[jakeddong]

To help you understand:
 
Say there are two computers with the same DACs (let's say Fiio E7) connected to them.
However Computer A is equipped with a much higher-end sound card than that of Computer B.
 
Will Computer A produce better quality sound than B or is it that sound cards have no effect on the sound quality when there are external DACs?

 

[DaveBSC]

Absolutely. When using an external DAC you are bypassing the onboard D-A conversion of the sound card, but the quality of the digital output still matters, for much of the same reasons that a $50 CD player will sound worse than a $5,000 CD transport, with both connected to the same external DAC using the same digital cable.
 
That said, I think the best sound card is none at all. Even the professional grade RME and Lynx cards have jittery digital outputs which must be sent through terrible quality break-out cables. You can have a custom RME or Lynx multi-pin to XLR cable made, but IMO the better way to go is USB into an asynchronous converter - take your pick.

 

[labrat]

Delete

 

[DaveBSC]

Quote:

No.
The USB output, or any other digital output straight from the main board, will not be affected by the sound card installed.
But if you use a digital output from an installed sound card, of course this can be a link that will influence the sound output!
 

Oh yeah, I missed the Fiio E7 part, that's a USB DAC. Sound card doesn't matter in that case because it isn't being used.

 

[jakeddong]

I see. So it does matter.
Thank you both for the clarification
 
EDIT: LOL nvm what i said. So it doesn't matter for USB DACs. Good.
Thanks