Is a 30$ Soundcard worth getting?

[chang2]

Hello everyone,

are sound cards worth 30-40$ worth getting? I'll be using this motherboard http://www.gigabyte.us/products/prod...px?pid=4192#ov

My speakers are the Bose companion ones. 2 speakers + subwoofer.

I mainly listen to music through youtube and also game a lot.

THanks

[Silvgearx]

Don't really think a sound card would matter, since it is a BOSE.

Onboard will suffice.

[BryceBooth]

A $30-40 soundcard will offer very little to your audio experience over what is integrated on that board with the only possible exception having to do with possible interference-noise from peripherals, or moving data across the USB ports.

If your BOSE set utilizes a USB connection, then certainly don't worry about a soundcard. If it uses an S/PDIF, plug that into the mobo and it'll do just fine.

[SugarJ]

I'll disagree. I can hear the difference between onboard and lower end cards on my Logitech X-540s. A card like the Xonar DG (PCI) or DGX (PCI-E) will probably add to your experience, especially if you use headphones.

[sswilson]

Yeah, I'd think that even an old AudigyII card would provide a better analog sound than onboard.

[BryceBooth]

Analog quality will always be better with a discrete soundcard, especially with quality headphones. However, the only BOSE 2.1 that I checked out used USB, and no soundcard will help that as it likely utilizes it's own DSP, and whatnot much like USB headphones do.

[enaberif]

Personally a $30 soundcard is gonna be worse than onboard. Onboard these surpass most $30 pieces of crap.

[YukonTrooper]

I'd say spend $30 if you can find a used Audigy 2 or X-Fi, then you can take advantage of the software for games (especially EAX, if you like playing legacy games). Having said, the sound-quality difference between on-board and a new $30 sound-card won't be overly noticeable, especially on computer speakers. Headphones you'd notice more of a difference.

[Jackquelegs]

Originally Posted by Silvgearx

since it is a BOSE.

[MARSTG]

the specs for that audio codec for the SNR says it has 110dB. Audigy 2 ZS has 106 I think, that VIA codec is amazing , I would stay with it and not even bother with another sound card. VIA Vinyl