What is Sound Card?
Usually, the phrase soundcard is a general term for all devices capable of decoding audio for computers. In addition, there are also a few devices called sound cards in pro-audio, but mainly for work purposes, not listening to music.
Soundcard Classification
- Built-in soundcard
An integrated soundcard is the internal sound processor of the computer or phone, TV. Currently, any device capable of playing audio, whether it has a headphone jack or not, has a part of decoding the sound. Usually, integrated sound cards use a codec chip (AD/DA chip) to decode the audio like Realtek on a computer or Qualcomm Aqstic on the phone.
Usually, integrated soundcard devices have a low sound quality and cannot decode high-end formats such as MQA and DSD. In addition, integrated soundcard solutions often have high noise levels because it is directly affected by surrounding components. Especially the source processor chip and antenna for WiFi and Bluetooth reception.
- Detachable soundcard
The quality of soundcards is quite diverse because there are many different uses. It is impossible to confirm that the discrete soundcard will have better sound quality than the integrated soundcard. However, for high-end discrete soundcards, the sound quality will be better. They can also decode more advanced audio formats. The use of a discrete soundcard will help you have high-quality sound, reduce noise, and have a cleaner sound. And it is important to meet the needs that the integrated soundcard cannot meet. For example, multi-dimensional sound, pulling high-impedance headphones.
The discrete soundcard can be connected to the computer via USB, PCI-E, Thunderbolt, Ethernet ports. Or wirelessly via Bluetooth, WiFi.
An interesting case is the Bluetooth headset. Inside, the headset will usually use a chip integrated inside the Bluetooth Receiver chip of Qualcomm to decode the sound quality. Some high-end headphones will use a separate decoder chip. Therefore, the Bluetooth headset’s processor chip can be considered an integrated solution but does not depend much on the source device. The sound quality of a Bluetooth headset will be completely independent of the soundcard of the source device.
Distinguishing Sound Cards By Purpose
Soundcard refers to devices that decode audio in both professional audios as well as home audio. Because of different purposes, these two soundcards are also very different.
- Professional Soundcard
Not sure if you can plug in speakers/headphones and listen directly to the soundcard in professional sound. Because the soundcard of pro-audio is usually intended to make music, many soundcards will output Digital In/Out with lots of different channels. Or MIDI/MADI up to nearly 400 channels with extremely strange connectors for ordinary users. However, when talking about soundcards about pro-audio, most people will understand Audio Interface (AD/DA).
- Home-Audio Soundcard
For family purposes, it can also be divided into many soundcards with different purposes such as:
Gaming: Gaming soundcards often focus on serving gaming needs with micro input, low latency. Not too focused on sound and often focus on virtual space effects.
– Film: Watching movies requires soundcards capable of supporting Dolby Atmos or DTS: X and at the same time must be able to connect multiple speakers at the same time.
– Music: Listening to music, the soundcard, if it’s for headphones, also needs a good headphone amp circuit. Soundcards for listening to music often introduce advanced music decoding capabilities such as DSD or Hi-Res PCM.
Of course, soundcards for home purposes are extremely easy to use. Just plug it into the computer to use it; it’s not too difficult to install like professional sound cards.
What is the difference between DAC and Sound Card?
DAC Definition
DAC stands for Digital to Analog Converter and is also a form of a soundcard. However, many people often separate the DAC and Soundcard separately. The reason is that DAC is a device specialized in audio decoding. The soundcard is more versatile, and the sound quality is not as good as the DAC.
DAC (D/A Converter) is a device or a set of IC chips that decodes digital music signals from the source into an Analog AC electrical signal that can be ‘heard.’
The analog signal output from the DAC will go through a device/amplifier so you can listen to it with speakers or headphones.
When it comes to DAC, it’s a USB-DAC device that you plug into a USB port to decode audio. The external signal input DAC can also port such as Coaxial, Optical, AES, Ethernet, and the output is usually RCA and XLR. If the case has a headphone port or speaker terminal, an integrated amplifier circuit is also inside the device.
Normally the DAC will decode only two stereo channels (L, R). If there are more channels, the product will be called multi-channel DAC, Sound Processor, or Receiver.
Sound Card with built-in DAC
In addition to integrated DAC, the Sound card also has more features such as a Microphone Pre-amp circuit, A-D (Analog to Digital Converter). Low latency for real-time audio monitoring. DSPs and can have multiple channels in one device. Many people also say that soundcards are devices that attach PCI-E on computers to decode audio. This device will have an advantage that is lower latency than USB. However, the possibility of noise is higher because it is directly affected by the pulse noise of the PSU source part. Interference from EMI/RFI waves from Bluetooth/WiFi transceivers in the device.
However, it is unlikely that the Sound card (Audio Interface) will have a worse D/A decoding circuit than a USB DAC. Many interface devices have good audio decoding quality and use ‘prosumer’ users like the former EMU-0404. Later there is RME ADI2-PRO, KORG. If it’s more advanced, there are products like Merging Horus/Hapi, Dangerous Convert, Cranesong. with extremely high-end D/A quality.
DCS and EMM Labs, two extremely famous high-end DAC brands, originated from professional audio and then converted to extremely successful High-End.
How to Choose Sound Card
Choosing the right sound card will depend on the needs of the user. If you want to play games, a USB gaming headset with a built-in DAC is enough. Suppose you want to try being a streamer, content creator, or need to listen to music and high-quality conversation. In that case, you should use an audio interface like RME Babyface Pro, Focusrite…. Or a USB-DAC to plug in headphones combined with a USB Microphone, which is perfectly reasonable.
Suppose you want to watch movies on your computer (if used with a TV, it’s best to invest in an AV Receiver). If the multi-channel sound card is the number is not much. However, a few brands such as PCI-E of Asus Xonar, Creative … more advanced devices are also available such as ExaSound E38, Lyngdorf.
If you care about the best sound quality, you should separate the DAC and Pre-Amp / Amp devices. Normally, it would help if you chose discrete Soundcard devices with a USB connection to the computer. Or better yet, Ethernet because when using PCI-E will be more prone to interference.