Sound Cards, DACs, and Amps as Fast As Possible

Sound cards, DACs, and amps are all highly discussed topics in the PC and audiophile worlds. Here's what I think you need to know about them...
Sponsor message: For a free audiobook of your choice go to audible.com/techquickie.

[@Pragmag]

I always wondered why my speakers had that hissing noise and why it grows when I start applications. Thanks Linus, these are super dope and informative!

[@aMuthaFingNinja]

I think you forgot to mention that if you aren't an audiophile, and there isn't anything physically wrong with your speakers/motherboard ect, then you probably don't need any of this.

[@IG5139]

^This is true. The majority of people are fine with listening to beats out of their computer. They are missing out, but if they go to a mid-high end audio store and can't tell / appreciate the difference they shouldn't buy anything different!

[@woopygoman]

Once you try high-fi and summit-fi gear, there is no going back! I have a FiiO E10K DAC + Schiit Asgard 2 + HiFiMan HE-400 planar magnetics and it's nirvana, man... My end game setup will be Ragnarok + Yggdrasil + LCD-2's. I'm almost there Q_Q

[@callmesuspect]

Most people who aren't audiophiles may still prefer a better experience than they're currently getting, they might not even know what they're missing.

[@Gambit33]

There's been a flood of newbie audiophiles in recent years and more than people realize. While the percentage of audiophiles to non-audiophiles is still very small, the number has been increasing dramatically... sadly, thanks to the popularity of Beats. Anyway, my current setup is Sennheiser HD700 + Meridian Explorer² + Schiit Vali. It's a relatively expensive setup, but well worth the money. If people stop to think about it, a $500-$1,000 investment in high sound quality is extremely important. You need good sound for gaming, music, movie and stream video-watching, content production, etc. In my opinion, it's an essential part of everyone's tech setup. You don't have to upgrade sound nearly as often as graphic cards, either.

[@goemon4]

Gambit166 Bro my mp3s sound the same on both, you got ripped off man These are top quality 720p youtube rips sound great on my sony speakers. ;)

[@milkywayprince_]

I watched it 3 times and still know nothing.

[@OneMadGaming]

DAC = Shit Audio In PC Sound Card = Audio is Aight in PC, but could be better.

[@milkywayprince_]

Caped Baldy That helped, thanks. I love your name.

[@Stryker13799]

You must be Jon Snow

[@milkywayprince_]

Stryker oh god, maybe i am?

[@Stryker13799]

xD

[@thomasneidenmark1042]

Wow Linus, your timing is impeccable. I'm just about to buy a Amp/DAC combo, and I've been surfing around a lot to find out more about what I need. This is perfect, thank you!

[@Simon74]

Friberg: "WTF Flusha U WAT M8!" hahahahahaha I see what you did there.

[@mini-_]

Of course you did Gabe, we ALL did

[@EposVox]

Nice video. Just started using a DAC over my sound card, loving the difference. Need some good cans, though. #nomoney

[@JimmyJaxJellyStax]

Sennheiser 6XX is a great pick!

[@mbahmarijan789]

@@JimmyJaxJellyStax dt 990 pro

[@MevenTeven]

Thank you for the information, and that was a really smooth transition into the audible bit.

[@nightwaddle]

FANTASTIC! I've been having this exact question for a long time now and have never found a particularly satisfying answer.

[@iDerekMC]

i am an audio file :D

[@favclassisspy9478]

.flac or .mp3?

[@LohJiaHung]

gr8 b8 m8 i r8 -8/8

[@iDerekMC]

nomnomnomlol xDD wma

[@BloodSprite-tan]

.ogg is much more high fi for the common person.

[@BloodSprite-tan]

.aiff is more compressed then wav but also loseless.

[@danukenator123]

These Counter Strike jokes are amazing. Clearly there is a GO fan in the editing department.

