Hello,
I have no experience about multi channels headphones.
Stereo is nice and accurate enough while playing.
I failed to have good sound quality because of some sort of distorsion if headphones was not connected to an amp using integrated audio.
But i never had problems pluging directly headphones to soundcards.
Maybe i had bad luck with integrated sound chipset.
Off topic:
My old laptop, a nine years old Asus couldn't be repaired to extend it's life.
its RIP
I bought a msi ge 70 2pc apache with a gtx 850m gddr5.
alc 892 chipset is the same audio component used on my z87-plus motherboard.
I tryed three different stereo headphones:
AKG k450, a sony, and another brand.
There is no difference about alc 892 on desktop and laptop:
distorsion is heard on both devices even at 5% or 10% volume. Settings in software mixer improve nothing.
Connecting headphones to jack analog output.
In realtek pannel i choose headphone, it sound distorded.
Headphone has way more volume than speacker,
So i switch to speackers jack output,
Lower global volume but distorsion is same.
Emu 0404 pci sound card + integrated amp work great.(headphone output)
almost No distorsion even at 70% or 80% volume.
Operating system used for laptop and desktop to test headphones on alc 892:
Kubuntu 14.04, 15.04, windows 7 64 family premium.
Another test i did years ago:
alc 888 on msi motherboard and asrock,Windows xp.
If i remember i was not pleased using headphones to analog output.
I remember sound quality but it was years ago you know...
When i tryed the audigy, later audigy player sound cards + headphone, i had good sound quality again.
ps
Hd7870 ghz is nice enough playing games , 1920x1080 @ 60hz.
I'm currently using steam in home streaming, and it's working fine.
I thought a hd7870 was not enough but i was wrong
