If you decide to buy an external USB sound card (e.g., Apple USB-C dongle, Focusrite Scarlett), you must fully disable the onboard Realtek to avoid conflicts.
You install the driver, but the control panel is missing. You cannot change speaker configurations or enable "Headphone virtualization." Realtek Alc897 Driver
The ALC897 is not a high-end DAC, but you can maximize its potential. If you decide to buy an external USB sound card (e
is quieter than higher-end codecs like the ALC1220. Reviewers on Reddit often suggest using external amplifiers or adjusting settings in the Realtek Audio Console to mitigate this. Apple USB-C dongle