[@shaung9300]

3:03 THANK YOU for honouring us producers who do all of the work~! You are awesome :D

[@Jor0716]

This video actually gave me an answer to a question that I didn't know was going to get answered going into this video. Thanks linus

[@Mega_Arrow]

You guys got me good. I thought the thumbnail was a redheaded Olivia Wilde XD

[@FaisalMahmood91]

Lol hey Bill.

[@Mega_Arrow]

Hey, dude XD

[@ThatdeafITGuy]

fancy running into you two here =P

[@Mega_Arrow]

Yup, we were bound to run into each other watch tech videos haha. I was also baited by the thumbnail XD

[@ZippehJr]

hehe, flusha, what a cheeky legend

[@Azortharion]

Really awesome script imo. Didn't notice it was different till you said it. Did seem fresher, no information lost. 10/10

[@JamesAJ]

Holy wow, that was an AMAZING analogy Linus! It really helped me understand this shebang.

[@Gauntletbloggs]

New guy did well. 10/10.

[@f100storys8]

This video didn't help at all

[@FarshadFelfelian]

Great script. much better than your average techquickie videos. plus I love the Gardiens of Galaxy refrence at the end.

[@HAZARDOUS88]

Always used external soundcards. Fast Track Pro did the job for years and was amazing. Now that it's started to show it's age, I upgraded to a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and it's incredible!

[@Teradmc]

....bit hypocritical saying improving your cars engine is a statement about your junk. Isn't this a channel, forum, and community for tech enthusiasts who 'supe' up computers? Was a bit miffed by that. I like to do both.

[@techquickie]

Improving your car's engine is fine. Damaging everyone else's experience by making it unnecessarily loud is obnoxious :)

[@DankinDolphin]

You should have said exhaust instead ;)

[@bagusp8807]

Techquickie i Oblķnbj gt v ñ

[@LaraaFoo]

Techquickie Why would I want my car to sound like a prius, I want to hear it when it kicks into a new gear.

[@Caligulove]

Teradmc Someone's a bit sensitive about the small joke he made.

[@JonathanKing9608]

is it just me or is Linus's..s voice getting higher?

[@technic]

Actually was really hoping this video would be made soon!

[@silentstatic2759]

Script was awesome. Didn't even notice a difference from the other ones. Well done :)

[@yaltschuler]

1:59 Those headphones? Those are the Sennheiser HD201's, they retail for $25.

[@JimmyJaxJellyStax]

better to get the Sennheiser HD 6XX

[@wagagagaggag]

Friberg :D flusha hacker

[@bunyaadi]

Pretty good round up. More concise than I could ever manage. A dedicated headphone amplifier is also a good idea if you want to subtract the headphone from the main speaker part of the circuit.

[@AD34534]

Just bought a Fiio E10K and it makes a world of difference compared to my onboard. So much more detail and depth in the music I have been missing all this time.

[@loaf_mane]

Best script writer NA, more CSGO jokes plserino

[@PowerMangoLP]

So.. I dont have a problem with my onboard sound.. No hissing, no distortion and (at least in my opinion) Good Sound, i dont know if a new soundcard would make a big difference though. What do you guys think ? Should i get a soundcard or nah ?

[@MarciusSim]

Nah.

[@woopygoman]

I'd say buy the FiiO E10K from a website you can return it to. It's a USB DAC/AMP combo, it provides enough power for most high sensitivity/low impedance headphones, it has very clean sound and it's a very popular product so chances are you will hear a difference with: 1. High quality files i.e. 320kbps MP3 or FLAC 2. High fidelity headphones

[@PowerMangoLP]

well, i dont know if it would make a big difference :(.. im just a simple gamer..

[@Fixedup89]

Well I purchased a sound card for my PC and rarely use it, has lots of noise coming off it, onboard is far better if you set up a good EQ. I wouldn't buy another sound card unless it was external

[@mrsocksman]

***** If you aren't hearing any distortion or interference and it sounds fine then keep what you have. If you don't find yourself needing any more inputs/outputs than you have then you're good. If you know someone with a high quality audio set up then ask if you can listen. Also as Fixedup89 said onboard soundcards are definitely not the way to go, you want something external.

