USB Sound Cards, What's Good?

Hello! I am in need of an external sound card for my mom's desktop PC as not only has the onboard died, but also did the pci-e card and I am quite frankly terrified to open the PC up out of fear that it will finally just perish.

I'm primarily looking for a more simple solution that doesnt involve an entirely new pc, so what external usb sound cards are good?

 

Creative makes some good external sound card. Check them out.

 

You can get an external, but until you remove the internal card every time you boot the system it's going to load the drivers for the internal card. You'll have to switch to the external each time. Uninstalling the driver won't work either since it will just re-install on boot.

If you've got sound that's part of the motherboard, you can bypass it by installing a PCI sound card - but you probably already know that. They're not that difficult to install, and in the long run it's your best option. Another PCI Express card is also better than USB.

It also depends on just how much money you're willing to spend also, since externals usually run more than internal cards. However, there are some that are in the $50 range.

So, if you REALLY want an external, Creative has some of the better external solutions available. They just released a USB external that's the size of a USB Flash Drive called X-FI Go! You can view it here: Sound Blaster X-Fi Go!

What's neat about it is aside from the direct USB port connection, it also has an onboard speaker and headset mini-jack on it. For 40 bucks, it can't be all bad.

If you want a more extensive sound solution, Creative's X-Fi and SoundBlaster Live externals are pretty good, but again it depends on how much you want to spend.

Creative X-Fi Externals


One external that usually gets overlooked is Creative's Video Blaster. Even though it's sold as a Video Capture external, it's an external sound board as well, like the Sound Blaster external but with a lot more connection options. The only thing you can't connect is HDMI.

 

Ahh, I wasnt aware of the overriding of the drivers with that so thank you.

The X-Fi Go! Actually seems like it is just right for what I want from one of those and the price seems fair enough and I can probably use it on other systems then too.

 

With some(not all) PC's then you can disable the sound card in the bios, If you do that then it wont work drivers or not. For your situation I'd just get one of the cheap ones from creative. I personally use a Echo AudioFire2. Its a bit expensive for your situation though.

 

If you set the external card to default device, Windows will always switch to it automatically if the device is available.

 

Right; I use an external USB sound card with my desktop, which also has an internal PCI sound card. As long as the external is set to default, that's what Windows will use and recognize. And if you unplug it, it will switch back to internal.

Just get something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812186035
USB Audio adapter. You can find them for less on eBay.

 

I use the X-fi Go! and I am quite happy with it. Definitely worth the money, IMO.

 

None. Get a portable amp/DAC instead. Budget & listening preferences will dictate what to get but I'll recommend the iBasso D3 Python or invest in something with a rechargeable battery. there are definitely some cheaper ones out there ($5+) and they'll still be better than most soundcards. You can use headphones or hook up speakers to it.


Mother's Day is around the corner. Make it a gift.

 

The iBasso D3 would be such and over kill IMO. Unless she's got some killer equipment she's going to be using it with it wouldn't make sense. Normally I wouldn't even thing of suggesting a creative, but if your just looking for the cheapest alternative then thats it.

 

You are probably correct. I used the D3 as an example for an excellent DAC. It's the elitest in me . But there are still better ones out there for much less before I'd consider a USB soundcard in the Creative realm.

 

Yeah, I personally wouldn't buy a creative, but you don't really have any other options that you can get for 25$ or around there. But yes, your right about creative not making nice high end products.

 

Have a look at a few M-Audio products (these were suggested to me by Gophn).

 

Unless your mom is an audiophile or seriously cares about the sound quality, then the suggestions members in this thread are giving, while fine for those purposes, are going to be way overkill and under appreciated. The >$10 solution I proposed will get you basic sound, enough for normal usage.

 

She's real into music (2nd wave punk generation, heh) but she isnt too concerned with quality as long as she actually can hear her music. We'd be looking for something as cheap as possible that would actually do really well I'm thinking presuming it will just work fine and dandy with just plugging in of 2.1's?

I'd maybe, maybe consider a creative one of these just to get something a little bit nicer, but id rather not spend more than $25 or so, so that one you linked me sounds delightful!

 

I've got a creative xmod, and it does just fine for what you need. My bro has it hooked up to his 1200$ 2.1 system and it does fine, of course it would be better with my Echo AF2(I'm to greedy to let him use it) but its alot better than his on board card.

 

Awesome, 2 options then, a cheap and a more expensive.
Thanks a ton

Also, $1,200 2.1 system? @_@ dang

 

Also note: I'm a bit concerned as it appears that the onboard as well as the card are possibly...completely dead? They appear as connected and such in bios and i see the names and whatnot, and i even tried all sorts of different settings but no matter what when I go to windows and into the sound settings every setting is grayed out and says "No device detected" even though im 100% sure they are. What's up with this? Am I still going to be able to use the USB ones?

 

USB should still work as its a different device - and on the X-Fi the external card is running seperately from the internal one on its own drivers.

PS: I have an X-Fi go - louder than the onboard Sigmatel HD audio and a touch better too - more "punch" to music...

I like it.

 

Oh, excellent then gonna check some of this stuff out today now.

 

Yeah, I meant into the actual sound quality. So, the device I presented will work fine.

 

anyone testest the xfi notebook express card?
M-Audio Transit look interesting too, having optical out is great =)

 

I'm a fully paid-up audiophile (to a far greater degree than anyone here, I suspect) and I second Chaz. Don't bother with the other answers.

 

creative is good for those who doesnt have any concern about SQ

at least moms dont know what is mids , lows , highs or whatever acronym that audiophiles use

 

Holy thread resurrection, Batman!

 

The Turtle Beach Micro is good for the price, and its plug and play for windows.

 

I just ordered a Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro to use on my notebook. I only need the 5.1 pass-through for XBMC but it seems like a great device at a low cost. I'm really excited to try it out!

On eBay there are a ton of really cheap USB sound cards that may work if all you need are headphone and mic jacks. I saw one that was about $3-$4. I found a bunch when I searched for "5.1 usb sound card".

 

quite new Tascam US-122L MKII would be best for music producing and games too if you need good one (It has dx 11 support )

 

I almost bought a TASCAM USB sound card a while back when I wanted something for on-the-go recording. I love that it's bus powered and has two XLR inputs. I ended up just getting a refurbished Macbook and using the 6 pin Firewire to connect and power my existing interface, though. I have heard great things about the TASCAM interfaces, though. Considering the price and features, it seems almost unbeatable.

I've never even considered using recording audio interfaces as sound cards for general playback. I wonder what how my Presonus Inspire 1394 sounds.

 

I use my Echo AudioFire2 which is based on a recording card(same processing chips and all that, just downsized). And it sounds great.

 

I got an X-Fi GO for $30. It blows away the onboard Realtek.