I've been on the contend about buying a detached sound carte since building my first PC in 2002. The equation for ownership most desktop parts is pretty straightforward: a graphics card can handle your games or information technology tin can't, a hard drive has plenty storage for your information or it doesn't, memory is compatible with your platform or information technology isn't, and a chassis can accommodate your hardware or information technology can't. Audio gear is trickier.

There's no clear-cut metric to apply as a guideline if yous're shopping for a audio menu. Lengthy audiophile reviews are available, just they by and large don't offer a quantifiable takeaway if you have a limited point of reference and don't know much about the subject to begin with. I autumn into that category. I've never had anything except onboard sound and my cognition of acoustics couldn't make full a thimble.

From that position, ownership a sound carte du jour has ever felt more like a chance than an investment. At the same fourth dimension, I know audio snobs with thousands in equipment and all-FLAC libraries, and I'd like to believe they aren't delusional -- surely there's something to be experienced across my basic setup. But I mean, just how much meliorate can music, movies and games audio? Plenty to prevent buyer'southward remorse?

I know I'm not the only one to ask those questions considering how many forum threads I've seen debating the necessity of a sound carte du jour. After more a decade, I hope to learn the reply and pass it forth to other folks who are hesitant about taking the plunge. To brand this as useful equally possible, I bought a popular mid-priced carte du jour that a typical enthusiast would probable opt for: the $80 Asus Xonar DX.

...buying a sound card has ever felt more similar a gamble than an investment.

To be clear, this isn't an in-depth look at the Xonar DX or any other production. Instead of hit you with a bunch of numbers, I plan to toggle between my Asrock's onboard audio and the Xonar in various tests and describe the quality differences -- if whatsoever -- in evidently English, to the all-time of my ability. In other words, you're near to suffer some crudely subjective findings but I'll try to brand them helpful.

Note: This feature was originally published on 12/03/2013. We have revised it and bumped information technology because it's every bit relevant today as information technology was before. Part of our #ThrowbackThursday initiative.

Xonar DX vs. Realtek

As with choosing a sound carte, we figured it would be most practical to pick a headset that's nice, but not second mortgage nice. Audio Technica's ATH-M50 seemed like the best compromise between cost and performance -- it certainly has plenty positive reviews, and I'd exist pretty disappointed if I couldn't detect a difference betwixt integrated and detached audio outputs with $150 headphones.

Besides spending hundreds of hours with each device separately, I directly compared them beyond many songs (FLAC files mostly) and games (primarily Squad Fortress 2 and Dirt 3). I didn't spend much fourth dimension adjusting software effects so both the onboard fleck and the Xonar DX ran with a preset "rock" equalizer considering it's been my get-to setting for years and it's what I'thou familiar with hearing (more than on this later on).

I had initially planned on listening to a few songs all the way through on each device several times, noting when inconsistencies appeared. This proved challenging though considering by the time I reached the finish of a 5 minute track I forgot what the start sounded like. That made information technology impossible to gauge the outputs fairly, but the more I listened the less I questioned whether the Xonar sounded better.

I eventually decided it would exist more than effective to compare memorable 30-2d segments instead and this immediately highlighted quality variances. If I start past listening to the Xonar and then switch to the Realtek I sometimes assume certain sounds are missing. I don't recall that'southward generally true, it'south simply that some of them are less clear and require more focus to hear when using the onboard solution.

Similarly, as I transitioned between configurations information technology often felt similar the Realtek was quieter, merely I don't believe this is the case either. Everything is simply duller. Sharp voices and instruments sound muted and increasing the book doesn't assist. As a quick example, the fluttering electronic audio betwixt 0:42 and 1:03 of Fluke - Zion is very underwhelming at its climax when using the Realtek.

The heavy bass shortly thereafter is also lacking plenty oomph that I tin can literally feel the difference. In fact, when I later tested with Cyber Acoustics' speakers, the Realtek's bass sounded so off in Zion that I double-checked the cable's connection. If I listen closely enough, the above findings are true across artists, genres and bitrates. The Xonar sounds more substantial in seemingly every song, game or picture.

In a sense, it feels similar the bass and treble are arguing for my attention, which gives them less private presence. It'southward not purely about higher highs and lower lows. The discrete sound is more than disarming. Whether I'chiliad flipping cars in Dirt iii, traversing Skyrim's tundra, rocket jumping to a control betoken or playing a live recording, the Xonar DX sounds more along the lines of what I would expect if I were actually there.

...simply the more than I listened the less I questioned whether the Xonar sounded ameliorate.

This is at to the lowest degree partly because everything sounds more open. Information technology's easier to visualize myself in the middle of a big, dynamic environment. For case, in Clay 3 the Xonar reports locations of other racers and droppings better while many noises such as shouts from onlookers seem to be more than distinct and audible for a bit longer. The limitations of my onboard chip are particularly noticeable in Squad Fortress ii.

With the Realtek, battles sound like they're unfolding backside a mountain even when I'thou in the thick of things and despite existence less forceful, nearby explosions manage to eclipse furnishings. Whether gibbed remains scatter ahead or someone yells for help backside, the Xonar includes them as part of the chaos. I wouldn't get every bit far equally claiming that information technology improves my score, but it certainly enhances the experience.