[@GlycerinZ]

This video didn't suck! Good job dudes

[@RickyMon]

I got an audio interface for my eletric guitar years ago, its an external USB Toneport UX2 and I use this as my main sound card even for gaming

[@Dr.WhetFarts]

people who buy gaming headsets might not need a dedicated soundcard or dac, because those headsets are garbage no matter what.

[@brawndon7875]

then can you recommend a good headset?

[@imuha8]

@@brawndon7875 depends on your budget , if you got +300$ you can get a decent headset like 6xx with good dac/amp

[@MCDReviews]

Flusha VACation confirmed

[@coldlegit]

I'm glad someone picked up.....

[@xehtgames5721]

Thanks for the video Linus!

[@xurtis]

Awesome Linus. Also, crosstalk is also a large issue with on-board solutions which is much less an issue with DACs, AMPs or combo units. Not only does less crosstalk make stereo music more enjoyable, but it also makes directional sound in games far more accurate and use-able.

[@TheXxSPANKERxX]

Linus you're so amazing! if only you knew the amounts of people you helped build their first PC ((including me))and teach on more complicated computer stuff :3 stay strong bro you're my hero!

[@yoshiYoishIRL]

Keep pressing 2:30 repeatedly xDD

[@marksoeplepel]

Black Faia oudt! Oudt! Out! Out! Out!

[@mark-evans]

Thanks, I like the analogy about the highway vs computer noise :) I came looking for more of a Sound Card Comparison, but this discussion still brings up MORE Questions, because I have Software which REQUIRES a High Performance Internal Sound Card, and at the same time everything I am using to Create the Music is geared towards an Audio Interface, some even come with one built into the equipment. So now we have the Question of how to Use MULTIPLE Sound Interfaces. I believe that is not really a problem as long as you select each individual Interface inside the Software Settings but it would be nice if someone knew everything about what I am talking about and could give me a little deeper insight on the matter.

[@Ozrico1o1]

I see you're holding a keyboard lovingly. What are you trying to do? What do you already have? What is your budget?

[@hasang2261]

"wtf flusha m8" made my day lmao

[@Dylan99781]

1:55 "amplication"

[@gabaktech]

make advertisement shorter at the end of the videos, usually i end up the videos before it really ends

[@AmeyInamdar]

Awesome video, as always! REQUEST:: Buying guide on DSLR cameras would be great!

[@jamiekirkpatrick96]

Dat awesome mix reference

[@danielbeavers8701]

Iam still just as confused as I was before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jefferykuenle6106]

Call me out if I'm crazy, but that DJ at 3:05 did NOT look like he was giving the salute for "yeah brah!"

[@Amurov1]

Thank you much, you are the best

[@Ultranist]

just got a E10K for my HD598 and it sounds so much better compared to onboard :D

[@theumas1238]

Who is the redhead on the thumbnail?

[@Aldorthemerry]

T. Rietbergen my girlfriend...

[@pmpmasta]

Olivia Wilde

[@guthxchild0]

T. Rietbergen Thirteen

[@iberaider]

T. Rietbergen It's Olivia Wilde

[@brendanwilliams5362]

guthxchild0 xfr d

[@TehCourier]

FRIBURGERRRRR

[@haula251]

Good explanation

[@subpanda101]

Guardians of the Galaxy reference :) You just made my day LinusTechTips

[@Danielevans2]

there's never enough coverage on topics! if he stopped trying to be funny and used video , motion audiable cues for things then he could explain it alot quicker then us just seeing he mouth moving

[@mrraspoetin]

Sorry a audio card is a waste of money, the onboard sound is good.imo

[@adminmovie]

most of the latest realteks are good enough for most of the users. getting a fancy soundcard doesn't make your crappy headphone/speaker setup sound good. it's actually garbage in > garbage out theory !

