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Author Topic: SPDIF coaxial and optical outputs on motherboards  (Read 3462 times)

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Original_Ken

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SPDIF coaxial and optical outputs on motherboards
« on: December 14, 2013, 01:00:02 AM »
I see talk about every other part of the chain, but not about the "senders" or "converters" on motherboards (or outboard gear) that convert digital audio to Toslink or Coax SPDIF.

Whereas in the old days of high end CD Transports and separate DACs, that part was selected by the audio company making the transport, nowadays it would seem that they are likely to be afterthoughts on the part of motherboard makers.

So, for computer audio, I'm wondering what one is likely to find on a motherboard (quality-wise), and are there outboard solutions ?

Or is everybody now using some sort of USB-to-SPDIF converter ?
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DaveBSC

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Re: SPDIF coaxial and optical outputs on motherboards
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2013, 06:17:19 AM »
Most boards are using some sort of Realtek chipset, though you do see daughter boards sometimes on very high-end gaming motherboards. The consumer soundcard market has mostly dried up because unless you're some sort of professional FPS player and you need precise positional audio, its just not going to matter that much. IMO Creative Labs ultimately brought their own destruction by steamrolling all of their competitors and burying their technology. Nobody really cares about whatever the latest X-FI nonsense is, at least that's the sense I get.

The pro card market is quite different, there are a lot of options from Lynx, RME, ESI, M-audio, etc. None of these cards can get within a mile of the 10ps PP jitter from the OR5/Dynamo combo though, the clocks they are using are just not that great. Supposedly the Mykerinos card can match the best USB converters, but I've never actually heard one in person. It also costs a fortune and requires special software.
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Original_Ken

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Re: SPDIF coaxial and optical outputs on motherboards
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2013, 08:24:51 PM »
Quote from: DaveBSC on December 14, 2013, 06:17:19 AM
The pro card market is quite different, there are a lot of options from Lynx, RME, ESI, M-audio, etc. None of these cards can get within a mile of the 10ps PP jitter from the OR5/Dynamo combo though, the clocks they are using are just not that great. Supposedly the Mykerinos card can match the best USB converters, but I've never actually heard one in person. It also costs a fortune and requires special software.
So, would I be correct to say that as of now, for computer digital audio:
* Toslink and Coax connections from the computer are no longer used by "audiophiles" (here meaning those who look for small improvements in sound quality)
* Thus the remaining distinction is whether one is using an outboard USB (to toslink or coax) converter or using an asynchronous USB DAC.
?
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Maxvla

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Re: SPDIF coaxial and optical outputs on motherboards
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2013, 09:02:04 PM »
I wouldn't say not used at all. Many audiophiles still use onboard spdif for computer based rigs, usually those short on cash, or those who prioritize other things first, or those who just don't know.
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anetode

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Re: SPDIF coaxial and optical outputs on motherboards
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2013, 09:25:53 PM »
There are even those filthy plebs who listen to onboard audio and still dare to call themselves "audiophiles".
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Re: SPDIF coaxial and optical outputs on motherboards
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2013, 11:24:55 PM »
I'll use onboard SPDIF if USB is worse.
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DaveBSC

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Re: SPDIF coaxial and optical outputs on motherboards
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2013, 01:33:35 AM »
Quote from: Original_Ken on December 14, 2013, 08:24:51 PM
So, would I be correct to say that as of now, for computer digital audio:
* Toslink and Coax connections from the computer are no longer used by "audiophiles" (here meaning those who look for small improvements in sound quality)
* Thus the remaining distinction is whether one is using an outboard USB (to toslink or coax) converter or using an asynchronous USB DAC.
?

Yup. A few years ago when the options were mostly limited to 24/96 adaptive mode converters, people were still using Lynx cards with custom AES/EBU breakout cables. You don't really see that anymore. Since the vast majority of computers are Win based PCs with no FireWire ports, there was little hope for Weiss to really get anywhere. USB is it going forward. A lot of people also like to use a laptop as their source, and optical digital outputs on laptops other than Macbooks are almost nonexistent, and you can forget about a coax output, other than MAYBE on like a 10 pound uber gaming laptop.
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The Alchemist

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Re: SPDIF coaxial and optical outputs on motherboards
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2014, 10:24:06 AM »
I use the SPDIF/optical out from my titanium HD to the bifrost Uber and disable the creative soundcard's speakers.
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Skyline

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Re: SPDIF coaxial and optical outputs on motherboards
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2014, 11:59:15 AM »
I'm considering this MB for my next build.  It looks like all of their audio efforts will be wasted on me since I'll be bypassing most of it for my external dac/amp, but it's still nice to see a MB manufacturer to at least make an attempt:

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4594#ov
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DaveBSC

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Re: SPDIF coaxial and optical outputs on motherboards
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2014, 02:35:23 PM »
Quote from: Skyline on January 23, 2014, 11:59:15 AM
I'm considering this MB for my next build.  It looks like all of their audio efforts will be wasted on me since I'll be bypassing most of it for my external dac/amp, but it's still nice to see a MB manufacturer to at least make an attempt:

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4594#ov

We're still talking about a Realtek ALC898, it's not as if Gigabyte is partnering with RME or Lynx or something. Still a lot of, MB manufacturers are looking at making onboard sound better as a way to differentiate/help justify the cost of their TOTL boards. One of the most popular things right now on boards is a HPA capable of driving 600 Ohm headphones, as a lot of gamers are using headphones or headsets these days instead of computer speakers.

If you're planning to do a lot of overclocking, I would recommend looking at a Z87 board instead of B85.
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