Studio headphones... on internal sound card?!

[mikebailey92]

You'll be able to get a decent listening level, but you might want a headphone amp. I don't know how loud the tascam will be able to push them.

[Manfrensengensen]

You should always monitor from your interface, not your built in sound card. Unless you want latency when tracking. I'm sure it will sound better when mixing as well.

[jBam]

I don't think you'll get the volume u need, but I dont know the full specs of the soundcard... Typically good headphones such as u want are high impedance (they have more resistance against the audio signal / require louder signal to play at a good level)...

You can maybe check the specs of your soundcard, but I doubt its even worth it! U may do better to buy the best "low impedance" headphones u can OR wait till u can afford a simple but good quality s/card AND the nice heaphones... - it's a shame to waste nice headphones on a crappy card too ;-)

[TimOBrienFlorida]

Rule #1: Onboard/builtin soundcards are JUNK.

Always use something else.

[Lotus 7]

The VT1708 is a single-chip dedicated codec having built-in ADCs and DACs. As well as analog line ins and outs it has a "high-quality" headphone output, so it is capable of driving even low impedance phones directly. That chip (and the on-board "sound card" which is not really a "card") also supports S/PDIF in/out so a external ADC/DAC connected via S/PDIF is a easy possibility. That removes the analog circuits from "inside the box".

The DAC specification is decent at 100 dB S/N, but that's a decent spec for the chip (alone) and doesn't consider the fact that it's mounted on a mother board in close proximity to a lot of noisy digital circuitry, and is sharing power supplies with the same stuff. Low-level digital noise can be a problem for such circuits.

A well designed outboard interface eliminates those potential problems, and usually has better performance. However, having said that it comes down to what's good enough for your intended use. Some people wouldn't consider using anything less than top of the line Apogee or Lynx converters, for many, Mackie or Tascam is more than adequate, and for many musician's the real or perceived improvement of even those pieces of hardware is not necessary for their art.

You will find many opinions on Gearslutz, and many absolute blanket declarations (i.e. X is ALWAYS better than Y or brand "B" is ALWAYS crap). Take them with a grain of salt.

The only way to tell if it's good enough for YOUR purposes is to try it.

VT1708 PRODUCT FEATURES
Intel High Definition Audio Specification Rev.1.0 Compliant

Premium Audio Quality

* Supports 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz DAC Independent Sample Rate
* All ADCs Support 48K/192KHz Independent Sample Rate
* Built in High Quality Headphone Amplifier
* Exceeds Microsoft PC2001 Requirements

Various Output Format

* 4 Stereo DACs Support 24-bit, 192KHz Samples
* DAC with 100dB S/N Ratio
* 2 Stereo ADCs Support 24-bit, 192KHz Samples
* ADC with 95dB S/N Ratio
* 8-Channels of DAC Support 16/20/24-bit PCM Format for 7.1 Audio Solution
* 16/20/24 bit S/PDIF TX Supports 24-bit, 44.1K/48K/96KHz Samples
* VT1708 supports S/PDIF out; VT1708A supports S/PDIF in and out

Added-on Function

* High Quality Differential CD Input
* HPF In ADC Path for DC Removal
* Analog CD Input Path for Compatibility

Low Power Consumption

* Supports EAPD (External Amplifier Power Down)
* Power Management and Enhanced Power Saving Features
* Digital: 3.3V; Analog: 3.3V/5.0V

Package

* Compatible with VIA VT1618 8-Channel AC'97 codec
* 48-Pin LQFP Package

[Accall]

Hey people,
thank you very much for your input! (Especially Lotus 7 for making the effort and explanation! )

I'll use my USB interface for mixing then. For simple monitoring I'll use my internal sound chip though.

[jBam]

Sure thing - and note: as lotus says - it has a " high quality headphones preamplifier"... It may be able to deliver a suitable volume afterall...

One thing to note, and this is as "elite" as it is honest, but: good headphones are only as good as the converters that make digital audio become an analogue signal... Bare in mind that u are talking about buying "very nice" headphones on "this will work" audio converters and soundcard technology... If u value an interest in music creation / production at a level where u want b/d headphones, then u should start planning seriously for the right sound card too... Doesn't need to be a million inputs and outputs... Just a quality card / interface that does what u want!!

Be well!

[Lotus 7]

Most internal "sound cards" and mother board based audio interfaces are really just a starting point. They have dramatically improved in the last 2 to 4 years, but then again, so have the many excellent external hardware interfaces available.

The advantages of an external interface are numerous, and often include:

1. Significantly better signal to noise ratio, both on the audio inputs and the outputs.

2. Lower distortion and wider/flatter frequency response of the analog circuitry.

3. Built-in, good quality mic pre-amplifiers with +48v. phantom power (necessary for powered microphones).

4. Better quality, lower distortion, higher current capability headphone outputs.

5. Balanced, +4 dB professional line level inputs/outputs that will easily interface with pro-level outboard gear instead of -10 dB, "single-ended" "consumer-level" line ins/outs.

Added together all those features can significantly improve the technical quality of your recordings. BUT, that's not to say that one can't make excellent music using a built-in sound card and basic hardware.

I know of a young harpist who has had remarkable commercial success with her release of a recording of multiple harps. She recorded it with a Zoom H4, added reverb with a 10 year old $80 reverb processor, edited with Audacity on a old Macintosh (all at 44.1k/16 bits). The sound is just OK, but the playing is wonderful and she sells a bunch of those CD's at every performance.

To make an intelligent choice of which interface to use takes a little research and homework, but is really not difficult.

A good transition from a internal sound card might be something like a Apogee Duet 2, or if you can afford it a Sound Devices USB Pre2, both of which have excellent converters (going both ways). Incidentally, the USB Pre2 has an extremely powerful headphone output that will drive any modern headphone to "hearing damaging" levels.

The next step would be a I/O system with more channels like a MOTU 8Pre or a 828mk3.

From there on, the sky's the limit*, but you can make some excellent music with an Apogee Ensemble, RME Fireface UFX, or UA Apollo, tracking and mixing in ProTools or Apple Logic Pro.

*That's why we're called "Gearslutz".

Best Wishes and welcome to the "black-hole" of audio hardware purchasing.