Should i buy a soundcard??

[sunnysharma]

Guys after much contemplation and reading the forum and taking several decisions and dropping them, i have finally reached a conclusion about which system i want to buy for may laptop and tv. I was all set to buy the onkyo hts 3300, but when i actually wanted to order , it was out of stock. Then i got to know that i might be shifting soon and didnt want to take up the responsibility of a home theatre. Anyways i have finally decided to save space and time, i am going to buy the razer mako system for my laptop( mp3s, movies and games) and will also connect it to my tv( movies, sports etc). Alternatively i might go in for a norge amp and wharfedale diamond 9.2 speaker package.
Ok so now you know the brief history, my question is do i need an external soundcard for my laptop(acer 5738)?? Will the sound card help in making the songs and music and movies sound much nicer?? I dont want a soundcard for connectivity as i will be connecting to the speakers via aux cable. Also if i do need a soundcard then which one is good and whats the price. PLease help me guys, going crazy here.

 

[sunnysharma]

Also one more thing guys..... media players like wdtv or extreamer help in getting better sound quality out of my laptop??? And is there some way that through wdtv or extreamer i can connect my tv, laptop and my speakers so that when sound is played from tv it is received by my speakers, and when sound and video both is played from laptop it is received b my tv(video) and my speakers(audio)??? It soo confusing all of this!!

 

[Kittu]

eBay India: Creative USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Sound -1YR (item 310235303305 end time 27-Jul-2010 13:35:57 IST)

 

[sivakuru]

Guys:

Quick question. What is the difference between something like a DAC (such as Nuforce uDAC) and a sound card (such as the creative). Which is better or both one on the same?.

I am planning to add something to my laptop to enhance music. I dont know if I should buy a DAC or a external sound card.

Also is there a soundcard (external) or a DAC which can take USB as well as SPDIF input and has SPDIF and stereo outputs?. I would like to buy something that I can use with my laptop as well as with my media players.

Thank you.

 

[Kittu]

Guys:

Quick question. What is the difference between something like a DAC (such as Nuforce uDAC) and a sound card (such as the creative). Which is better or both one on the same?.

I am planning to add something to my laptop to enhance music. I dont know if I should buy a DAC or a external sound card.

Also is there a soundcard (external) or a DAC which can take USB as well as SPDIF input and has SPDIF and stereo outputs?. I would like to buy something that I can use with my laptop as well as with my media players.

Thank you.

Check out Beresford Caiman DACs or AudioGD .(expensive thou)

Search the forum using "USB DAC" you can see nice threads.

 

[madbullram]

Also search for soundcard and all your questions have been answered in detail with model numbers and even price

 

[sivakuru]

Thank you guys for your reply. I shall certainly search but can you please
tell me if a DAC and soundcard are both the same thing?. A Yes or No
will suffice for now. Meanwhile I will search.

 

[Kittu]

Siva ,

In my understanding DAC is an external soundcard with much more options of AV outs / line ins/ Digital n optical outs etc..... If you are looking for a PC/HTPC config go for sound card or else go for a DAC . Still look @ the chipset used in DAC and Soundcard go for which ever has the best specs and fits in your budget.



Kittu...

 

[venkatcr]

In my understanding DAC is an external soundcard with much more options of AV outs / line ins/ Digital n optical outs etc..... If you are looking for a PC/HTPC config go for sound card or else go for a DAC . Still look @ the chipset used in DAC and Soundcard go for which ever has the best specs and fits in your budget.

I am sorry, but this explanation is wrong.

A sound card is used only in a computer. A sound card sits on one of the slots in a computer and set OFF the sound system resident in the mother board. It uses it own sound processing and has the following broad functions:

• extracting sound from the media
• digital to analogue conversion if needed
• some amount of amplification when needed

An external DAC is not a sound card. It is just an digital to analogue converter. It accepts a digital signal through various inputs, and converts the signal to analogue for further processing. It does not amplify, nor does it have any way to extracting data from ANY source.

You can use a DAC with any unit that has a digital output - a soundcard, a CDP, DVDP, etc.

Cheers

 

[sivakuru]

So which one would suit my requirement the most?. A DAC or a soundcard?.

I want to use it primarily with my laptop and listen using headphones. Only for
songs and not for movies.

I *may* want to use it with my media players though but it is a not very
important requirement.

 

[madbullram]

A DAC with USB input like DacMagic, Bresford etc.

 

[venkatcr]

Ram, I am little lost here. If you using a laptop, there is no question of a soundcard. So what do these external boxes that call themselves 'soundcards' do? Are they just inexpensive DACs with an USB input, or can they overcome the internal sound processing and process sound themselves?

