2
6/20/10 at 4:24am

I was just discussing it here: http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/498063/do-my-motherboard-s-spdif-outputs-go-through-the-onboard-sound-card/30#post_6726008

 

PSU quality, galvanic isolation from the computer, they all affect the SQ.

 

soundcards like the stx/halo xt use a $2 IC and call it a "top range headphones amplifier"...this is a major lie.

 

an internal soundcard suffers from:

-EMI/RFI hostile environment

-shared ground with the other components

-high ripple from the ATX PSU

-lack or room/thickness so manufacturers are forced to use integrated components

-and more reasons I'm sure

 

and if you meant onboard sound, these are ASIC's that are supposed to do everything at once...they do it all, but very poorly.

 

a RMAA measurement on a Realtek: http://www.mediafire.com/?tuy3myzu1my

 

and on a DAC running off a linear regulated PSU: http://www.firestone.idv.tw/rmaa/spitfire.htm


Edited by leeperry - 6/20/10 at 4:38am
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