I'm currently using HyperX Clouds Alpha with the onboard audio from my Z790 Tomahawk. I'm considering upgrading to Audeze Maxwell headphones and wondering if the onboard audio will limit their performance. The specs of my Z790 Tomahawk include a Realtek ALC4080 codec, 7.1-channel USB performance audio, S/PDIF output support, and the ability to handle up to 32-Bit/384 kHz playback on the front panel. Should I invest in an external sound card like the Creative Sound Blaster X G6, or will the onboard audio be sufficient?
7 Answers
It sort of depends! If your onboard audio has issues or you're using headphones that truly benefit from extra power, then an external sound card might be worth it. Just ask yourself how much you need better sound.
Since those headphones are wireless, they essentially act like their own sound card. They won’t really utilize the onboard audio or an external sound card, so you might not notice any difference at all.
These days, it feels like buying an external DAC is a bit of an audiophile obsession. I think tons of folks are just wasting their money on them. But I had a bad experience with onboard sound myself and switching to an external DAC really opened up my audio experience—much better noise and dynamic range. It's all about what setup you have.
I wouldn't dismiss them completely either! My experience was similar—I went back to my onboard sound due to a driver issue for a while, and the drop in quality was jarring. Definitely noticeable, especially in clarity and soundstage.
If you're someone who really appreciates sound quality or does music-related work, an external audio interface could help. But for about 90% of people, onboard audio works just fine.
Also, I picked up a $200 FiiO DAC/amp and it made a noticeable difference on my $400 headphones! You might be surprised by how much more clarity and detail you get, but do keep in mind, your headphones will ultimately be the biggest factor in how good they sound overall.
Generally, I think it's not necessary. If your onboard sound isn't terrible and you’re just using headphones for general listening, it should be fine.
It really depends on how loud your headset needs to be. I've got a PC 38X, which sounds pretty bad without an amp or a sound card, so you might want to consider how your headphones perform without one.
Since the Audeze Maxwell headphones have a built-in DAC and amplifier, I would say no, you probably won't need an external sound card. The digital signal is processed by the headphones themselves, so it won’t really matter what your onboard audio is doing.
I get that, but I think it really depends on the quality of your onboard sound. My MSI Z690 Tomahawk had pretty average onboard sound, and it struggled with my Beyerdynamic DT880 Pros. Once I added my FiiO K5 Pro DAC/amp, the difference was crazy. So, while it might not be for everyone, it can be worth it if your hardware needs it.