Sound Blaster AE-5 vs onboard audio

[Octopuss]

I've had Sound Blaster AE-5 card for several years now. I have been using various Creative cards for decades, always simply buying a newer model every few years when I got an upgrade itch.

I have recently been questioning whether I need the card at all with onboard sound probably improving since 20 years ago or so.

My setup is BIG stereo speakers and an integrated amp on the desk, and I run the Sound Blaster in direct mode. I just like my music to sound good. I'm a boomer and listen to FLACs stored on the PC

The onboard sound chip on my Asus B550 motherboard is something from Realtek the Asus website describes as "Realtek ALC S1200A". I have no idea what exactly that is, and there are hardly any results about it on Google (that specific model).

Can anyone who knows something about audio tell me whether the Sound Blaster card is supposed to sound noticeably better considering my setup or whether there should be hardly any difference? I wouldn't mind ditching a card from the PC, leaving room for more airflow or whatever. I just like minimalism, heh.

 

[bruhmoment01]

In my experience, motherboard integrated audio tends to have a very bad signal to noise ratio.

What this means is you’re more prone to hearing undesirable electronic chirps and hums or white noise, especially through amplified speakers. This can be very distracting. Discrete sound cards and external DACs usually advertise a signal to noise ratio >120db (bigger number means more “signal” relative to “noise”).

If you want to ditch the card, an external/USB DAC like a MOTU M2 (or M4, depending on how many channels you want) would give you a similar or better signal to noise ratio. There are numerous options from Focusrite, Universal Audio, Presonus, etc.

Part of the SoundBlaster value add is their software suite of equalizer tools, bass boost, crystalizer, etc. although all these effects can be duplicated with other software like FXSound.

A friend of mine who used a B550 board said the onboard audio was “flat” and “lacked stereo separation.” I never listened to the system, so I can’t quantify it more than that.

As always the best test is to listen with your own ears!

 

[eidairaman1]

Onboard audio is a value added function, keep the sound card you have.

Back when people used teamspeak, i used my sound card for game audio with speakers and the onboard for voice comm on a headset wrapped around my neck.

 

[londiste]

When audio output is analog then obviously DAC matters a lot.
What about digital output? Is there a benefit from discrete audio card when sound output is something like optical or HDMI? Or would that depend on the DAC in whatever receives the signal - how do these fare against ones in discrete audio cards?

 

[Aken Bosch]

I tried my setup on both onboard and SB because of you. My Sennheiser screamed for help and my 5.1 demanded a raise in salary.

Jokes aside, stay with the AE-5.

My 2c.

 

[Octopuss]

It sounds the same. Or so it seems to my ears. I removed the card from the PC and will sell it. The large beefy speakers are what makes the sound quality anyway, not some theoretical small differences in numbers in specs.
I used the SB in direct mode anyway, so any hypothetical extra value from software was useless anyway.
I've been using Sound Blaster cards for probably 25 years and never used any onboard sound in all the time, but if the claims about horrible sound quality you keep finding on the internet are true, something good must have happened in the recent years, because aside from slightly lower volume, music sounds exactly the same between the two sources.

I might eventually buy a standalone DAC, the Schiit Bifrost 2, but only because of the claimed noise cancellation circuitry or whatever it is - basically the damn noise you can hear when you pump volume up significantly. I could never make it disappear with any components, and few years ago I tried changing just about everything, and nothing helped.

 

[Aken Bosch]

Whatever suits your ears.

 

[Octopuss]

I mean I am not saying the card isn't better or anything, just that I can't seem to hear any difference. I've been using standalone sound cards for 20+ years and it certainly was worth it for majority of the time, but with the speakers I have now and the advancements in technoogy, I feel like the onboard stuff is good enough for me.

 

[Aken Bosch]

Hearing in itself is very subjective, what does sound great for me doesn't for others etc., that's why I said "whatever suits your ears" . The only thing that gets on my nerves is that lately the so called integrated audio is relying on USB, which adds latency but that's another topic.

 

[stickleback123]

Use onboard audio, run the signal out digitally to an outboard DAC of your chosing or these days a great many integrated amplifiers have digital inputs, that'll be better than any sound card and you'll never need to upgrade. No need to look at PC specific kit and don't buy into audiofool nonsense either, those guys avoid double blind tests of their latest overpriced toys for a very good reason.

I don't think I've run an analog audio signal out of a PC since the late 90s, every motherboard worth buying has an SPDIF output now too.

 

[Dr. Dro]

If you aren't using $5 earplugs, foolish question. Even the Apple USB-C dongle sounds better than the ALC4080 and 4082 from the latest generation motherboards. Puny codec vs. an entire board with a complex output circuit, dedicated DAC and signal processing, etc.

 

[Octopuss]

ALC4080 and 4082

Who said anything about this?
Btw you are aware motherboard manufacturers can choose to implement the codec any way they like in terms of any additional circuitry etc.? If I understand what I read correctly, it's not just about the codec itself.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Who said anything about this?
Btw you are aware motherboard manufacturers can choose to implement the codec any way they like in terms of any additional circuitry etc.? If I understand what I read correctly, it's not just about the codec itself.

