Sound cards?

[tcsenter]

So...let me ask this...(I hope I word it right) Does the motherboard process/output sound differently for the audio jacks than USB? That's to say, the audio ports use the built-in Realtek ALC 4080 chip and codec...is that still used for USB out to a DAC?

If using SPDIF pass-through it theoretically shouldn't sound differently but that is something only you could decide. If you setup your K5PRO as a USB sound card with DAC, you would need to install a USB DAC (ASIO) driver in order to route the audio stream properly. Then select the USB DAC as your playback or output source, not the Realtek Sound.

Best way to make sure the mobo audio is not being utilized is to disable the onboard Realtek audio, either in BIOS or via Device Manager. Then install your DAC as USB soundcard or DAC.

 

[BoomerD]

If using SPDIF pass-through it theoretically shouldn't sound differently but that is something only you could decide. If you setup your K5PRO as a USB sound card with DAC, you would need to install a USB DAC (ASIO) driver in order to route the audio stream properly. Then select the USB DAC as your playback or output source, not the Realtek Sound.

AFAIK, the FiiO drivers only work with USB, not S/PDIF. (or at least nothing shows up in their control panel.)



But when I connect the DAC via USB:



My question wasn't so much about "would it sound differently," but rather, does the motherboard process the sound in a different way...or does it all go through the Realtek ALC4080 chip then out to either the audio jacks or USB?

 

[igor_kavinski]

My question wasn't so much about "would it sound differently," but rather, does the motherboard process the sound in a different way...or does it all go through the Realtek ALC4080 chip then out to either the audio jacks or USB?

It's right there in the pic. "USB audio device". That means onboard audio is bypassed and everything is processed by that audio device. Try disabling the Realtek device in Device Manager.

 

[tcsenter]

AFAIK, the FiiO drivers only work with USB, not S/PDIF. (or at least nothing shows up in their control panel.)

YES, the FiiO drivers are only for USB output/communication. Is that not what you are asking? The SPDIF out on the back panel of your motherboard must go through the Realtek chip. Whether the Realtek chip does anything to it other than pass it through unaltered, I don't know.

Hey have you tried disabling the Intel Smart Audio Technology ISST feature? I have seen people report this solved their glitching problem.

 

[BoomerD]

YES, the FiiO drivers are only for USB output/communication. Is that not what you are asking? The SPDIF out on the back panel of your motherboard must go through the Realtek chip. Whether the Realtek chip does anything to it other than pass it through unaltered, I don't know.

Hey have you tried disabling the Intel Smart Audio Technology ISST feature? I have seen people report this solved their glitching problem.

Checked Device Manager. Not found.

One benefit (?) of connecting via USB...the "sample rate" went from 44100 Hz to 96000 Hz. (not that I expect my aged ears to notice such a thing...also, the colored ring around the dial went from blue (<44100) to green. (DSD) not really sure what that means...but so far, it sounds the same to me.
I'll try USB for a while...the cable is too short to connect right...stretched across the top of my legs, so I have to be very careful...but if I don't have any glitches, I might spend the coin for a longer USB-C to USB-B cable. (currently connected with a 15+ year old USB 2.0 cable)

 

[igor_kavinski]

also, the colored ring around the dial went from blue (<44100) to green. (DSD) not really sure what that means...but so far, it sounds the same to me.

DSD just means higher resolution audio.

 

[BoomerD]

DSD just means higher resolution audio.

Well...yeah, I knew that...higher bit (sample?) rate...but for my use, I don't think it matters. I don't listen to lossless music or anything that would really benefit from such things. I play video games, watch videos on Prime or Hulu...IF I listen to music, it's probably on youtube or SiriusXM.

 

[tcsenter]

Checked Device Manager. Not found.

It will be listed under System Devices, not under the Sound controllers like the Realtek Audio. I think it may be a function enabled/disabled in BIOS/UEFI too but not certain of it.

 

[BoomerD]

It will be listed under System Devices, not under the Sound controllers like the Realtek Audio. I think it may be a function enabled/disabled in BIOS/UEFI too but not certain of it.

Yep. Looked there too.

 

[tcsenter]

Remember to remove the Realtek Audio drivers too (if not going to use) otherwise they could possibly get loaded somewhere if still installed.

 

[BoomerD]

Remember to remove the Realtek Audio drivers too (if not going to use) otherwise they could possibly get loaded somewhere if still installed.

Don’t I need those no matter whether I’m connected via USB or S/PDIF?

 

[BoomerD]

Checked Device Manager. Not found.

One benefit (?) of connecting via USB...the "sample rate" went from 44100 Hz to 96000 Hz. (not that I expect my aged ears to notice such a thing...also, the colored ring around the dial went from blue (<44100) to green. (DSD) not really sure what that means...but so far, it sounds the same to me.
I'll try USB for a while...the cable is too short to connect right...stretched across the top of my legs, so I have to be very careful...but if I don't have any glitches, I might spend the coin for a longer USB-C to USB-B cable. (currently connected with a 15+ year old USB 2.0 cable)

Well...scratch that. Back to 48,000 Hz sample rate... :shrug: I made no changes...but DID have a reboot.

 

[tcsenter]

Don’t I need those no matter whether I’m connected via USB or S/PDIF?

