I'm on the hunt for motherboards that offer great audio output without breaking the bank—specifically, I'm looking for options under $150. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
If you're serious about audio quality, consider investing in an external DAC or amp, along with a nice pair of headphones. That will really enhance your listening experience more than just focusing on the motherboard.
Keep in mind that the noise floor on onboard audio isn't going to be impressive, no matter how much you spend on the motherboard itself. It's just one of those things with built-in audio.
For under $150, it’s tough to find boards with audio options like ALC 4080. The cheapest I've seen is around $165-$170 on an ASUS Strix B650-A WiFi but only from Japan. Also, what platform are you planning to use? You might just want to grab a board you like and pick up a good audio dongle instead.
Honestly, if audio quality is your main concern, you might be better off going for a decent motherboard that meets your other needs and pairing it with an external sound card or a DAC. It'll likely give you better audio than any onboard option.
You’re probably not going to find a motherboard featuring high-end audio solutions like the ALC 1220 or ALC 4080 within that price range. I'd love to hear if anyone finds one too!
That's a good point! Looks like I should consider other options.