Topic: PC Motherboards with SPDIF / Optical Out

[F0CKER]

Anyone here have a PC with a SPDIF built into the motherboard?  The one I'm eyeing up has optical and RCA out.  Just wondering what the general feel is for PC's with the connections built in.  Are there any internal processes built into the system that might resample the signal before sending it out, any idea if these are bit perfect before I buy?

Here's the one I'm looking at specifically. 
Gigabyte EP43-UD3L
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2993

[phanophish]

I've got a Gigabyte board in my home media server.  I use it strictly for playback but have the coax SPDIF out > my Marantz receiver.   I've never played around with the digi in on it, don't even honestly know if it has one.   That said I also don't know if it is bit perfect.  Almost all of the onboard motherboard sound is made by Realtek so there is probably little difference from one Mobo to another. 

I will say that I love the quality of the playback, but that is obviously a subjective measure.  There was significant noise with the analog out that is not a issue on the SPDIF.  There is also a significant quality difference notable when playing back a 16/44.1 vs 24/96 FLAC so at the very least I have no complaints regarding a quality impact if re-sampling is happening.  I also know it passes a 24/96 bitstream as the D>A on the Marantz reflects the higher bit/sample rate when playing different sources.

[F0CKER]

Thanks phan!  I'm only interested in playback on it.  Until I get a new external DAC, I'll probably be using the analog out (ouch!).  You said you experienced noise?  I guess I'll be getting a new external DAC sooner than I think then.  Overall a good experience then.  Looks like I can finally get a box without havign to add one a slew of PCI Cards as well.

Appreciate the feedback.

Anyone else experienced with these types of mobos?

[audBall]

I posed this question a while back and did not get the most promising feedback:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,106719.0.html

My external soundcard eventually went kerplunk, so I replaced it with an Audiophile 2496 that works great for playback.

[phanophish]

Thanks phan!  I'm only interested in playback on it.  Until I get a new external DAC, I'll probably be using the analog out (ouch!).  You said you experienced noise?  I guess I'll be getting a new external DAC sooner than I think then.  Overall a good experience then.  Looks like I can finally get a box without havign to add one a slew of PCI Cards as well.

Appreciate the feedback.

Anyone else experienced with these types of mobos?

Yea, the inside of the PC case is not the quietest place electronically speaking and the analog stage of those PC sound cards are never the best.  Almost any AV receiver these days has a built in A>D that will work just fine with the SPDIF out on the board.  What are your plans for your playback system? 

[F0CKER]

Just for my PC, I already use the Blue Sky Media desk, and had a Bel Canto DAC 1 coming out of it.  I'm looking at either the Mytek or Benchmark (USB) as options right now.

I'd also like to put a tube based pre in front of the Blue Sky setup to warm it up a bit.  I had the ModWright SWL 9.0 SE there at one point, but sold it off to pay down some housing repairs.

First things first, I need to upgrade my pc, and think I'll start with this motherboard and go from there.

Cheers!

[phanophish]

Just for my PC, I already use the Blue Sky Media desk, and had a Bel Canto DAC 1 coming out of it.  I'm looking at either the Mytek or Benchmark (USB) as options right now.

I'd also like to put a tube based pre in front of the Blue Sky setup to warm it up a bit.  I had the ModWright SWL 9.0 SE there at one point, but sold it off to pay down some housing repairs.

First things first, I need to upgrade my pc, and think I'll start with this motherboard and go from there.

Cheers!

Yea, on my "PC" i just use a pair of Cambridge Sound Works 2.1 Sub Sats I've had for like 10 years.  Nothing special at all but it works.  For critical listening I have a media PC that is part of my home entertainment system in the basement AV room.  That is the system I'm reffering to in the posts above.

[F0CKER]

I posed this question a while back and did not get the most promising feedback:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,106719.0.html

My external soundcard eventually went kerplunk, so I replaced it with an Audiophile 2496 that works great for playback.

Interesting read.  I guess it comes down to understanding what's happending to the SPDIF via the OS or the motherboard before it goes out.  This is also the case with soundcards though too.  The Audiophile 2496 isn't bit perfect either unless you're running ASIO.  Otheriwse the kmixer is introduced and resampling is as well.  That was what I understood to be accurate some time ago and why I sold mine for a Chaintek AV710

[OFOTD]

Honestly bit perfect is hit or miss with onboard audio motherboards.    I just put together a system with an EVGA X58 mobo and verified that it IS bit perfect.   I would assume that alot of the Gigabyte higher end boards are as well.

Check on the Gigabyte forums to figure out what audio chip they're using.  Google the answer and you know pretty quick if bit perfect is possible or not.