If connecting anything to back panel audio jacks, including optical SPDIF out, those are going through the Realtek chip. All USB ports provided by the mobo are always on the Intel controllers not part of Realtek's chip. If you're connecting to the K5PRO via USB cable, with the USB DAC drivers provided by FiiO, you shouldn't need anything Realtek you could just disable that in BIOS/UEFI altogether and uninstall the drivers. Unless you wanted to use one of those jacks e.g. Microphone input or something

 

[DaaQ]

Well...scratch that. Back to 48,000 Hz sample rate... :shrug: I made no changes...but DID have a reboot.

Boomer talk me out of the AE5 on Newegg, it has front audio ports and a slight increase in SNR. The AE9 is too much from Creative store. but there is a AE7 I think with no RGB and a AE5 with and without.

Red circle biggest problem with this device I have.

 

[BoomerD]

Boomer talk me out of the AE5 on Newegg, it has front audio ports and a slight increase in SNR. The AE9 is too much from Creative store. but there is a AE7 I think with no RGB and a AE5 with and without.

Red circle biggest problem with this device I have.
View attachment 115402

What is that? Doesn't look like the AD5, AE7, or AE9.

 

[BoomerD]

If connecting anything to back panel audio ports, including optical SPDIF out, those are going through the Realtek chip. All USB ports provided by the mobo are always on the Intel controllers not part of Realtek's chip. If you're connecting to the K5PRO via USB cable, with the USB DAC drivers provided by FiiO, you shouldn't need anything Realtek you could just disable that in BIOS/UEFI altogether and uninstall the drivers. Unless you wanted to use one of those ports e.g. Microphone input or something

Yeah, I have the 5.68 FiiO drivers installed.

 

[DaaQ]

What is that? Doesn't look like the AD5, AE7, or AE9.

That is the external G6x external, has micro usb, and we know how bad those are.

 

[BoomerD]

That is the external G6x external, has micro usb, and we know how bad those are.

Ah, I get ya...just send it on to me...I'll suffer for ya.

 

[DaaQ]

Ah, I get ya...just send it on to me...I'll suffer for ya.

I almost got 2 of them back when OCN would have prize drawings before they crapped the bed with whoever bought out the site. I got all the way to what color I wanted and mailing address, then few days later got the apologies you already won one recently per the rules have to move to the next name.

 

[BoomerD]

I almost got 2 of them back when OCN would have prize drawings before they crapped the bed with whoever bought out the site. I got all the way to what color I wanted and mailing address, then few days later got the apologies you already won one recently per the rules have to move to the next name.

The bastages!

 

[BoomerD]

One more question before I order a new, longer USB cable...as far as sound is concerned, is there any difference between USB-A and USB-C? Type C will work...right?

 

[tcsenter]

One more question before I order a new, longer USB cable...as far as sound is concerned, is there any difference between USB-A and USB-C? Type C will work...right?

Your K5PRO features a USB Type B connector no? Should not matter how it begins on the other end. Could be Type A or C.

 

[BoomerD]

Your K5PRO features a USB Type B connector no? Should not matter how it begins on the other end. Could be Type A or C.

yes, type B at the DAC...Just wanted to verify that the type C would work. I only have one type C on the back of the motherboard, but it's unused. I DO have a type C on the front of my case...I generally just charge my phone with that.
The type A ports are (2) type 3.1 and (3) 3.2, with only (2) 2.0. (one is the flash bios port which I leave open.)



For some reason, the "red" ports don't function when accessing the BIOS, so my keyboard is plugged into the two blue (3.1) ports, mouse into the right-most 2.0 port. I'd like to use the type C port to the FiiO K5 Pro.

 

[tcsenter]

You have USB motherboard headers to add more USB ports. Two USB 2.0 headers (JUSB1 and JUSB2) that could add four more USB 2.0 ports total. And one USB 3.1 (Gen 1 5Gbps) header (JUSB3) to add two USB 3.2/G1 ports. And another USB 3.2/G2 header (JUSB4) which I presume is already used to provide that front panel USB-C port? Since the K5PRO USB port is 2.0, you don't benefit from using the 3.x headers but they are backwards compatible so they would work too. Would you prefer to plug the long USB cable from the front or back? If from the back, you could use something like this:

Two USB 2.0 ports:

Amazon.com

Four USB 2.0 ports:

Amazon.com

Or if you would prefer plugging in the front, and you have an available 3.5" or 5.25" drive bay, you could get something like thusly (shown for 3.5" bay but there are 5.25" ones available):

Amazon.com

 

[BoomerD]

You have USB motherboard headers to add more USB ports. Two USB 2.0 headers (JUSB1 and JUSB2) that could add four more USB 2.0 ports total. And one USB 3.1 (Gen 1 5Gbps) header (JUSB3) to add two USB 3.2/G1 ports. And another USB 3.2/G2 header (JUSB4) which I presume is already used to provide that front panel USB-C port? Since the K5PRO USB port is 2.0, you don't benefit from using the 3.x headers but they are backwards compatible so they would work too. Would you prefer to plug the long USB cable from the front or back? If from the back, you could use something like this:

Two USB 2.0 ports:

Amazon.com

Four USB 2.0 ports:

Amazon.com

Or if you would prefer plugging in the front, and you have an available 3.5" or 5.25" drive bay, you could get something like thusly (shown for 3.5" bay but there are 5.25" ones available):

Amazon.com

JUSB 3 and 4 are both connected to the front panel. JUSB 1 and 2 might be open. No exterior drive bays in this case. I COULD add them, but I prefer the extra fan in the front.
And, yeah, I get that there would be no benefit from connecting the K5 Pro to faster USB port on the PC…especially since the DAC only has the type B 2.0 connection.