Laptop audio jack broke

My audio jack from my laptop broke recently, and now gives a strange humming noise from left side of any earbuds/speakers/headphones I use. Now I heard the easiest way to get this fixed, is actually by not getting it fixed and buying a usb/firewire audio jack. Since all but one of my USB slots are taken, I decided to try and get a firewire one (never used my firewire port).

Only problem is, I know nothing about them or where to look for one. Would Futureshop or Best Buy have one? And How do i know which one to get? Last thing i want to do is waste money on something crappy... And if it matters if i have a 4 pin firewire port?

I also have one of those card readers on my laptop, I'm not sure if that can be used or not.

Edit: Also those anyone know what they're actually called? I call them audio jacks, but I'm pretty sure thats not what they are called.

 

Your looking for a DAC + AMP. Digital to Analog Converter

Generally speaking any DAC will probably give you better sound than you have now since they are designed with sound quality in mind, but I am sure there are some cruddy products out there.


I just got a very nice laptop perfect USB DAC called the uDAC-2 I am in love with it, way better sound quality than the onboard.

I did not know they make firewire DAC's I googled it and did find a few things but they are VERY expensive.

Considering you just need to replace your jack you can RMA the laptop probably if its under warranty, but if you want upgrade your SQ here is what I recommend for you.

Amazon.com: NuForce Icon uDAC2-HP (Black) Headphone Amp and USB DAC (24bit/96kHz): Gateway

The uDAC-2HP is same as the uDAC-2 that I have but without the RCA & Coaxial outputs so its cheaper.

If you want to save more here is a refurbished uDAC (not uDAC2 its the older version)

http://estore.nuforce.com/products/NuForce-Icon-uDAC-%5BRefurbished%5D.html

I cant vouch for the quality of the first model but I am sure its still great.



$99.00 for a DAC is cheap BTW because your not replacing just the jack that broke but the soundcard itself. Your built in jack is connected to your motherboard & soundcard but your USB ports are not, they just can send data, so you need a new sound card to convert the signal. The uDAC is ideal I think since its super super small and has both DAC & Amp functions.