Soundcard DAC vs Speaker DAC

[ngupt02]

If I have a SBLive w/ digital out and some generic onboard soundcard with digital out, is their a sound quality difference (for say MP3s) if my speakers are plugged in via digital out connections since the Digital to Audio is performed on the Speakers? I understand that EAX and other advanced features of the SBLive will not be supported by the generic board, but is the soundchip the creator of the characteristic "tinny" sound on generic cheap soundcards or is it due to the DAC?

 

[tweakmm]

well... what kind of speakers do you have?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Digital is digital as far as the sound card>speaker DAC connection goes. However the card itself is what makes the PC>output conversion and will ultimately determine if the sound will be good or not.

The DAC quality in the case that you are giving is irrelevant since the only DAC is in the speaker. At this point it's an issue of processing raw data into a digital audio signal.

 

[blahblah99]

demon is right... digital is digital and as for those cheap generic sound cards, that 'tinny' sound you hear is probably due to the cheap DACs they used. If you compare the digital outs on both sound cards, there won't be any difference, but the analog outs with sound different.

Now as for the audigy's with the 24-bit DACs, I wonder what kind they use? I wanna build a converter the best quality DAC burr brown makes if SB doesn't use it already.

 

[zephyrprime]

<< DAC burr brown makes if SB doesn't use it already. >>



Do you think that Creative uses third party dacs or would you think that they make their own or build it into their chips?

 

[Superdoopercooper]

There are only a few companies that make 24-bit audio dacs...

TI/Burr-brown (one in the same now)
Crystal Semiconductor/Cirrus Logic
SIgmaTel (possibly... may only go to 20-bit).
others... but can't recall who.

24-bit is sort of magical... those things really "only" have true performance to 20-bits or so... but that is an entirely different discussion (and 20-bit is still the bomb).

Creative probably builds their DACs into their chip. I know that Cirrus Logic use to manufacture chips for Creative way back in the day... that had some of their 16-bit DACs (or codecs) built in.... sort of like an AC97 type chip --> all in one deal.

 

[Superdoopercooper]

<< demon is right... digital is digital and as for those cheap generic sound cards, that 'tinny' sound you hear is probably due to the cheap DACs they used. If you compare the digital outs on both sound cards, there won't be any difference, but the analog outs with sound different. Now as for the audigy's with the 24-bit DACs, I wonder what kind they use? I wanna build a converter the best quality DAC burr brown makes if SB doesn't use it already. >>


As a follow up to my previous post... I am doing a project at work right now where I need TRUE 20-bit performance in a DAC... so I've chosen Cirrus Logic's CS439x line (hope I got the # right... I don't have the data sheet in front of me). They are 24-bit, 192 ksps audio DAC's (meant for DVD-Audio/SACD type performance). I checked out Burr Brown... they have similar offerings... but I used to work at Cirrus Logic, am a shareholder right now, and have friends who work there, so I'll go with the Cirrus devices.