Hypothetical Soundcard Question

[Remmy]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if you could hypothetically have two soundcards simultaneously installed, and switch between them easily. For example if you wanted a good soundcard for speakers, you can use that, but if you wanted to switch to a good soundcard for headphones, could you?

Again, hypothetically, I'm not considering doing this.

 

[Snortan]

As long as they don't conflict with each other you can have more than one sound card installed (you switch between them just like you do with onboard and dedicated sound card) but the sound will output only through one card.
I suppose that if the application allows you to select the output device, vlc comes to mind, you may be able to output sound through both card at the same time (never tried it).
Another thing that could work is Virtual Audio Cable, I vaguely remember reading somewhere about something similar.

 

[SieB]

If you need something just for headphones you are probably better off getting a headphone amp. I'm not clued up on headphone amps but I hear the FiiO E10 and schiit magni mentioned a lot.

 

[jamesriley94]

I think you may run into problems with 2 soundcards installed, and even if you didn't, in order to switch to speakers every time, you'd have to go into sound properties and make the other one your default device.

It would be easier over USB if you did want something like a Fiio.

It would just be easier to run an STX with headphones and high quality stereo speakers and have done with it tbh though!

 

[Nurf]

Technically you are using a second sound card (or actually amp) if you have speakers on a soundcard and hook up usb headphones. Hardware wise two soundcards should be no problem, but windows might want to make it difficult. I'm guessing it could be like trying to get sound outputted to two devices simultaneously, hardware supports it, but windows makes it hard.