What about XYZ...?

You mean you didn't configure the software?!

I've used the "rock" equalizer with my PC'southward integrated sound (and but almost every other audio device) for as long as I can remember. I care virtually audio quality, but not enough to tweak an blaster betwixt genres or media types. I didn't hesitate to exercise the same with Asus' sound card and I'm generally content with that decision, but out of curiosity I did examination some other software settings with each device.

I'g confident that my configuration could be refined to go more out of this gear and there are definitely times where I've establish it benign to match the card's preset furnishings with whatever's playing. Changing the blaster from "rock" to "classic" is oftentimes worthwhile if you're listening to a piano instead of a guitar, and that'southward not something I tin say for the Realtek, which is why I've ever gear up information technology and forget it.

What about cheaper headphones or speakers?

I likewise compared the detached and integrated audio outputs using Sony'southward MDR-V6 ($60), Cyber Acoustics' CA-3602 ($40) and a inexpensive pair of Philips earbuds ($20). Ii things stood out: there is definitely a quality difference between both sound outputs when running lossless files on all of the noted devices, and the MDR-V6s don't sound like they price half as much equally Audio Technica'due south ATH-M50s.

It'southward worth mentioning that the left earbud stopped working days before testing and the United states vacation prevented new ones from arriving in time for testing. That said, listening with half of a $20 headset didn't make it any harder to spot the biggest disparity: the Realtek's audio sounds similar it'southward filtered through wet towel while the Xonar'due south seems comparably unobstructed, and that holds up beyond the lath.

Get with it... I stream all of my music!

I use Google Music, SoundCloud, and YouTube among other services to detect new artists and some days I stream more than tracks than non. Of course, I don't regret having the Xonar around at those times, though if something is transcoded to hell it'due south only that much more disappointing to hear with a discrete card. If nothing else, it's fabricated me a trivial more witting well-nigh maintaining the quality of my own library.

Okay, and so how much does bitrate thing?

I'm non certain. I've tested songs at varying compressions and heard undeniable improvements with the Xonar when shifting from 128kbps to 256kbps and up, just I haven't noticed any convincing changes between 256kbps or 320kbps MP3s and FLAC rips. Perhaps I tin can't hear them with $200 worth of audio equipment or mayhap I simply don't know what to listen for. Either fashion, I'm sticking with MP3s for now.

Did it have long to switch between devices?

Nope. Only a few seconds passed between hearing each output. I bought extension cords for both of them then I didn't have to reach behind my computer every time I needed to unplug wires and so on. I also used an AutoHotkey script to toggle between the Xonar DX and Realtek with a quick keyboard control, and I set keyboard shortcuts in Foobar2000 to skip through tracks easily and compare certain spots.

Your frame rates must be off the charts now!

If they are, I haven't noticed. A audio carte may lighten your CPU's load, but that hasn't translated to conventional operation gains -- definitely not in a consistently meaningful mode. PassMark's 15-infinitesimal BurnInTest recorded nearly identical results on both setups with the fraction of an advantage actually leaning in the Realtek's favor. Far Weep 2 and Dirt iii didn't benefit either, though neither are CPU-intensive.

Should my PC accept a sound card?

That's still debatable. For the money, there's no doubt some folks would do good more than from a new graphics card, flash drive or anything else with a tangible performance gain. Hell, if you lot were careful enough, you could buy both a mainstream GPU and SSD for virtually the same cost every bit the Xonar DX and ATH-M50s, which would probably make you happier if you're stuck with Intel graphics and a disk drive.

Even if yous have a high-end GeForce and an uber fast 1TB SSD, you might only non care almost audio quality. I know someone who's fine with playing CDs of music downloaded off YouTube, simply maybe they just need to hear the difference. I was happy with the Realtek for years and while I can still adapt to the lower fidelity audio, it's a weird balance between appreciating what I have and knowing what I'k missing.

Y'all could argue that I might value higher quality audio because I work from home with music rolling around the clock, but I don't think it matters whether you spend eight hours a day or i hour a week on your computer. If information technology were the latter, I'd suggest that someone with such few opportunities to enjoy a proficient vocal or game may desire to experience those things at their all-time -- or at to the lowest degree ameliorate than average.

The sounds from my integrated chip bleed together. Muddy, shallow and flimsy are all fair descriptions of the Realtek's audio, while the Xonar DX is comparably well-baked, open and punchy. Shifting from low to loftier-resolution video seems like an apt comparison every bit it oftentimes feels like I'm moving from 480p to 1080p or mayhap 1080p to 4K, the latter of which our LA-based editor Rick volition be roofing in a review soon.

Should you lot buy a sound card? Maybe not, simply I think the average enthusiast rig deserves one. If y'all can appreciate and afford the upgrade, I'm not sure why you wouldn't do it -- disallowment ignorance, equally in my instance. Detached audio isn't snake oil, yet information technology'south not a necessity either, so I wouldn't prioritize information technology over a stable power supply or a comfortable keyboard. But I also wouldn't want to spend another decade without it.