Should I get a sound card?

[MonoAlice]

I’m getting a new ATH-M50X but my PC only has 2 audio outputs, my speaker already took the only one at the rear, and I do not want to use the front 3.5 ports as I’m aware it might affect the sound quality (Correct me if I’m wrong)

Do I need a sound card for this? Is there any other solutions to this issue?

[AustrAlien2010]

3.5 mm jack splitter?

That is a relatively cheap solution. I don't know about the audio quality. Some people say they can hear a difference, but I am not aware of that, and I've used them quite a few times myself.

[MonoAlice]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von AustrAlien2010:

3.5 mm jack splitter?

Not sure if the port itself is powered enough to handle 2 devices :P

[Supafly]

Front ports should not affect sound quality. They are literally connected to the soundcard on the motherboard just like the ports on the rear

Ursprünglich geschrieben von ヘイズデビル:

Not sure if the port itself is powered enough to handle 2 devices :P

If the board couldn't supply enough power to both sets of ports the manufacturer wouldn't have wasted money developing and manufacturing a board to include them

[AustrAlien2010]

Some people buy gold-plated audio jacks too. As I’m told, that may affect the sound quality, but it may also not. Only if you try that, you will know. But I am not going to buy gold plated audio jacks, only to check if that statement is true or not.

[Fake]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Monkey:

Front ports should not affect sound quality. They are literally connected to the soundcard on the motherboard just like the ports on the rear

I just want to add a little caveat, depending on the quality of your case, using front audio ports MAY affect sound quality.

Personal example, with my old build, when I used the front ports, I would get a low hum when there was silence. However, when I plugged the same headset to the back of the motherboard, the hum was gone.

[Supafly]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Fake:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Monkey:

Front ports should not affect sound quality. They are literally connected to the soundcard on the motherboard just like the ports on the rear

I just want to add a little caveat, depending on the quality of your case, using front audio ports MAY affect sound quality.

Personal example, with my old build, when I used the front ports, I would get a low hum when there was silence. However, when I plugged the same headset to the back of the motherboard, the hum was gone.

Like you said quality of case is the factor here. Not the motherboards ability to supply the same quality of audio to the front and rear of the system.

That would be due to poor shielding on the port. Doesn't actually affect sound quality though. Just adds a low volume hum that is often overpowered by any audio coming over the connected speakers/headphones even at low volumes.

As such the motherboard supplying audio to the front case ports themselves does not affect audio quality. That said, the quality of the front ports on the case may add a low volume hum that can be heard at low volumes. It wouldn't degrade the audio quality and it's often that low it never even gets heard/noticed when any other audio comes over.

[Grimy_RIck]

If you do opt for a soundcard get an external one, no need for internal they just block vital airflow, i use the sound blaster X3 myself with my DT 990 and logitech Z906 all connected and it works a treat, just one button and it changes audio output from speakers to headset and vice versa, you can also Mic input via it to although i dont use this as i have USB mic Blue Yeti X.

[_I_]

usb externals are also crap

if you use hdmi/dp/dvi for sound, it will use the gpus sound card anyway
onboard is fine, most support 7.1, and atmos

what mobo do you have?
most have a digital or optical output, very few are only analog 5.1-7.1 output