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Confusing question to be honest > External DACs with Sound Cards ?

post #1 of 6
11/24/11 at 9:06pm
Thread Starter 

Hello :)

 

Need to know whether or not if sound card can be turned off / overridden for a independent external DAC so it can actually just supply the music side of things on its own? While you’ve got the sound card in the computer to do other jobs like films and games etc? Thing is I’m testing all sound cards and none of them are the right one I want – the Titanium HD is absolutely brilliant for games and video but pretty rubbish for music – and the Asus STX is brilliant for music but absolutely rubbish for films and games.

 

I need a very happy medium - could I use a decent DAC/Amp to power my music in the PC independently while my sound card is ‘effectively’ turned off until I need it for other jobs? Its probably a real easy question if you know? End of the day however I haven't a clue lol

 

Many thanks in advance :)

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post #2 of 6
11/24/11 at 9:14pm

I believe the Titanium HD can pass CMSS-3D on through its digital outputs. So plug your other DAC into it, set it up to pass the digital signal on, and switch CMSS-3D on or off depending on what you're doing.

 

What makes it rubbish for music, by the way?

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post #3 of 6
11/25/11 at 10:45am

You can switch the audio output device within Windows (I assume you're using Windows, as the Creative isn't available for Mac that I know) - a USB audio interface plus the X-Fi HD would work very easily. You'd just go into audio properties (this is super easy in Windows Vista and 7, a bit less so in XP) and pick whatever output device you'd like to use (between my soundcard, graphics cards, USB devices, and motherboard I think Windows has identified a half dozen potential audio output devices for my computer, as an example - I can pick any of them and change seamlessly (not everything is connected to speakers/headphones though - that would be silly)).

 

The only concern with this kind of setup would be getting everything plugged in all dandy - if you have a USB device with a better headphone amp than your soundcard, you're not going to want to use the soundcard very often (or vice versa). If you're using a stand-alone amp, I'd just get a switch to go between the devices (so you switch bot in Windows, and for the amplifier). 

 

I'm also curious, as Head Injury asked, what makes the X-Fi HD "rubbish" for music? (Unless they've changed quite a bit since the last time I checked into these devices, it should be perfectly able to do "bitperfect" like any other modern audio device; what's the problem?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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post #4 of 6
11/26/11 at 2:12am
Thread Starter 

Sorry for the late reply and thanks for the feedback guys,

 

It was the wrong terminology I guess, for music of the THD (IMO) its “more direct and a lot less musical” than the STX – the STX is aimed for music (as we know) and the THD is aimed for games and 5.1 video/film/movie systems. No happy medium? :/

 

Okay, it seems pretty straight forward the way you explain it, obobskivich, yeah I’m on Win7 btw :) Luckily I haven’t sold my THD yet but it looks like I’ll be selling my new STX and putting the money towards a good usb audio interface – would anyone recommend the Musical Fidelity V DAC or the iBasso D10 Cobra please ??? Or what would you suggest (£300’ish)

 

Some manufacturer out there really needs to make an outstanding Sound Card where they cover all the main elements of sound and not just the one or two trick pony's. Preferably Auzentech and Creative. . . .

 

Thanks again for your help guys, really appreciate it.

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post #5 of 6
11/26/11 at 4:13pm

I'm still not seeing what the problem is - neither board is "geared for just one thing;" both are capable of essentially all things. Are you plugging the headphones straight into the soundcard?

 

 

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post #6 of 6
11/28/11 at 2:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by obobskivich View Post

I'm still not seeing what the problem is - neither board is "geared for just one thing;" both are capable of essentially all things. Are you plugging the headphones straight into the soundcard?

 

 



They both do very good sound but in my honest opinion they excel in different areas. Yes straight into the SC port.

 

 

Thanks again for your contributions guys and especially HI :)

 

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