Depends, the sound is only as good as your DAC. Whenever you use digital out, it's the DAC in your powered speakers that's doing the conversion (better speakers = better sound). With analog out, it's your sound card (better sound card = better sound). However, if you have cheap speakers, anything will sound horrible. Here's my opinion.
Onboard > Digital Out > Cheap Speakers = Poor
Onboard > Analog Out > Cheap Speakers = Poor
Onboard > Digital Out > Good Speakers = Excellent
Onboard > Analog Out > Good Speakers = Good sound
High-end Discreet > Digital Out > Cheap Speakers = Poor
High-end Discreet > Analog Out > Cheap Speakers = Poor
High-end Discreet > Digital Out > Good Speakers = Excellent sound
High-end Discreet > Analog Out > Good Speakers = Excellent sound
Last edited by Zer0; January 6, 2012 at 07:03 PM.
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