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Here's how to make on-board motherboard audio better
It's easy to trash motherboard audio — we've been doing it for decades. While it's true that on-board audio on motherboards used to be terrible, things have come a long way in the last 10 years. Motherboard manufacturers take signal isolation much more seriously than before, and use dedicated, high-quality audio chips that provide a clean audio experience that's more than enough for most users. Motherboard audio is no match for an external DAC, but you shouldn't jump to the latter before giving the former a fair chance.
Use the rear audio jack only
If you aren't doing so already
It might be convenient to use the front audio jack to plug in your headphones, but the rear audio ports are almost always cleaner. The front audio ports are often connected to long, unshielded cables that contribute to signal interference. All the electronic components inside your PC create a lot of electromagnetic interference that gives on-board audio its bad name. In contrast, the rear audio ports of your motherboard are relatively free from signal noise since they're directly connected to the audio equipment of the board.
You might not be aware of the difference between the two configurations if you've only ever used the front audio ports. Switch to the rear ports, and you might get a better audio experience — the difference might be subtle, but worth it. A discrete sound card might offer a significant upgrade, but most people aren't audiophiles, and might fail to appreciate the difference.
Move on from generic audio drivers
Why leave performance on the table?
When you first set up your PC, Windows might have installed all the necessary drivers automatically. This includes the audio driver for your motherboard, and is enough for basic purposes. However, your motherboard manufacturer likely has a specific audio driver and software for your particular model that can deliver much better results. It's best to locate the latest audio driver for your motherboard on the manufacturer's website to gain access to advanced settings that might not be present within Windows.
Settings like high-bitrate audio, high-impedance output, equalizer, and surround sound effects are often better handled through the dedicated audio program for your motherboard. Give it a shot — you might have been missing out on a significantly better audio experience.
Eliminate any signal interference you can
Do your best
While modern motherboards have relatively isolated audio circuitry, signal interference can always crop up inside a PC. You can never eliminate it, but minimizing it is certainly possible. Focus on removing problems like the coil whine on your graphics card or PSU ripple (voltage fluctuations) due to a low-quality unit to improve your on-board audio. You should also avoid clustering too many USB devices and dongles near the rear audio ports to minimize signal noise. If you're using a UPS or surge protector, check if they're capable of automatic voltage regulation — it can keep the voltage steady and reduce interference.
Check if you're using lossless sources
It's expensive, but it might be worth it
If the audio source itself isn't clean enough, nothing you do on the other end will ever be perfect. If you listen to a lot of music or watch movies and shows on your PC, try to find sources with lossless audio — FLAC, ALAC, and the like. The higher fidelity audio you're able to use at the source, the better your chances are of enjoying a clean, premium experience. Who knows, you might not even feel the need for an external DAC. Spotify, Apple Music, and several other streaming platforms have high-fidelity plans that you can explore. You can also look into lossless movies and TV shows by purchasing Blu-ray discs or using services like Kaleidoscope.
Dagam3z.
Passion for Sound
CE-SphereOn-board motherboard audio is decent, but it demands effort
Motherboard audio has improved significantly over the last few generations, but you need to put in some work to ensure it's performing at its best. Eliminating sources of signal interference, using the right audio drivers, and prioritizing the rear audio ports are a few tips to get you started. If you aren't satisfied, you can look into PCIe audio cards or budget external DACs for a step-up in your audio experience.
