External USB sound card?

Hi...

I have been mulling over getting a set of speakers for my workdesk. My machine is the one that appears in the sig below.

From what I understand, the speakers need to be hooked up to the headphone jack on the laptop. On the R400, the headphone jack is in the front, which may make things somewhat inconvenient at times. So, I was thinking if it is possible to use an external USB sound card and hook up the speakers to it. I hasten to add that I am not sure if this would work.

So, would you please advise me on this? Also, I did try to buy the applicable dock for the R400, but I don't think it is available any longer from Lenovo since they have phased out the R400 model. Buying off eBay is not an option for me.

Thanks in advance.

 

Any usb soundcard or dac should work for what you want.

 

Any idea how this USB sound card is?

 

Creative should be OK in general.
Yes, it's no substitute for a dedicated audio system, but it's OK.

On that note - I have an X-Fi Go (stopped using it though... heaphone jack = more convenient).
I've not seen this one before, but if it's a new model, it should be OK.

Edit:
That's old.

But if you are only after a USB to headphone connection get something cheaper like an X-Fi go.

 

What I want to do is to hook up external speakers to my laptop. I believe the normal way is to plug the speakers into the Heaphones jack, which on the R400 is in the front. That makes things a bit uncomfortable - gets in the way etc. So, I am looking for a USB solution, which will allow me to connect the speakers to the laptop via USB.

 

You stated that in your original post already.

It's just that the product you linked to is ancient - about 7/8 years from "Amazon's first listed"...

 

So, what you suggest would be a possible solution? I did not know about how old or not the product is. Thanks for alerting me. I'll look for comparable newer stuff. Can you suggest some more options? My current location is not very conducive to make purchases from online sources.

 

If you don't mind explaining a bit - can you share in what way was the headphone jack more convenient?

Thanks

 

Well, as I mentioned, I have the X-Fi Go, sound quality is OK, but I think on Sennheiser IE8 my internal card might be ever so slightly clearer, or I imagine it...

I think in general Creative isn't too bad - you won't get horrible sound out of it, which product exactly you chose is your choice.

Their USB products are:
Buy Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro - Sound Blaster - Creative Store (UK)
(I think I have the predecessor)
Buy Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro - Sound Blaster - Creative Store (UK)
(My mother has a equal looking one, although not at that price... maybe also the predecessor)
Cheapest:
Buy Creative Sound Blaster Play! - Sound Blaster - Creative Store (UK)

I suspect overall the first one is possibly the best choice from Creative.

Sound quality most likely won't surpass the internal card and be the same, but unless you really listen for it on high end headphones you won't notice a difference.

Edit:
There is something else here... no idea how good this is, but possibly very new:
http://uk.store.creative.com/products/product.aspx?catid=1&pid=19829

 

In my case the headphone jack is on the back left for me - and the USB module sticking out of my laptop on the right hand was getting on my nerves. Especially if I decide to switch to headphones which mean that my headphone cable crossed in front of my laptop and is generally in the way.

 

Thanks for the links and the explanation. Maybe instead of all this, I should go for wireless speakers? I was looking at some on the Creative site. The only thing is that they are Bluetooth, which would probably wreak havoc on my laptop's battery when I am not connected to the mains!

What do you think? Go the USB route (via external sound card) or go with wireless speakers?

 

Wireless = horrible sound quality - that you'll notice without any good speakers or headphones.

-> If you want a cheap solution, use maybe the cheapest creative USB card and use the generic windows driver.
That gives you no extras and moves the sound to a USB card, i.e. away from the headphone port at the front for you.

 

What you want is the Sound Blaster X-Fi 5.1 USB SB1090. About $50 - $55.

It's a great little sound card that will dramatically improve the sound when compared to onboard sound. It significantly reduces noise artifacts from EMI, supports 5.1 speaker configurations, and has a lot of post-processing effects like CMSS3D headphone mode for virtual surround sound on headphones (don't use that with speakers).

Be sure to buy either the SB1090 or SB1095 models. Other models of Sound Blaster USB cards (like the one you linked) are ancient, and are not worth getting.

You can technically get better sound quality with a high quality USB DAC, but you will lack the surround sound processing and post-processing effects which are better if you play games. Because of that, I would recommend that anyone except the most hardcore audiophiles stick with something simpler, cheaper, and more straightforward like the Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi 5.1 USB SB1090.

 

To be honest, all that "processing" just ruins music... it might work well in games, maybe in films - but on my X-Fi Go; when I used it, I pretty much switched everything off.

 

Thanks very much. Also what is EAS? And, any suggestions for speakers ~ US$ 200?

 

Also, it is extremely expensive. I bought that unit ~7 years ago and paid 55 Euros at that time. Still works, but the sound level adjustment wheel causes "scratches"
And of course no drivers for Vista or Win7.

Michael

 

If you are just looking for a USB sound card for the sake on convenience, there isn't much point in spending too much money. Try one of these.

 

What he said.

 

I was going to suggest the Turtle Beach Amigo II, but I got beat to it. XD The Micro II might be worth looking at as well, if it's just sound output you want and not microphone input.

 

Thanks very much. This looks like what will address my immediate requirements. I would attach the external speakers (that I will buy concurrently - btw, do you folks have any suggestions?) to this.

 

As I said, if you're just looking for output, you might want to go with the Micro II by the same company (under products -> sound cards, or this link here). It lacks the microphone input, but can convert the output to S/PDIF if you want to pass through "better" sound. As for speakers, people are going to ask for a budget, and you might be best off starting a separate thread.

 

Well, if you want a 'one-solution' USB hookup, you could look at e.g. the Alesis M1Active series of USB-connected powered monitors.

The 520 - M1Active 520 USB Nearfield Studio Monitors with USB Audio I/O
There's also the cheaper 320.

 

OK. Thanks folks. I will be opting for the Micro II option (or its closest equivalent as available at my location).

Re: The speakers, I did mention in an earlier post that my budget is ~US$200...but as you said, I'll open a new thread but will check out other threads regarding speakers first.

Thanks again to all who shared their views and opinions.