You're correct that both the USB headphones and powered speakers I use in my examples have embedded D/A convertors so the computer audio circuit is completely bypassed. So what? The computer's audio circuit also gets completely bypassed when a user attaches an audio interface. Bypassing the computer audio playback circuit doesn't automatically make whatever is used instead better. Truthfully the requirement to playback audio is not that high. The weak link in a computer audio connection is the headphone jack. ... Now give me some convincing reasons an audio interface is better for audio playback than what comes built-into the computer.
Again, you answered your own question. The jack, and the inherent noise and flutter (clock jitter) that goes with it. I get that you are trying to say digital audio is digital audio, but the D/A convertors are what makes a difference. You can argue that you can't hear a difference, at which point, to you there is no difference. But you won't make any friends trying to tell others there is no difference when they know better.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Yeah, connecting a decent monitoring system via that jack comes with its own set of problems. Arguing about DACs becomes a little more academic after that. There is a difference but I guess it ain't worth arguing about here.
Quote:
Bypassing the computer audio playback circuit doesn't automatically make whatever is used instead better.
This is true; a $20 USB solution is likely not much better than the internal D/A, but that wasn't really my argument.
Last edited by rharv; 07/12/2009:50 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Some Gigabyte desktop +++ motherboards +++ and Asus +++ motherboards +++ have audiophile quality audio on the board. These audio circuits can even handle studio grade, 600 ohm, headsets.
But with all that said, most folks will likely be better off with an audio interface. That way if they ever do decide to record they have that capability.
Agreed, some boards do have better audio than others, which is the whole point of this thread. The OP obviously is experiencing this. I happen to be sitting in front of a machine with one of the Asus ROG Sonic chips you mentioned .. but this is not your average internal chip. Suppose I should check out that Asus chip since I have it, just never did. I bought the motherboard for other performance reasons.
Too bad we didn't know about the Behringer issue early enough to warn berntd, as I think it may have tarnished his experience with an interface.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
shame about the behringer interface! i got one to replace a presonus unit that hissed and crackled. the behringer unit works perfectly. there seem to be duds in every make.
Yes, I think it was just a bad one - bad luck for Berntd.
Behringer got its start as a pirate of sorts, reverse-engineering everything. But it since has produced some good equipment, including the X-Touch I use.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
I have quite a few Behringer items that have worked great for more than a decade. Like I said, wish we'd have known about this particular device info, since according to berntd (citing Behringer support) it is a known issue.
In my experience, most ASIO interfaces behave better if turned on before they are needed .. apparently this device has some weird issue with that.
Maybe the drivers are poorly written to need a USB connection (source) before outputting audio signal.. ie if there is no sound source they shouldn't generate sound. Seems simple enough to me.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
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