[@sermerlin1]

Of course it is if you're not an audiophile or a producer... Producers tho won't get an audio card but an external audio interface (beginners) and other much more expensive solutions. Also sound engineers and producers will ground every single component inside the case and the case itself and every other electronic device to minimize the noise as much as they can.

[@Niosus]

berzu21 Exactly. I started noticing this when I got a MBP as laptop (yeah shame on me, w/e). The audio chips in those are significantly better and made the onboard audio on my desktop PC sound downright crappy. This was the main reason why I went for a USB headset. They have their own DAC built in so if you pick a nice USB headset it's already a lot better. I still haven't gotten a solution that's a bit more robust but it's something I'm saving up for.

[@ybra]

Depends, I have had onboard sound that had a lot of static. However the one i have now, an Asus board with the sound components on a separate corner of the mother board, is a lot better. I think buying a usb sound card can be worth it if you have a cheap motherboard.

[@canmore0001]

especially when it a matter of driver support. windows natively supports pretty much every on-board chip. where some like creative believe in pump and dump where they give driver support for the first 6 months and after that you're supposed to by a new card with you're OS.

[@TheTacCom]

It's 2022 and I forgot how powerful that eyebrow was.

[@nathanlamont9920]

Now that you mention it, I hear some cracking on my old compaq speakers from time to time.

[@JukaDominator]

Being an audiophile is pretty easy, you just have to never be satisfied with your audio and tell everyone that the audio they have is crap even if they can't tell the difference. Seriously though this stuff is only useful to people that work with it, I don't understand why some take it as a hobby, sounds super dumb.

[@JukaDominator]

***** 'cept monitors have a much more tangible difference for everyone. Audiophilla is for a select few, who should be taking a job on it.

[@JukaDominator]

***** Well if they can keep their hobby to themselves that'll be fine.

JukaDominator There are a lot of people who spend lots of money on screens, yet can't tell the difference between them. Same thing.

[@JukaDominator]

Jay Anderson Mostly because the market forces them, this one is a conscious choice.

JukaDominator The market doesn't force anyone to buy anything. Knowing that Im posting this on ltt video I know Im doomed to hate, but it is exactly like buying a high end graphics card. Those few FPS that you get for double the price really don't matter. Same goes for sound. That little extra frequency range or lower noise floor really won't matter, but if you're an enthusiast you'll want it just because.

[@DerpySwag]

I use a PCIe soundcard to connect to my audio rack to my mixer, then to a focusrite mix master, then speakers. Amazing sound quality when producing music.

[@azazzelx]

good to learn

[@shivex]

I lolled at the Friberg/Flusha pic, nice.

[@WWEIsTheAwesome]

My brother started hearing strange noises from his speaker. At first we thought Edward Snowden was trying to get in touch with him . Thank's Linus for clarifying.

[@MirceaD28]

I had one on ISA, that had a connector for a floppy, IDE and 2 memory banks. 5.1 exit

[@Zedmaniac424]

I LOL'ed so hard at the Friberg photo..

[@RongGuy]

I lol'ed pretty hard at that flusha reference.

[@AndrewTranAT88]

Since Techquickie was meant to host to host short videos that can be shared with non-tech savvy people, you need to remember to briefly clarify what certain abbreviations you use mean, (DAC, EMI, etc), either through the scripted writing or with a short on-screen text popup. Otherwise there would be some confusion for those who haven't watched a corresponding previous video.

[@Princeton_James]

Me: I dont hear a problem with my current audio. Also me: I need a DAC.

[@Deadorelse]

HAHAHA that Friberg absolutely devastated my lungs.

[@D0Quanta]

The script seems the same as it always is Good job new guy!!!

[@killer187kid]

That Thumbnail Got Me!!!!

[@HashtagPULSE]

Ayy, my 970 MoBo got a dedicated area for the sound card... Such an amazing MoBo....

[@LightoYagasamiSan]

I think your new script guy is great!

[@liammclain540]

Nice friberg integration. 10/10

[@MRX123MRX]

New guy is good, thumbs up.

