Member Avatar for crab

hi,
ive an intel 865gbf mobo. it supports 5.1 ch audio(or so is claimed i guess). i was planning to attach am TEAC amp to the pc. do i need a sound card if im attaching an amp? wouldnt my amp be doing the same thing a sound card does!??
help appreciated

kind regards
omw

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by str1099

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Short answer: no — an amplifier does not remove the need for a sound card or DAC. The amp’s job is to increase an analog signal so speakers can be driven; the sound card (or an external DAC) converts the PC’s digital audio into that analog signal and often provides level control, driver support and noise isolation. If the amp itself contains a digital input plus a built‑in DAC, you can feed digital from the PC straight to the amp and bypass the motherboard’s converter. Otherwise the amp will simply amplify whatever analog it receives — including any hiss, hum or coloration.

Practical checklist to decide what you need:

  1. Check the amp’s inputs: analog (RCA/TRS) vs digital (optical/coax/USB).
  2. Confirm whether your speakers are passive (need an amp) or active (have their own amp).
  3. If you want lower noise, better headphone drive, true multi‑channel outputs or low‑latency recording, consider a discrete sound card or external USB/interface.
  4. If you only need playback and the onboard audio sounds clean in a simple A/B test, a separate card isn’t necessary.

Quick troubleshooting and setup tips:

  • Use the PC’s line‑out (not mic/headphone jacks mistaken for other ports) to feed an amp.
  • Match levels when A/B testing so differences aren’t just volume.
  • Disable software “enhancements” and update audio drivers before judging quality.
  • To kill hum, plug PC and amp into the same outlet or try an optical/USB link or a ground‑loop isolator.

As noted, onboard audio is often sufficient; and were right that you can get sound without buying extra hardware, but ’s concern about quality is valid — the choice depends on the amp/speakers you have and how critical your listening or recording needs are.

Recommended Answers

All 4 Replies

Member Avatar for Coconut Monkey

The motherboard has an integrated sound card, so you don't need to buy a separate card, but you may want to buy one in the near future if the onboard solution fails to deliver decent audio to your ears. ;)

Member Avatar for jindalarpan

if u r putting amp then u not need to buy the sound card because ur amp will work to produce good sound out put. in that case ur amp should be of good quality

Member Avatar for ikunalgaurav

what is the need of extra sound card????IS Onbord sound card not enough to produce good sound quality?????

Member Avatar for str1099

No you do not need sound card.

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