It isn't about the codec itself, but how advanced the codec is usually is a giveaway to how much attention the audio circuitry gets. Not that this even remotely matters, there is not a single motherboard with an audio circuitry anywhere nearly as capable as a Sound BlasterX AE-5, let alone the AE-7, AE-9, ZxR, EVGA NU Audio, etc. Not the old Gigabytes that had a Creative X-Fi chip in them, not the more recent Z690 ROG Formula or EVGA Dark boards which had some pretty alright caps - this simply doesn't exist, it uses too much estate on the board and increases cost of manufacture far too much. And I mean it when even the Apple USB-C to 3.5mm dongle sounds light years ahead of the ALC4080 implementation on the latest generation ASUS ROG boards, you should try it if you have the chance.

Anyway, looks like OP wants to run a speaker system instead of headphones, sounds like prime candidate to get a proper dedicated receiver system.

 

[Octopuss]

Yes, sure the card is technologically superb, but it still doesn't mean there is any perceptible difference you can hear.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Yes, sure the card is technologically superb, but it still doesn't mean there is any perceptible difference you can hear.

It depends on your headphones. If they are easy to drive, you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference, especially if you listen to lossy audio like mp3. Now use anything sensitive, you'll never go back to integrated.

 

[Octopuss]

I don't use headphones. I have expensive beefy speakers from a local audio engineer. They made all the difference in the world when I bought them. I don't listen to mp3 either.
You clearly didn't read a single word from my original post it seems. Not that it matters, but I always find it surprising.

 

[Dr. Dro]

I don't use headphones. I have expensive beefy speakers from a local audio engineer. They made all the difference in the world when I bought them. I don't listen to mp3 either.
You clearly didn't read a single word from my original post it seems. Not that it matters, but I always find it surprising.

Sheesh I just realized you are the OP. I did read it. You're using high end speakers, then. The sound card itself will matter little unless you are driving stuff directly from it. My previous post suggesting a receiver stands, you can use your integrated sound's optical port wired to a receiver which will then take care of the rest. At most you will lose the Creative signal processing.

 

[Octopuss]

lol ok, I was wondering where the disconnect was

 

[Klemc]

I have Edifier R1280Ts but also GigaWorks T20 Series II (that i moved to my web PC's DeskMini since i buyed the Edifier)... it's exclusively a gaming PC btw.

If i buy the BlasterX AE-5 Plus, except disabling the integrated audio codec (USB), is there any other advantage ?.. my MB is B650E-E.

 

[Aken Bosch]

I have Edifier R1280Ts but also GigaWorks T20 Series II (that i moved to my web PC's DeskMini since i buyed the Edifier)... it's exclusively a gaming PC btw.

If i buy the BlasterX AE-5 Plus, except disabling the integrated audio codec (USB), is there any other advantage ?.. my MB is B650E-E.

Yeah, running both speakers/headphones and mic and just commuting the output with a click. Other than that you basically have a way higher quality DAC compared to anything onboard. Results may vary, as usual.

 

[Klemc]

Yeah, running both speakers/headphones and mic and just commuting the output with a click. Other than that you basically have a way higher quality DAC compared to anything onboard. Results may vary, as usual.

Thanks, looks great, i buyed it, idk what about the driver, is it bundled in the app bc i will plugg the card in an offline PC (no internet).

AECMDMasterInstaller_3.4.92.00 // in selection, there in Win11, and it says "driver" !

//

Afterall i won't have it, they have no driver for offline's PC install, crap Creative.

Spoiler

//




OKay, in a VM it's been clear, driver is in the setup (can even be unticked btw), and if i tick Add-Ons it installs more stuff...

Add-Ons:
ALchemy
OpenAL

Always is installed even if i'd like only the driver, hell) :
Sound Blaster AE-Series Driver
Dolby Digital Live Pack
DTS Connect Pack
Shared Files (shortcut)

 

[Flavioers]

I have a HTPC with 4x Paradigm towers (Monitor SE3000F), 2 subs, AMP and PREAMP (Parasound P7) with a SoundBlaster AE7 driving it. All analog cables. No digital audio here.
Recently I got a great deal on a Klipsch Promedia 2.1 system and bought 2, for a 4.2 system.
When using in Surround, I can absolutely hear a difference using the Soundblaster AE7 vs onboard audio on a Rog Strix B650-A with ALC4080. It´s like night and day difference. Soundblaster AE7 sound sooo much better playing on speakers, it´s better with surround, bass management, EQ, etc. Games with proper surround implementation sound awesome with Soundblaster, and you really have a advantage over headphones.
When playing music with headphones (Sennheiser HD518/Cloud Alpha) I can´t hear much difference between my onboard vs AE7, but when gaming I also prefer the AE7 with headphones. Everything sound better, explosions are deeper, etc.
It´s sad to see that today SoundCards don´t get the proper attention they deserve. I think part of this problem is because the "lan game/tournament" culture, as most people today just use headphones, micro ATX MB (without proper space for a add sound card). Prove of that is CS2 missing surround sound suport.
Also, IMO, while you can do great with a PC + AVR Receiver + Surround speakers, you can also do a great HTPC without a AVR receiver and just a good sound card, like the AE7, AE5, Xonar, etc.

 

[Ruru]

If I'd use wired headphones, I'd get a similar card instantly. SB Recon3D and Z already sounded better than many integrated solutions from that (and later) era.