I have a ASUS video card with DVI output to the ASUS Xoanar HDAV HDMI input. That takes care of video. I do not watch Blu ray or DVD's using my computer. BUT the HDMI coming from the ASUS Xonar is plugged into my Pioneer Elite SC27 that has Wolf DACs. My ASUS Xonar HDAV 1.3 DLX as I posted before has Burr Brown DACS. I have this card selected in Windows 7 as my primary card. Why would I want to get another DAC? I run Mediamonkey in WASAPI or sometimes ASIO output.
And again my Pioneer SC27 has even better DACS. So all this DAC talk is a little confusing.
To answer the previous post:(I don't know how to quote multiple post)
But am I using the HDAV DACs bypassing windows mess anyway. Not sure what you say there, but ... all good ?
----I'm saying I'm using my ASUS Xonar HDAV has Burr Brown DACs. Thats my sound card.
My thought is, say your using WASAPI or ASIO. Does it matter what sound card your using when hooked up to very good DAC.
Yes. And this is because all matters, no matter it is bit perfect or not.
Additionally ASIO sounds worse in general. And in addition to that, WASAPI sounds worse than Kernel Streaming (which you did not mention).
----So you say even IF I'm using WASAPI or ASIO to by pass the windows mess, it still would matter how good of a sound card I might have?
ASIO passes the Windows mixer by standard, while both WASAPI and KS need to be used in Exclusive mode for that to happen (but you knew that).
----I don't have KS streaming available in Mediamonkey.
Or say you do have ASUS XONAR HDAV 1.3 dlx, Am I using the dacs that came with it
Here too, you mention dacS. I am not sure why or how.
----My ASUA Xonar HDAV has Burr Bronw DACs. What do you mean "Not real Dacs? see below
You also seem to talk about dacS behind the soundcard, but without mentioning a "real DAC" by which I mean a DAC in a separate box.
---- A long quote from "http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/amps-pre-pros-receivers/73299-burr-brown-dac-192khz-24-bit.html"
[start of quote]
A DAC is a Digital-to-Analog Converter. It turns 0s and 1s on a digital file such as that on a DVD or CD, usually in the form of Pulse Code Modulation, into an analog electrical signal that our audio electronics can understand and amplify so that our speakers make sounds. As you might imagine, an ADC turns analog signals into digital signals, which is important for recording. Processors/receivers often have both ADCs and DACs in their circuitry in order to do many different audio related things.
Once controls of things like volume and cost are set into place, people fail to distinguish between DACs in listening tests. basically, most good modern DACs are so similar that you won't likely be able to tell the difference. Early in the days of digital I bet there were some poor DACs out there that messed up the signal during the conversion, but we're not in the 1980s now are we?
Burr-Brown is a brand name of Texas Instruments which makes good DACs.
So does Cirrus Logic, Analog Devices, Wolfson, etc.
All brands make different, quality DACs which, when well-implemented work well. They work so well that we can't tell the difference.
Therefore having a burr-brown DAC doesn't mean much. Some people believe they can hear the difference between DACs (even if they can't, they think they can) so they like to buy things based on the brand of DAC. So it's purely marketing.
FWIW If I was picking a DAC it would probably be the wolfson ones. lol.
[End of Quoute]
Possibly you wonder whether the D/A chips on the sound card are really used when playing ? If so, just check the sound device you selected in the player. That or resembles a name from the ASUS, or it shows something else unrelated to that and you thus use something else. But also :
Your soundcard has outputs. So you use those (and thus use the onboard D/A chips) or you don't (like from the MoBo) and then you will not be using the soundcard.
So all is a mater of selecting the proper device in the first place (in the player).
And in conclusion, were almost there.
Thanks for all the replies.
