Large speakers, high end receiver and 2016 Motherboard onboard sound Asus Z170-A vs. 2008 Sound Card Xonar DX vs. 2008 Video Card sound ATi Radeon HD 7870

[c627627]

I have more than five 3ft tall Infinity Studio Monitor Speakers as my computer speakers.
My computer is connected to the stereo system through HDMI and also through S/PDIF.
 
Assuming a high end stereo system, how should I connect it to the computer if options are:
 
 
HDMI from a 2008 Video Card ATi Radeon HD 7870 http://xfxforce.com/en-us/products/all-previous-gpus/amd-radeon-hd-7870-double-dissipation-edition-fx-787a-cdfc
vs.
HDMI from a 2016 Skylake motherboard ASUS Z170-A: https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-A/
 
 
and a specific separate question
 
S/PDIF from a 2008 Asus Xonar DX sound card http://www.asus.com/Sound-Cards/Xonar_DX/HelpDesk/
vs.
S/PDIF from a 2016 Skylake motherboard ASUS Z170-A: https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-A/
 
 
Thank you for your time.

 

[buke9]

I though you said that you were already connected to the computer thru hdmi and spdif ? Do you want to know which is better? I would think you are good on either if that is the case.

 

[c627627]

I suppose it is a technical question.
I don't have a problem rephrasing it: For a computer connected to a high-end stereo system and
knowing that 'good enough' sound will come out of all options which would you choose
 
• HDMI from a 2008 Video Card ATi Radeon HD 7870 http://xfxforce.com/en-us/products/all-previous-gpus/amd-radeon-hd-7870-double-dissipation-edition-fx-787a-cdfc
vs.
• HDMI from a 2016 Skylake motherboard ASUS Z170-A: https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-A/
 
 
and a specific separate question
 
• S/PDIF from a 2008 Asus Xonar DX sound card http://www.asus.com/Sound-Cards/Xonar_DX/HelpDesk/
vs.
• S/PDIF from a 2016 Skylake motherboard ASUS Z170-A: https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-A/

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I have more than five 3ft tall Infinity Studio Monitor Speakers as my computer speakers.
My computer is connected to the stereo system through HDMI and also through S/PDIF.
Assuming a high end stereo system, how should I connect it to the computer if options are:
HDMI from a 2008 Video Card ATi Radeon HD 7870 http://xfxforce.com/en-us/products/all-previous-gpus/amd-radeon-hd-7870-double-dissipation-edition-fx-787a-cdfc
vs.
HDMI from a 2016 Skylake motherboard ASUS Z170-A: https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-A/
and a specific separate question
S/PDIF from a 2008 Asus Xonar DX sound card http://www.asus.com/Sound-Cards/Xonar_DX/HelpDesk/
vs.
S/PDIF from a 2016 Skylake motherboard ASUS Z170-A: https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-A/

 
I use Infinity Beta for my 5.1 speakers
Which model Infinity 5.1 do you have?
 
For 2-channel audio, all the connections should be about equal.
As they all can carry 2-channel of PCM (un-compressed) 24-bit/96K of digital audio.
(HDMI will do 24-bit/192k)
 
For 5.1 (6-channel) audio
HDMI can carry up to 8-channels of 24bit/192k digital audio, without the need for compression.
 
S/PDIF (optical or coaxial), using compression, can carry up to 6-channels of 24-bit/48k digital audio.
DDL (Dolby Digital Live) or DTS-Connect are need to compress digital audio.
The Xonar DX has DDL, your motherboard has DTS-Connect.
Receiver will work with both DDL & DTS-Connect
 
I would think running HDMI from the HD7870 to the receiver will always give you the best possible sound.
(while running HDMI from the receiver to your screen?)
As you have an add-on graphics card, would assume you would disable the motherboard's on-board graphics (HDMI)
 
Chances are running S/PDIF from the on-board audio to the receiver will still sound just as good for games and DVD movies.
Blu-ray disk will still sound fairly good.

 

[c627627]

Infinity SM125
You've made excellent points.
 
My computer is a multi boot with multiple operating systems on it.
When I reboot into one of the operating systems, it will not be using HDMI for sound, but will be using S/PDIF.
It appears that *not* putting in Xonar DX sound card is better because I would have a better air flow in the computer case but would not lose anything over S/PDIF from the Skylake motherboard ASUS Z170-A.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Infinity SM125
You've made excellent points.
 
My computer is a multi boot with multiple operating systems on it.
When I reboot into one of the operating systems, it will not be using HDMI for sound, but will be using S/PDIF.
It appears that *not* putting in Xonar DX sound card is better because I would have a better air flow in the computer case but would not lose anything over S/PDIF from the Skylake motherboard ASUS Z170-A.

 
For a S/PDIF connection, can't see the Xonar DX offering anything better then what the on-board can do (using S/PDIF).
Do the other (non-windows) operating system(s) come with DDL or DTS-Connect, otherwise I would assume you would only get 2-channel thru S/PDIF.(using other OS)?
The Xonar DX uses the C-Media CM8788 audio processor and the Asus Z170 uses the Realtek ALC892 audio processor.
So I guess it comes down to C-Media vs Realtek and which is better supported by the non-Windows OS.
 
If you ever considered using headphones directly with the computer.
Then using the Xonar DX, with an external headphone amplifier, would make a good combo.
 
When running HDMI, from computer to receiver to screen.
Set the receiver for video pass-thru (if it has that setting), can't see the receiver offering any video processing, that the graphics card can't do better.

 

[c627627]

You have provided *exactly* the type of information I was looking for.
Theoretically speaking, what would the differences be, and you listed the pros and cons that are really useful.
Thank you.
 
This information is very useful to anyone who would like to know _why_ you would choose one or the other.

 

[c627627]

  The Xonar DX uses the C-Media CM8788 audio processor and the Asus Z170 uses the Realtek ALC892 audio processor.
So I guess it comes down to C-Media vs Realtek.

Would you look at this Asus Xonar DX vs Realtek ALC892 thread which talks about exactly the same sound card we are talking about vs. Realtek ALC892. Could you spot any inaccuracies or do you agree with what they are saying that the sound card is vastly superior:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/306650-30-asus-xonar-realtek-alc892

 

[buke9]

I think most cards are going to be better than onboard sound. Those on the site are pretty adamant that the card is better.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Would you look at this Asus Xonar DX vs Realtek ALC892 thread which talks about exactly the same sound card we are talking about vs. Realtek ALC892. Could you spot any inaccuracies or do you agree with what they are saying that the sound card is vastly superior:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/306650-30-asus-xonar-realtek-alc892

 
As your using a digital S/PDIF (optical) connection, most of the stuff talked about in the thread does not apply to your situation.
As the Xonar DX advantages have more to do with analog output.
In general I would prefer to use the Xonar DX sound card, over the on-board ALC892.
I'm use to using Xonar sound card in my computers.
I use an NFB-15 external DAC/amp, which is connected optically to my Asus Xonar DX sound card (on-board disabled)