Sound Card suggestion to get rid of Realtek ALC4080

[Orodruin]

Hello everyone. I need your help regarding a sound card.
I am using the Asus ROG B650E-E model and I am not happy with the sound at all. It causes cracking in the sound especially in high basses. I tried different speakers but the result did not change at all. I have heard that there are many people who are using Realtek alc4080 and are not happy with this audio codec.
My previous motherboard was the ROG Crosshair X570. And it was much better in terms of sound.
Now, coming to my question, I want to buy a sound card.

Frankly, I do not have a very high-end sound system. But I want to buy a sound card that I can get quality sound with 2+1 or 5+1 systems for many years to come. I can choose the models I have shared below in the stocks of the country I am in.
Which one do you think I should buy?

Note: I do not want to buy a DAC because I do not want it to take up extra space.

Asus XONAR AE 7.1
Asus XONAR SE
Creative Audigy FX V2
Creative Sound Blaster RX

 

[AusWolf]

If your monitor has 3.5 mm Jack output, you could try connecting your speakers to it and using your GPU's sound (I'm not sure if that's good enough for your needs, though).

 

[nomdeplume]

Note: I do not want to buy a DAC because I do not want it to take up extra space.

Just so long as you realize this has all the potential of buying a GPU with the exact same (or lower) specs as onboard graphics in your processor. Only with worse support and more potential for issues. At least you are avoiding any mistaken ideas about purchasing a DAC that fulfills this same predicament.

Good audio is not cheap these days. Even well beyond the USD $$$ the low end starts at. You are paying for firmware and driver support more than the electronics. I'd suggest education is the best value you could bring to this desired outcome.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Dedicated pcie sound cards are dead, and have myriad problems recently driver wise. DO NOT BUY THEM.

Buy a DAC and shovel it inside your PC case if you have space issues.

 

[Orodruin]

If your monitor has 3.5 mm Jack output, you could try connecting your speakers to it and using your GPU's sound (I'm not sure if that's good enough for your needs, though).

I have an Asus TUF RTX4070TI Super graphics card. There is no sound output. It provides sound via HDMI/DP.

Just so long as you realize this has all the potential of buying a GPU with the exact same (or lower) specs as onboard graphics in your processor. Only with worse support and more potential for issues. At least you are avoiding any mistaken ideas about purchasing a DAC that fulfills this same predicament.

Good audio is not cheap these days. Even well beyond the USD $$$ the low end starts at. You are paying for firmware and driver support more than the electronics. I'd suggest education is the best value you could bring to this desired outcome.

What exactly do you recommend?

I don't need very high sound quality. I just need a sound card that gives clean sound and doesn't crack. I used to use ALC1220 and was quite happy with it.

The ALC4080 has worn me out. Frankly, I don't use headphones much. I just want to get a clean sound without driver problems while watching movies, playing games, or listening to music.

Dedicated pcie sound cards are dead, and have myriad problems recently driver wise. DO NOT BUY THEM.

Buy a DAC and shovel it inside your PC case if you have space issues.

How can we use the DAC inside the case?
Aren't DACs a separate module that connects to the PC via USB?
Or are there DAC models that connect to the USB port inside the motherboard?

 

[AusWolf]

I have an Asus TUF RTX4070TI Super graphics card. There is no sound output. It provides sound via HDMI/DP.

Exactly. Output sound to your monitor via HDMI/DP, and from that through the 3.5 mm Jack to your speakers.

 

[KaitouX]

How can we use the DAC inside the case?
Aren't DACs a separate module that connects to the PC via USB?
Or are there DAC models that connect to the USB port inside the motherboard?

You can connect the cable to the back of the motherboard and pass it through an empty PCI-e slot to the inside of the case.

But for an smaller alternative, though somewhat limiting, you could try a dongle. Something like the Apple USB-C to 3.5mm dongle is a pretty decent DAC for $9 and it's also easy to find, but the volume can be on the lower side depending on the output device. Maybe it can improve the situation for you.

 

[azrael]

@Orodruin perhaps you can get hold of a used Creative X-Fi Titanium or a Creative Zx. Just make sure it has a PCIe connector.

 

[Apocalypsee]

That Audigy RX looks good it has Windows 11 driver, or SoundBlaster Z series (I actually buying one right now should arrive in few days)

 

[Ferrum Master]

How can we use the DAC inside the case?
Aren't DACs a separate module that connects to the PC via USB?
Or are there DAC models that connect to the USB port inside the motherboard?

What's the difference? You simply plug it in on your motherboard headers, there are plenty of those there for front panel extension, just get the right cable.

 

[PLAfiller]

Dedicated pcie sound cards are dead, and have myriad problems recently driver wise. DO NOT BUY THEM.

My 10-year old Creative Sound Blaster Z OEM disagrees. Using it in Win11 and have no issues what-so-ever. Provided I don't update to the latest driver

To the OP, I vote for the Creative Audigy FX V2 as it's the newest from the bunch. Should you need Toslink though, better buy the combo package:

Sound Blaster Audigy Fx V2 DBPro

 

[joemama]

Are you sure it's not just some grounding issue? Cracking sounds shouldn't be a problem for alc4080

 

[Ferrum Master]

Provided I don't update to the latest driver

Provided you don't enable X Y Z.

Reddit brims with problem reports often, Creative admins often deletes those even. Things get broken with evert Win release. I tossed my old ZxR, I got tired of it.