nVidia graphic audio?

[DuyNgn]

Hi guys,

Here's my situation:
I run all my video game consoles via HDMI and my PC via DisplayPort into my U3011 Dell display. Simply for the convenience of swapping audio source and video source in 1 fell swoop. The U3011 outputs either 5.1 or 2.0 via 3.5mm jacks. I have a Swan M50W, which takes a single 3.5mm jack input for stereo sound, so I set the U3011 to 2.0 output and plugged my M50W into the green jack.

First concern: Is the Dell U3011 degrading my audio quality?
Maybe I can't do better in the case of my consoles since they are on HDMI, but what about my PC? What kind of audio quality does GeForce GTX 570 produce via DisplayPort? I know I can always get a stand alone sound card, but... I would lose the convenience of audio via displayport.

Unless, there is a device where it would output to my single set of speaker while taking 3.5mm jack input from my U3011 for console use AND it also takes input from my PC's sound card.(if I decide to get one)

I guess what I'm looking for isn't just answers to my above questions but exploring the posibilities of setups you guys are using. I love the convenience of swapping video source and get the sound along with it, but don't want to sacrifice audio quality with that. What sort of compromise did you guys settled with? I'm open to purchasing devices that would get a set up to work, but let's not break a bank.

I'm asking these seemingly obvious questions because I have a suspicion that I don't know what good sound... sounds like... to know I'm not getting good sound.

 

[Frito]

a dedicated sound card will when combine with decent speakers of course sound better than using a simple onboard sound card like the ones found inside nvidia GPU's nvidia added that to newer cards simply to make audio over HDMI/Display port simple and easy.

i'm using 3 sound cards in my gaming rig, my asus Xonar DX is in dolby digital live mode for games like BF3 that can use DDL, that is connected to a sony DD reciever that powers a 5.0 speaker system (my left/rights are floorstanding cerwin vega speakers so i don't need a sub) becuase im using DDL on my soundcard in game for whatever reason using the front panel jack and my case cable leads to very low headphone volume and an extremely noisy mic due to interference being picked up inside my case. solution was pretty simple, i made an extention cable to plug the mic into my onboard sound card's mic input (the asus card's mic input jack on the card is also the optical output jack so its not available for use. lastly i use my video card's sound card to my TV that is also my primary monitor and have the headphone jack of my headset plugged into the TV for TS/Vent comms use only. this works out great because my TV's headphone output is made for headphones and can get them plenty loud if i need them to be.

i wouldn't dream of using my TV's speakers to have sound on my PC for music or games and im certain being a 37" LCD TV its got more sound capability than your monitor does

flat panel displays sold today have very poor sound quality regardless if its a monitor or a TV because everyone is using external sound in both scenarios if they care about sound quality and the manufactures know this so they save space in the design/cost in the design by just putting in basic sound systems into most displays if any at all

 

[echn111]

a dedicated sound card will when combine with decent speakers of course sound better than using a simple onboard sound card like the ones found inside nvidia GPU's nvidia added that to newer cards simply to make audio over HDMI/Display port simple and easy.

Sure hope not. Full 7.1 high quality audio, say from Blu Ray, over HDMI should be better than an analogue sound card. Even if it's being routed via a cheap GPU rather than an expensive dedicated sound card. If you want top high definition multichannel sound quality, routing HDMI via GPU's seems to be the way to go nowdays. You still need a good receiver and speakers of course but dedicated sound cards aren't that useful nowdays (did have one of those Asus Xonar HDAV's cards, when I realized it made no difference. HDMI is HDMI.)

 

[PolygonGTC]

When you're using SP/DIF, digital coax, or HDMI it's just passing 1s and 0s. There is absolutely no effect on sound quality. The sound quality is only going to be limited to the DACs in your receiver.

So, to say that good speakers and an analog card will always sound better is a farce. There are a lot of variables. My HTPC runs off the HDMI on my GT 430 to my receiver and it sounds better than my main system with a X-Fi PCI with some Klipsch Pro Media 2.1s. Not a huge surprise there.

That all being said, OP, no it's not going effect your sound quality unless it's forcing the receiver to step down to 2.0. I had that problem with my HDTV.

 

[DuyNgn]

Thanks for the response guys. So I understand it that the "loss" in quality occurs at the DAC. Essentially, the sound cards that outputs to 3.5mm jacks are doing the conversion from digital to analog signal, which is where the quality drops occurs. Sorry, still trying to grasp the big picture.

So it seems my Dell U3011 is my DAC? Since it takes the HDMI and DisplayPort inputs and then outputting to a 3.5mm jack to my speakers/headphone.

Also, I have a Y splitter to allow me to plug in both the heaphone amp(which is connected to my headphone) and the speakers. With this set up, it outputs sound to both headphones and speakers. I just have to turn one off to use the other.(or vice versa) This shouldn't have any adverse effects right?

 

[Tsumi]

Yes, you are correct in with that fact.

Yes, your monitor is acting as the DAC, and it is in no way comparable to a good receiver.

Using the Y splitter to output to one or the other should not have any adverse effects.