Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD no 44.1 kHz analog output, is it a problem?

[MoizPion]

Hello.
 
A month ago I bought Sennheiser RS185 and until now I was using it with my laptop jack output, but now is a time to change that and I want to buy an external USB sound card.
 
My choice is Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD (or Sound Blaster Digital Music Premium HD depending on region) and my concern is "analog playback and recording formats of 16 bit, 48 and 96 kHz and 24 bit, 48 and 96 kHz.".
I will end up using the optical connection where the X-FI HD supports 44.1kHz, I bought the RS185 because they are basically "plug and play", with the internal DAC and amp, the issue is if I want to plug anything else that does not have optical input, most of my collection are mp3's in 44.1kHz.
 
The question is "Does it even matter if I'm a person who just click "play"?". I'm not an audiophile or anything like that, but even I can hear that my onboard card cant handle the RS185.
 
 
5/7.1 sound cards are not a prioprity, I probably wont even use that function, and I have a budget of around $100 is there any alternative cards that you can recommend? (not Asus Xonar U7)

 

[MindsMirror]

There will be no difference in sound quality using Toslink from one sound card to the next apart from different formats they support, and the sound processing effects if you use any of those. So there is no point in getting the X-Fi HD if all you will use is the Toslink output. You will get the same performance with a less expensive model like the Sound Blaster Omni or the X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro.

 

[PurpleAngel]

   
A month ago I bought Sennheiser RS185 and until now I was using it with my laptop jack output, but now is a time to change that and I want to buy an external USB sound card.
My choice is Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD (or Sound Blaster Digital Music Premium HD depending on region) and my concern is "analog playback and recording formats of 16 bit, 48 and 96 kHz and 24 bit, 48 and 96 kHz.".
I will end up using the optical connection where the X-FI HD supports 44.1kHz, I bought the RS185 because they are basically "plug and play", with the internal DAC and amp, the issue is if I want to plug anything else that does not have optical input, most of my collection are mp3's in 44.1kHz.
The question is "Does it even matter if I'm a person who just click "play"?". I'm not an audiophile or anything like that, but even I can hear that my on-board card cant handle the RS185.
5/7.1 sound cards are not a priority, I probably wont even use that function, and I have a budget of around $100 is there any alternative cards that you can recommend? (not Asus Xonar U7)

 
I'm not fully understanding your issue(s)?
But you can plug the RS 185 into just about any optical jack and the RS 185 should work fine.
 
If your not into 5.1 or 7.1 headphone surround sound sound,  you may not need a sound card.
But assuming your laptop does not have a optical output.
Just get the Asus Xonar U3 USB sound card ($40), it comes with an optical output port (mini-toslink, 3.5mm).

 

[MoizPion]

  There will be no difference in sound quality using Toslink from one sound card to the next apart from different formats they support, and the sound processing effects if you use any of those. So there is no point in getting the X-Fi HD if all you will use is the Toslink output. You will get the same performance with a less expensive model like the Sound Blaster Omni or the X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro.

I think I missed something important, so I can basically buy something like this and using toslink it would be still the same as using toslink on any other card?

   
I'm not fully understanding your issue(s)?
But you can plug the RS 185 into just about any optical jack and the RS 185 should work fine.
 
If your not into 5.1 or 7.1 headphone surround sound sound,  you may not need a sound card.
But assuming your laptop does not have a optical output.
Just get the Asus Xonar U3 USB sound card ($40), it comes with an optical output port (mini-toslink, 3.5mm).

I do not have any optical outs in my laptop and my mouse connected via USB can cause interferences (buzzing sound) so I need to move the usb plug a little then it stops, so I need to buy something. If I understood  MindsMirror I guess I just need anything with optical out.

 

[MindsMirror]

 
I think I missed something important, so I can basically buy something like this and using toslink it would be still the same as using toslink on any other card?
I do not have any optical outs in my laptop and my mouse connected via USB can cause interferences (buzzing sound) so I need to move the usb plug a little then it stops, so I need to buy something. If I understood  MindsMirror I guess I just need anything with optical out.

That's correct, assuming it supports the formats you need, I didn't see anywhere that says what format the Toslink output supports.
 
A USB Toslink sound card will eliminate the interference as well. The analog components of your laptop's built in sound are receiving interference from other USB devices. Digital components are not susceptible to interference, and don't really have any impact on sound quality. Using a USB sound card with Toslink output, the signal remains digital all the way to the headphone's wireless receiver and built in DAC.

 

[MoizPion]

  That's correct, assuming it supports the formats you need, I didn't see anywhere that says what format the Toslink output supports.
 
A USB Toslink sound card will eliminate the interference as well. The analog components of your laptop's built in sound are receiving interference from other USB devices. Digital components are not susceptible to interference, and don't really have any impact on sound quality. Using a USB sound card with Toslink output, the signal remains digital all the way to the headphone's wireless receiver and built in DAC.

Thank You for correcting my mistake, that actually changes what Im lookin for so this is the end of the thread