Is Intel HD Audio good enough?

hi, i'am a picky music listener. and i'am wondering if the Intel Intergrated HD audio is good enough for listening to music?

i'am currently am using a desktop with Audigy 2 ZS with a JBL pro Speaker.
i'm planning to buy a qosmio G-series and connecting it to something like a Logitech Z-2300 or a Klipsch ProMedia GMX A-2.1, next year.

would i experience a degradation in sound quality compared with my current set up? i noticed that the sound of the Audigy 2 ZS is rich and warm, can i expect that also with an intergrated HD audio card?

btw, i'm asking this because after using my sony earphone (mdre-888lp) on my ipod and plugging it in on my computer; the difference is like night and day. after that day, i refused to use my ipod anymore, the sound of the ipod is thin and horrible, there is too much background noise, and the sound is lacking definition.

anyone here using a good external speaker? care to share ur experience? can u compare intergrated HD audio with dedicated audigy? in term of sound definition?

 

I have Realtek HD intergrated Audio, is it better than the Intel HD audio?

 

i'm not good at explaining things... but, here we go...

intel HD audio is the successor of AC'97 standard. intel HD audio is basically a platform that provides intergrated (sound) chip maker a higher bandwith, thus enabling more performance eg. 7.1 max output, higher quality sound, etc. realtek is the chip, it is part of intel HD audio.

 

HD audio is very good in my opinion (playing music, can't tell the difference between it and an Audigy 2ZS - at least for the music I listen to) - the part you should be worried about is the jack itself in the laptop. Too many laptops have jacks that are plagued by hissing and other problems.