[@DylanClarkSallee]

I actually thought the script for this video was AWESOME, especially the add segway. Gg to the new guy.

[@66thething]

I have a Cakewalk UA-25 EX and I love it. At the time they were sellingfor a few hundred so I picked up a second hand one for around £100. Full 24 bit 96KHz audio, solid construction, loads of connection options and it just works. This thing has 2 jack XLRs that support phantom power +48v , Toslink and USB. This beauty also has a headphone out ( via 1/4" TRS jack , toslink link out, phono out and 2 1/4" TS jack outs. Finally it does also have midi in/out but I have never used that. It is a lovely like DAC/ADC and I can't fault it slightly and it drives my headphones lovely. I have had it a few years and I haven't had a single problem apart from moving to windows 8 however the driver for this is sorted now. I believe this thing is more aimed at professionals but it's still a great option for computers.

[@antartica8426]

Love the Flusha hacking reference at 1:15

[@anzeg-]

The new guy did well **throws a cookie**

[@NotLuigi]

That Flusha joke was hilarious

[@BloodshedRomance]

been suffering from noise for a while.. tried a soundcard, didn't fix it.. got a external amp/dac (FiiO E07K) and solved it.. the E09K dock is pretty awesome aswell since its a dedicated amp that goes nice with the E07K..

[@Julianna.Domina]

Love that GOTG reference!

[@coisasnatv]

I love my ASUS Xonar Essence STX II

[@EduardLomaxwhot]

thanks so much for this vid

[@Obscure19]

My onboard soundcard + mix-amp is doing just fine.

[@Schmidteren]

I don't need amplification. But would love as clean sound as I can get. If I buy just a dac without volume control, and connect it to my blue yeti which has volume control. Will the yeti then intefere with the sound/make it worse?

[@kadeferree1580]

Lol that friberg picture amazing

[@bobbyhalick]

Scarlett 2i2 is a great choice for small "home studio" options.

[@Masterasadumar]

Good job new guy!

[@AbirZenith]

I died at the Flusha joke XD

[@AcencialAMV]

The new guy's script is pretty awesome,the structure is well thought out and all the info is useful! Just needs more pcmr jokes ಠ_ಠ

[@WoolleyWoolf]

Pretty funny and relevant even 7 years later. I’m guessing it will be 20 years later.

[@Jarrod_C]

Would love to have seen examples of the problems like the hissing, and crackling sounds, and then showing the difference a good DAC, sound card, or external devices make and showing the improvements with respect to DAC, AMP, etc.....this will allow us to get intuition

[@robste2463]

Freiberg made my day :'D

[@GrnArrow092]

I get perfect sound from my on board audio. I'm currently running an old MSI X58 board which was brand new when I got it from Amazon. I don't pick up any sound distortions with my on board audio, so an audio card is something I can do without.

[@PsytexDivine]

Can't say I've noticed any distortion with my Xonar Essence STX soundcard, so I'm pretty satisfied, I don't have room for an external amp or speakers larger than the Corsair Sp2500 speakers anyways, didn't cost me much to achieve sound that is pretty enjoyable for such an affordable price

[@KingStivan]

well that helped alot .....

[@leejk3926]

I get that static sound on my computer and wondered why it was doing it. Using my monitor headphone jack fixes it though.

[@WarreDalemans]

LOL Friberg's face :p

[@user-ls7xf4lk6t]

To add to this, if you are using speakers, make sure your connection is TRS (the connector typically on the end of headphones, but bd sure its not a mono cable which look almost the same) the difference between these and your red n white pjono cables is that they cancel out any interference along any point of the cable via 2 copies of the audio signal and polarising one if them at the start of the cable then polarising it again at the other end which makes the interference cancel itselc out perfectly.

[@user-ls7xf4lk6t]

Excuse the typos, modern day touch screen tech for you.

[@TheDhDario]

*'awesome mix vol.1' flies in* nice1

[@Powertampa]

So what should one look for when getting a Soundcard or DAC then?