It's Still Worth Investing in a Hi-Fi System

The only way to truly experience your music at its best.

Posts 9 You don't need to spend a fortune on a sound card to notice a significant improvement either—it’s usually about the same price as a power supply unit or your RAM. If you've invested in a quality headset or headphones, why not make sure they perform at their peak?

An added benefit is that sound cards tend to outlast many other PC components.

Good Sound Lasts a Long Time

When purchasing a graphics card or CPU, there's always the expectation that it won’t remain relevant forever.

##### Stop Expecting PCs to Last 10 Years

Spending twice as much on your PC just doubles the disappointment when it becomes outdated.

Posts 79 New manufacturing techniques result in smaller, more efficient transistors, and older GPU architectures eventually become obsolete. Purpose-built chips are integrated into newer generations, such as how NPUs inside CPUs now efficiently handle basic AI tasks. This is also why raytracing, which depends on specialized RT Cores, has advanced significantly between GPU releases.

No matter how much you invest, performance will start to fall behind after two or three generations.

Sound cards, however, don’t face the same issue.

Broadly speaking, sound cards consist of two key components: the digital-analog converter (DAC) and the amplifier (amp).

The DAC translates binary audio data into signals that your headphones can use to produce sound. Naturally, the output from a DAC isn't strong enough to be heard clearly. Plugging earbuds directly into a DAC might give you some sound, but it'll be barely audible. The signal needs amplification before it can be properly used.

Dedicated sound cards typically have superior amplifiers compared to those built into motherboards. They utilize higher-quality parts capable of boosting signals without distortion, feature advanced circuitry designed to eliminate electromagnetic interference and background noise, and often effortlessly drive high-impedance headphones.

What Sound Card or Amp Should You Buy?

There are two main options when buying a sound card. You can go for an internal PCIe sound card or choose an external DAC and amp connected via USB.

Neither option is inherently better—each has advantages depending on your setup. I use a compact USB DAC and amp combo with my laptop, while my desktop uses an internal sound card.

### Why Choose an Internal Sound Card?

Two major reasons stand out when choosing an internal sound card over an external DAC and amp: software features and space efficiency.

Most PCIe sound cards are marketed toward gamers and often come with software suites that let you customize your audio settings. Some even offer enhancements like boosting subtle sounds like footsteps to give you an edge in competitive games.

These cards may also include virtual surround sound controls, bass adjustments, and other customizable audio settings for enthusiasts.

Additionally, internal sound cards don’t take up desk space or add extra cables. As trivial as it seems, my workspace is already crowded, so I preferred not to add another device. That’s ultimately what led me to pick a PCIe sound card instead of an external DAC and amp.

I chose a Creative Sound Blaster card because Creative has been producing dedicated sound cards for decades, and I’ve never had any real issues with them.

##### Creative Sound Blaster Z SE Internal PCI-e Gaming Sound Card and DAC

For a modest investment, you get a substantial upgrade over onboard audio plus multiple inputs for 7.1 surround setups.

See at amazon Expand Collapse One notable drawback of PCIe sound cards is susceptibility to noise.

Any internal sound card will be exposed to electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by other components in your case. I once owned an ASRock x370 Taichi motherboard that was highly sensitive to EMI from an unidentified source. When I installed a SoundBlaster Z, the issue disappeared—likely due to the card’s EMI shielding. However, this isn't guaranteed to work in every system.

If you're experiencing EMI, try removing components one by one to identify the source of the noise.

Alternatively, you could opt for a USB-based sound card or external DAC and amp, which are less affected by EMI since they’re physically separated from the noise source.

Consider an External DAC and Amp

When selecting a USB-connected audio solution, proceed carefully. Some devices combine DAC and amplifier in one unit, but others keep them separate, meaning you’ll need to buy both.

Combo units are generally more convenient—you just need a USB connection and sometimes an external power source.

##### Creative Sound Blaster X4 Hi-Res 24bit/192kHz External USB DAC and Amp

If your laptop (or desktop) doesn’t deliver satisfying audio out of the box, this USB DAC from Creative elevates the experience—and then some. No PCIe slot required.

See at amazon Expand Collapse On the flip side, buying a separate DAC and amp might offer better long-term value. Amplifiers age gracefully—a good one today will still be great in 20 years. DACs, however, are more likely to be affected by technological changes. If future-proofing is important to you, this could be a factor. Schiit offers reasonably priced modular units that let you enter the world of audiophile gear without overspending.

Still, for most users, combo units are ideal—they deliver excellent performance for many years.

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I’d also recommend trying music from a lossless streaming service or pulling out your old CDs to test your setup. The sound quality is far superior to what you’ll hear on YouTube.

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