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    USB or RCA Audio? Which Better Quality?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Nvidia, Mar 30, 2008.

  1. Nvidia

    Nvidia Notebook Consultant

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    Which is better audio quality?

    RCA-Headphone Jack
    USB

    Im asking because i have a stereo with a USB attachment for the PC or i can use AUX with my RCA>Headphone Jack cable to hook on my laptop. I want to know which will give me better quality and more bass? Thanks.
     
    Nvidia, Mar 30, 2008
    #1
  2. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    Doesn't matter. Just choose one.
     
    Lithus, Mar 30, 2008
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  3. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    It can matter.

    Any USB audio device uses its own sound chip (DAC) instead of the one built in to your computer. So whether it sounds better or worse will depend on whether the chip in the USB device is better or worse than the chip in your computer.

    If you have the cables, I suggest trying it both ways and seeing which sounds better.
     
    swarmer, Mar 30, 2008
    #3
  4. sreesub

    sreesub Notebook Consultant

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    ^^

    2nd that. Most build in DAC's suck big time. But I dont expect the built in DAC in the speaker to be that good as well. Just try both and see which one is better.
     
    sreesub, Mar 31, 2008
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  5. allan_huang

    allan_huang Notebook Deity

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    Just choose the one that sounds better to you.
    You decide.
     
    allan_huang, Mar 31, 2008
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  6. hydra

    hydra Breaks Laptops

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    Check your notebook specs. Your headphone jack may double as an optical or SPDIF which gives you another option. Any of the digital options allows you to bypass the sometimes hissy analog IC headphone amp or the optical may help you with a ground loop noise if connecting to home theater.

    My ZE4000 had a really nasty analog headphone amp, YMMV. I use the analog on my GW because it's clean enough.

    Your laptop allows USB audio out without a $50 Soundblaster or other?
     
    hydra, Mar 31, 2008
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  7. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    Yeah but it's a lot like USB in that case because USB and SPDIF are both digital so they would both be converted to analog in a DAC in the external device rather than in the onboard sound chip. Still... it's possible that the SPDIF could end up sounding better or worse than USB with this audio equipment, depending on how they implemented things.

    Huh? Any laptop can use an external USB audio adapter. In this case the stereo has a "Soundblaster or other" external audio adapter built in.
     
    swarmer, Mar 31, 2008
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  8. hydra

    hydra Breaks Laptops

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    Well, sure, any laptop can use a USB sound card, that wasn't mentioned by the OP, nor was the use of a "built in" adapter. I was asking for clarification from the OP.
     
    hydra, Apr 1, 2008
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  9. star882

    star882 Notebook Evangelist

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    If there isn't already a S/PDIF port, get a USB adapter. It offers the greatest quality.
     
    star882, Apr 1, 2008
    #9