Build Your Computer

[megido-rev.M]

Anyway, I did some digging and apparently the cards are practically the same aside from the connector interface, so I guess that answers your question, no :D?

[kitamesume]

yes i knew about that, what i wanted to know if they had any advantage to each other, like the D1 having less likely to harbor latencies, and DX being more future proof and such.

[megido-rev.M]

They use the exact same chip or so I hear, so we would have to stretch our imaginations a bit on that aspect.

The most concise comparison I saw was on this post.
A different power connector, but not much else.

[kitamesume]

well seems like there isnt a thorough comparison between them.

well my hunches between them in advantages, though obviously not confirmed, are:
D1 - will have less latencies in comparison with the DX, doesn't need a power connector, will eat less wattage overall because of less components.
DX - will have a better, stable supply of power from the external source, future proof.

[vuzedome]

Not many differences between the two.
Future proof? Yeah the DX is. However PCI will still be here for a few more years.
But to be honest I'm finding onboard discrete sound cards to be very lacking, and external DAC will easily kick onboard's and even discrete's ass, then again only when you've bought something appropriate and are using it the right way.

[kitamesume]

i got a superlux HD668B, according to a few reviews its in league with the 150$ headphones. since i got that kind of headphone i'll pickup an appropriate soundcard as well, DX or D1 should suffice, not being overkill or lacking either.
a DG could work but according to a few reviews it isn't much of an upgrade against an ALC889 =/ most of the difference is a bit more detail and a louder volume, so that won't cut it as an upgrade.

edit: im short by 20$ worth tho XD

[megido-rev.M]

Isn't a DG is simply a reduced version of DX (+ a headphone amp)? Also, I don't know what review you're looking at, but I doubt it's just a minor upgrade against an onboard chip.

[kitamesume]

the only difference was indeed a bit more detail and a louder volume, lol what did you expect? you'd hear a pin drop from a mile away with a DG?

ALC889 already has a top notch codec with 108SNR, for an onboard it already sounds quite good.

[megido-rev.M]

Never counted on DG being anything at all, but although I can't confirm anything myself, the mentioned difference just sounds a little off in some aspect. Not that this concerns me, so I'll leave it at that.

[kitamesume]

hmmm this is weird, i looked up both dx and dg again, and both being compared and guess what they said...

dx vs onboard - dx is waaaay better than onboard, just grab it and you wont regret it.
dg vs onboard - dg will sound better than onboard and will be a good upgrade over it, though the difference in quality wouldn't be big.
dx vs dg - dg sounds better than dx.

i luled at this part.

edit: also i still cant see the reason for needing an amp, if the soundcard can drive it loud enough for me without any sort of distortion wouldn't that be enough? an amplifier is basically, well, an amplifier.
also people claiming that amps makes it sound much better, as if enhancing the signal, well wouldn't that mean they're distorting the signal to the sound they'd like? wouldn't an EQ do better?

[megido-rev.M]

As far as amplification goes, there's increasing the signal's amplitude (via analog), and lowering attenuation. I think the former would distort audio, whereas the latter just keeps the voltage as high as it can by matching circuit impedance. If I were to take a guess at it, most likely the former is the volume control whereas the latter is the advertised amp.

An equalizer separately adjusts frequency ranges, but I'm not quite sure about volume with that regard.