Cheapest soundcard I can get, strictly for using the coax spdif out?

[bleudeciel16]

I just ordered a bifrost and was told that coax > optical > usb.  I would like the best possible quality, so I wish to go with coax.
 
My motherboard unfortunately only has optical spdif out.
 
So, i'm guessing I'll have to get a pci-e soundcard that has coax spdif output.
 
Since that's the ONLY thing I'll be using it for, I don't feel the need to spend a ton of money on it.
 
So... does the quality of the souncard affect the coax output?  Will a cheap soundcard be as good as a mid to high priced one if I'm only using it for the coax spdif output?
 
Thanks!

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

I just ordered a bifrost and was told that coax > optical > usb.  I would like the best possible quality, so I wish to go with coax.
My motherboard unfortunately only has optical spdif out.
So, i'm guessing I'll have to get a pci-e sound card that has coax spdif output.
Since that's the ONLY thing I'll be using it for, I don't feel the need to spend a ton of money on it.
So... does the quality of the sound card affect the coax output?  Will a cheap sound card be as good as a mid to high priced one if I'm only using it for the coax spdif output?
 
UPDATE: would this card suffice?  i saw a creative card that was cheaper but i despise creative labs with every fiber of my being.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132052&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

The card you list, the Xonar DG does not have coaxial output.
Just use a S/PDIF or USB cable straight from the motherboard.

 

[bleudeciel16]

Quote:

The card you list, the Xonar DG does not have coaxial output.
Just use a S/PDIF or USB cable straight from the motherboard.

yeah i noticed that right after posting and deleted it from my post lol
 
my motherboard does have optical spdif output but the guys at schiit said that coax is better than optical if i have the option.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

Yeah i noticed that right after posting and deleted it from my post lol
My motherboard does have optical spdif output but the guys at Schiit said that coax is better than optical if i have the option.

Why not just upgrade your motherboard to one that has a coaxial output and can still use your graphics card, memory, etc.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Rosewill RC-702 comes with coaxial output and it's cheap.
Same audio processor as the Xonar DG.

 

[bleudeciel16]

Quote:

Why not just upgrade your motherboard to one that has a coaxial output and can still use your graphics card, memory, etc.

 
because my motherboard is brand spanking new socket 1155 z77 chipset.  plus i hear motherboard coax out is dirtier than one from a soundcard since they have power filtering

 

[bleudeciel16]

Quote:

Rosewill RC-702 comes with coaxial output and it's cheap.
Same audio processor as the Xonar DG.

 
freakin awesome! thanks man!
 
so... since it's still a digital signal... that cheap soundcard won't affect my sound because i'll literally just be using it as a method of getting digital coax out, right?
 
oh and i forgot to mention, my motherboard doesn't have any pci slots.  i'll have to get a pci-e sound card.  makes this that much more expensive for an audio point of view

 

[stv014]

Quote:

 
yeah i noticed that right after posting and deleted it from my post lol
 
my motherboard does have optical spdif output but the guys at schiit said that coax is better than optical if i have the option.

 
If the Bifrost is any good, it should work fine with either the optical or the USB input. If it does not, then you may want to get a better DAC

 

[bleudeciel16]

Quote:

 
If the Bifrost is any good, it should work fine with either the optical or the USB input. If it does not, then you may want to get a better DAC

 
i thought coax has higher bandwidth, is straight digital stream (doesn't convert to from electrical to light back to electrical like fiber), and doesn't have issues with jitter like fiber. that would have nothing to do with the dac.  i'm going off of what i've read everywhere, and the guy from schiit said coax > optical > usb.  so i'm just trying to do this right by the books lol

 

[bleudeciel16]

I hope someone finds me a cheap solution before I pull the trigger on a $184 asus xonar using it only for the digital coax spdif out

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

I hope someone finds me a cheap solution before I pull the trigger on a $184 asus xonar using it only for the digital coax spdif out

How about send the Bifrost back and just use the Asus Xonar Essence STX?

 

[bleudeciel16]

Quote:

How about send the Bifrost back and just use the Asus Xonar Essence STX?

 
does the dac in it hold a candle to the one in the bifrost?
 
even if it did, the biggest reason i want external dac is that i'm running two gtx570's in sli. (soon to be 670's)  they are VERY VERY noisy.  my ht omega claro picked up so much noise from them it was just stupid.  it wasn't bad during normal use but during gaming, the noise was overwhelming and saddening.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

 
does the dac in it hold a candle to the one in the bifrost?
 
even if it did, the biggest reason i want external dac is that i'm running two gtx570's in sli. (soon to be 670's)  they are VERY VERY noisy.  my ht omega claro picked up so much noise from them it was just stupid.  it wasn't bad during normal use but during gaming, the noise was overwhelming and saddening.

I would guess the Bifrost is a better DAC then what the Essence STX has.
Can't you just use the HT Omega Claro's coaxial output?

 

[bleudeciel16]

Quote:

I would guess the Bifrost is a better DAC then what the Essence STX has.
Can't you just use the HT Omega Claro's coaxial output?

 
sadly my new computer uses the z77 sabertooth motherboard and it doesn't have any pci slots and the claro is a pci soundcard.  so... my lucky wife now sports that soundcard and i'm using my fiio e7 as a fill-in until i get my asgard/bifrost up and running

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

 
Sadly my new computer uses the z77 Sabertooth motherboard and it doesn't have any PCI slots and the Claro is a PCI sound card.  so... my lucky wife now sports that sound card and I'm using my Fiio e7 as a fill-in until i get my Asgard/Bifrost up and running

As it sounds like your using this computer for gaming, I do not think you would notice the difference between optical and coaxial while your busy gaming.