external sound card

The headphone jacks on my laptop just died so I need an external solution. I was looking at the creative xmod and it looked promising. I also saw the x-fi expresscard that creative has, is the xmod any better than this? I remember alot of people saying the expresscard was more software enhancement than hardware, is this true for the xmod as well?

And is there any other product that is similar to these that's worth a look?

 

I recommend the Echo Indigo IO. It is as close to a pro card without it being a breakout box. Far superior to Creative's offerings.

 

The Echo card is also $100 more expensive

Those two Creative are exactly what you said, more software than hardware, and its garbage software at that. Id check out the Creative Live card -its about $50. Anything above that quality is getting into the 150-200 range like with the Echo card

 

I'd also suggest the Echo Indigo, if you can afford one.

 

Creative just released a new USB sound card:

http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=208&product=17751&nav=0

 

great stuff...

 

nah... wait until u try it... i tried that xmod today..sucks to the core ..the price is too much for mild mild improvement

 

http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=610&subcategory=611&product=15186

 

If you are considering Creative, keep in mind that they have that 30 day satisfaction gurantee when you buy from them. Don't like it? Send it back and get and Echo or whatever else gets recommended to you.

 

the problem with the Echo Indigo IO is that my laptop has expresscard only, no cardbus. And I should clarfiy that I'm looking for something that is portable so I can take it along with my laptop.

Also, I did find out that the xmod has zero software to install, which is what I'm looking for. Has anyone tried the creative Live card? It sounds good but also seems to be software based (at least a little bit), and I don't have much faith in creative's software.

 

There is supposed to be an expresscard update for the Echo Indigo due out sometime so don't write it off just yet. As for the price of the new version...I can't say.

 

I have Xmod, and all I can say is DON'T get it, even though I paid $40 only.

 

This is probably an amateurish question, but I want to make sure. If I got the creative USB sound card previously posted, would it be significantly better than just using my line out? I'm guessing it would be, but is the difference night and day, or just a slight improvement? Right now, I think the sound coming out of the line out is pretty good on my 5.1 set. Plus, it sounds like there's some directionality even using only the line out. However, I'm not even close to knowledgeable in this particular area.

 

I need an opinion on this:

Turtle Beach Audio Advantage SRM - TBS-1130

It looks to be exactly what I want and more, unfortunately, it's out of stock almost everywhere except Newegg and direct from Turtle Beach. My hold on buying it is that I don't know what level of sound processing it does -- ie, is it like Creative and does more software processing on the Notebook cards or does it actually do hardware processing.

 

How about Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro? Its basically a USB headphone jack. I have one lying around, sounds better than stock jack.

There is also the M-Audio transit, which supports high quality stereo output, although if you'd like to have 5.1 you are better off waiting for the Turtle Beach external solution to come in stock.

 

I'm curious about the turtle beach audio advantage as well. With the xmod crossed off the list this seems to be the front-runner. The only thorough review I could find is this one. They reported reduced cpu usage as compared to on-board audio, whether that means less software processing and more hardware processing, I don't know.

 

Yeah it's been my front runner also. There's an older model called the "Turtle Beach Roadie", model TBS-1122, that is identical to the newer one but is not supported under Vista. Not sure if the Audio Advantage SRM drivers would work with it or not. I need the 5.1 solution since I have a set of computer speakers and I want true 5.1, not Xmod crap.

 

Heh
i just bought the SIIG one from Fry's. It does have virtual 7.1 sound.
Almost same as the Turtle Beach's. I don't know about the sound quality between two.:/

 

Nope - marginal improvement maybe. They use alot of software especially for simulating surround and most people, myself included, think it sounds awful. The cards that you will notice a difference from are the higher level cards listed earlier like the EMU, Echo, M-Audio, etc. These cards are all hardware but you mentioned you use 7.1 and these cards will only support 2.1

If your happy with your current setup then just stick with it

 

Does anyone have any experience with the Audio Advantage SRM, Newegg has a deal on it that ends today so I'm planning on ordering it but would like some opinions.