Asrock Purity Sound front or back jack?

[hdtv00]

Does anyone know if there is a difference between using the front or real panel when it comes to getting the very best out of it. I just for first time hooked headphones to the rear panel and I swear to god it sounds better than using front jack. I know there is a difference because it doesn't play as loud as front jack does and I swear it has a smoother more balanced sound slightly too. But that's the problem with audio I can't tell if it's all in my head or not.

I'm using Z87 Extreme 6 board but no other parts matter that much as I'm just asking about the built in audio on the board. But my god it sounds fantastic.

[profJim]

Re: Asrock Purity Sound front or back jack?

There are probably two front panel Audio cables with your computer case, HD Audio and AC'97.
I have always connected the HD Audio cable to the motherboard's front panel connector so I don't know what the difference would be if I connected the AC'97 cable to the motherboard.

A web search using: ac'97 vs hd audio should explain the differences.

HD Audio or AC97 connector - Which to use when, and what's the difference? - Super User might provide some helpful information.

[hdtv00]

Re: Asrock Purity Sound front or back jack?

After 3 more hours of searching, I think I figured out why so different. Front jack has amped output so it plays much louder, which seems is making the headphones brighter by far. The rear jack outputs at a nice decent level it's just the front panel has enough to power a 600 ohm pair and rear panel doesn't , mine are only 300 ohm so I was probably listening to it far to loud. Although I believe both are getting Purity Sound ones just amped different I guess.