[EmptyTalk]

I did a search for this and surprisingly didn't find anything on point.
 
I'm getting a new desktop PC that has SPDIF output built in.  I had to buy an M-Audio soundcard for my current PC to get the SPDIF output for my outboard DAC.  So . . . My simple and stupid question is this:  will the native SPDIF output give me the same result as an upscale card (such as the Xonar Essence)?
 
Thanks in advance for any guidance.

 

[ROBSCIX]

Depends on the quality of the circuit design.  You get into subjects such as jitter and cheap designed S/Pdif I/O.  This is usually the reason people tend to go with higher end S/Pdif sounrces such as the M2Tech HiFace/EVo or devices like the Teralink X2 or others.  They just tend to provide a better signal...but opinions vary on these topics as much as the devices do.