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digital output on different soundcards

X

Xeero

Gawd
Joined
Oct 30, 2003
Messages
958
In theory, shouldn't the using digital output sound the same on all soundcards since you are bypassing the DAC's on the soundcard? If that's the case, how come there are all these arguements on how the HDA-M sounds better than the A2ZS? are the people who claim this using the digital output on both cards? Or are they comparing digital output to analog output?
 
"in theory", yes...

"in practice", no... although there are many that will argue until the cows come home that "digital is digital, it's all zeros and ones"...
 
when i went from onboard sound using coaxial to the HDA card using coaxial, the difference was night and day... i cant speak for the a2zs, never used one.
 
so apparently this is a difference when using digital out? even though there is not suppose to be?
 
Well, there is going to be a big difference if option #1 sends 2-ch PCM and option #2 sends AC3 multichannel.
 
It supports more than 2 channels.

If you are comparing 2 channel output, there SHOULD be no difference. If you are comparing multi-channel output... well, you can't, because multichannel is not available with both of them.

So if you equate "better" with "number of channels", cards that encode Dolby Digital (AC3) would be considered better. But there are many different metrics for sound "quality".
 
Xeero said:
so why does it sound better than a regular 2 ch pcm w/ optical out?
Click to expand...
It doesn't for 2 channel media.

Xeero said:
In theory, shouldn't the using digital output sound the same on all soundcards since you are bypassing the DAC's on the soundcard? If that's the case, how come there are all these arguements on how the HDA-M sounds better than the A2ZS? are the people who claim this using the digital output on both cards? Or are they comparing digital output to analog output?
Click to expand...
There's also the placebo effect. Lots of people claim massive differences when switching speaker cables but in a double-blind test, they can't ID different sets of cables.
 
so we CAN come to the conclusion that the HDA-M does NOT sound better than say an Audigy2ZS when both are playing stereo music through a digital output? (this is assuming you are running through the same receiver and speakers)

also when watching dvd movies, there shouldn't be a difference right? since the ac3 signal bypasses the DAC's and goes straight to the receiver
 
Xeero said:
so we CAN come to the conclusion that the HDA-M does NOT sound better than say an Audigy2ZS when both are playing stereo music through a digital output? (this is assuming you are running through the same receiver and speakers)
Click to expand...
There's likely a difference, because both the A2 ZS and HDA-M can't do bit-perfect digital output (unlike the Revos, AV710, A4 Pro and A2 7.1 Value). Then it depends on whose resampling algorithm is better.

also when watching dvd movies, there shouldn't be a difference right? since the ac3 signal bypasses the DAC's and goes straight to the receiver
Click to expand...
Right, since they're both passing the same data to the receiver.
 
well, it didn't take long for someone to pop up to keep them heifers company on the way to the barn... :)

as i originally said... in "theory", they should sound the same... however, "theory" doesn't take into account build quality, component quality, noise floors, data drop, etc... "theory" assumes they are all build the same way, from the same stuff...

i understand the "placebo effect" (and, fwiw, i believe that those who would spend a fortune on speaker cables are quite frankly, nuts)... i also understand the "engineer effect" as well, that says, "well, the equations say this, so this is so"... however, the "engineer effect" never seems to take into account that stuff like audio cards, etc. are made out of raw materials, and raw materials are a variable... the "engineer effect" also tends to ignore design differences, etc.

this is one of those "ongoing arguments" in the audio world (along with the "all amplifiers sound the same/amplifiers sound different argument")... you'll find strong believers on either side... but i've yet to see one of those who espouse the "engineer effect" have a nasty ol' tandy amplifier with a 10 dollar cd player hooked up to their system... :p

so, imo xeero, you cannot conclude any such thing... but, as always, that's my opinion, and that and a buck forty gets you a coffee at the dunkin'...
 
ow... my head is starting to hurt then :(

so i guess there's no end all solution to audio then?

so the million dollar solution is.... find what works best for each individual and stick with it? if thats the case why all these flame wars between different sound cards?
 
Xeero said:
so the million dollar solution is.... find what works best for each individual and stick with it?
Click to expand...

yup... :)

it's your ears... not someone elses...

i personally think that anyone who thinks they can reduce hardware to equations isn't looking at the entire package, but that's my opinion...

although i stand by my earlier statement that i think people who spend exhorbitant sums on speaker cables are nuts, they are entitled to think they sound better...
 
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