Cheers

 

[madbullram]

I will state what my understanding of this.

1. USB soundcards are a combination of audio processor and a DAC
2. They are tuned to basically movie audio than stereo though there are some which have good stereo capability
3. They dont emphasize more on music but movie

I use the following at my office:
Press Releases

I use this with my desktop for the following purpose:
1. Audio recording (voice/instruments)
2. Mixing background score

So in short, they are more of an allrounder which does both audio processing and DAC but mostly the dac is not of highest quality.

If music is what I am looking at, I would spend on a dedicated DAC than a USB soundcard

 

[sivakuru]

Great! Thanks. I thought I am the only one confused between a DAC and a soundcard. Looks like it is a DAC then. I will now search which DAC suits my budget the most.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

My contribution...

A DAC is exactly what it says, a Digital to Analogue Converter. It takes a Digital signal from a source, which could be a computer, and converts it to an analogue signal that can be fed to an amplifier, or a pair of active speakers. That is all it does. It may have a choice of input and output ports, and may have configurable parameters, but it still only does what it says on the box.

A sound card is likely to include a DAC. It is also very likely to include ADC, as they usually handle inputs as well as outputs. Their inputs/outputs may be analogue or digital or any combination of the two.

Some soundcards are specifically made for interfacing with studio equipment which is off the screen of us home audio or even home recording folks. You could spend lakhs on a "soundcard" only to find that you can't connect it to your amplifier! Another aspect present on many sound cards, for the home music makers, is MIDI --- for your keyboard, etc.

Soundcards can be internal or external. Internal cards take up a PCI or a PCIe slot. External "cards" are a box connected via USB or Firewire. Some have a PCI card with a cable to its own external box, thus moving ports and controls to a place more easily accessed than the back of your PC. A sound "card" for a laptop is not impossible, as they are available in cardbus or express card formats. Otherwise, an external USB box can be used.

The most basic sound cards have utility and flexibilty that a DAC will not have. Do you ever want to digitise vinyl lps or cassette tapes? You will need a sound card to convert the analogue signal to digital data to save on your disc.

Most mother boards come with a built in sound "card" just as they have built in network "card". Some are quite comprehensive in terms of input and output, even supporting 5.1 or more, and having digital input and output too. Do you need more? The answer is in the questions, "do you want better quality and are you prepared to pay for it?"

Inserting a sound card into a PC does not disable the built-in "card". It is quite possible to use both ---in theory at least... if it works, it works, but if there are problems then disabling the built-in (in the BIOS settings) is the first thing to try.

There are far better informed techies on the sight, but I hope my mutterings help a little.

 

[sunnysharma]

Guys i got the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi 5.1 surround card today for 3,900 including bill. I plugged in my laptop and used it with my koss headphones and creative 2.1 speakers. the sound was louder though i cudn't make out if it was better. i have still not installed the drivers, just put it in my usb n played. i will download the the drivers and see what difference can be made sound quality wise. It comes with several connectivity options including optical out.

 

[sivakuru]

You the creative sound blaster x-fi 5.1 USB external sound card for 3900 with bill and warranty?.

I got a quote here in hyderabad for about 4700.

 

[sunnysharma]

You the creative sound blaster x-fi 5.1 USB external sound card for 3900 with bill and warranty?.

I got a quote here in hyderabad for about 4700.

Actually for 3,850 to be precise.... in a place called s.p road where there a 100 computer stores selling everything comp related at reasonable prices with warranty. So yes i got mine for 3,850 with bill and warranty. U should bargain some more or look at more places as well. There must be a comp speciality market in hyd as well.....

 

[Kittu]

Actually for 3,850 to be precise.... in a place called s.p road where there a 100 computer stores selling everything comp related at reasonable prices with warranty. So yes i got mine for 3,850 with bill and warranty. U should bargain some more or look at more places as well. There must be a comp speciality market in hyd as well.....

Did they have any DACs? and can you give me the shop name please

 

[sunnysharma]

Did they have any DACs? and can you give me the shop name please

They sell dacs as well..... but don't expect the people over there to be technically sound....take the exact model number etc and they will arrange the dac for you, the store name i got it from was raju electro centre, but there are much better stores over there selling for lesser, so find out from 3 to 4 stores the best price, as there was another which offered the sound card to me for 3,700 with bill but i had already bought the card from this store!!! So be prepared to hunt for best prices and put on your bargain cap. All d best...hyeah: