After I try back Sound Blaster, now I also won’t said on board sound nice unless it came with DAC.

I've started from Sound Blaster Live! Plus, then X-Fi Fatal1ty PCI-e, then Recon3D PCI-e then this card

I tried testing a few onboard audio, all of them sucks
Except for those motherboards that comes together with onboard Creative chip built-in like my previous Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming G1

I start from Sound Blaster 16, Sound Blaster 32, Sound Blaster AWE64, Sound Blaster Live!, Sound Blaster Audigy, then I stop until now Sound Blaster AE-9.

The reason stop as I change to laptop later. Now I am back to PC. Haha! In between still got one PC but didn’t change card after my Sound Blaster Audigy dead.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: Dec 16 2020, 08:45 PM

Gigabyte RTX 3070 Gaming OC INtel PC set anyone interested?

I just finished removing the Recon3D card replacing it with the AE-5 then doing a clean install of my Windows 10
Hot damn, it's 10 times better than the Recon3D. Can immediately hear the differences especially when watching movies & listening to music

Regret I didn't upgrade sooner. Where did you buy your card bro? I bought directly from Creative store, much cheaper than buying from Shopee / Lazada
Also, what speaker are you using with your card? I'm using Edifier S730

This post has been edited by sHawTY: Dec 16 2020, 10:25 PM

I also bought from Creative Store, Agreed Creative Store is the best place to get Sound Blaster.

I am using Logitech Z625 2.1 THX Speaker only and also for Sony MDR-Z1R headphones. That is the main reason I pick AE-9 for easier connect my headphones with greatest possible sound quality without spending too much on the DAC.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: Dec 16 2020, 11:24 PM

God damn, that's a very expensive machinery you got there
Not really into headphones, that's why I spend more on speakers

This post has been edited by sHawTY: Dec 17 2020, 12:07 AM

You can definitely tell the difference of the onboard and AE-9 with that headphone. For people with budget gaming headset, better upgrade their cans first before getting a DAC, because I find those on board Realtek ALC1220 quite good already.

Haha ya, after I listen at shop I can't forget about it and keep thinking on it. Thus I decide I need to own it. The sound output was very transparent space and clear. I not sure how to correctly describe by word. In short summary it just simply awesome. This is also the 1st time I buying such crazy price headphones. Previously I never buy any headphones over RM 1.7k before.

Yup, headphones was huge differences. Actually that speaker also can heard the differences as well.

Actually on board not bad but once you listen how the AE-9 sound, you will totally forget about the on board one.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: Dec 17 2020, 12:59 AM

ALC1220 is a good chip. It can even produce better dynamic range and THD than some external DAC with low quality chip.

Sometimes people find their on board sound not good is actually because of noise and interference due to grounding or other hardware.

I never feel on board sound bad, even now. Off course my current sound card do give better, no any pitching issue and clean sound output.
The only issue I face is my current on board sound do give me some crash issue, a very rare crash where it crash once my PC on the way enter to monitor sleep mode when I playback some song in the background using Tidal or iTunes.

I not sure why and lazy to investigate already since I am using Sound Blaster AE-9 now and disable the on board sound.
AE-9 didn't give me such rare crash issue.

For high impedance device wise will make a drastic differences compare with DAC sound card v/s on board sound without DAC.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: Dec 19 2020, 11:44 AM

Maybe software or hardware issue but since you already use other hardware for it no point to check the cause.

Lucky me my 300 ohm headphone no difference whether listen from external DAC or mobo DAC or even from my handphone.

Your mobo got DAC, mine don't have. Haha!

Ya true and not plan to check the cause anymore.

Your mobo on board sound card is the DAC bro

I am using X570 AORUS Elite WIFI MB, this only came with ALC1200 Audio Codec. Not intergrade with ESS 9218/9118 SABRE DAC like X570 AORUS XTREME or X570 AORUS MASTER.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: Dec 19 2020, 04:22 PM

ACL1200 is the DAC chip.
DAC = Digital-to-Analog Converter

To me ACL1200 is normal audio codec chipset, not even got any website label it as DAC.
I know what is DAC, haha! but no one will ever call the ACL1200 is a DAC.

Ok, I change it to audiophile level DAC. Haha!


This post has been edited by Andrewtst: Dec 19 2020, 06:38 PM

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This post has been edited by iZuDeeN: Dec 20 2020, 12:46 PM

all equipment that convert digital input (pc,cd etc) to speaker called DAC.. just got a different level of DAC

personally was using SB back when on-board audio sucks big time ; but nowadays still using the on-board.. and when needed just use straight the Sony WH-1000XM3 .. coz not really using PC for listening music..

That why I change my term to Audiophile level DAC. Haha!
With Direct Mode, it make big differences compare with on board. I need the Audiophile level DAC because on board sound cannot make great output for my Sony MDR-Z1R.
I not said on board sound bad just Sound Blaster ESS SABRE-class 9038 DAC is another level.
I also using on board sound for very long time. My last Sound Blaster was Audigy, then I no longer buy any sound card until recently.

I depends on usage & mood.

• Daily gaming use Logitech Z625 2.1 THX Speaker connected to Sound Blaster AE-9.
• Night gaming use Logitech G733 Lightspeed wireless headphones.
• Watching movie use LG SK9Y 5.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio SoundBar connected to TV.
• Listen music at PC, use Sony MDR-Z1R wired headphones connected to Sound Blaster AE-9.
• Listen music at mobile, use Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones.
• if outside/working then I use Apple AirPods Pro TWS.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: Dec 20 2020, 02:15 PM