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    need help buying an usb soundcard

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by nhanphan1990, Jun 11, 2009.

  1. nhanphan1990

    nhanphan1990 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm thinking about buying a usb soundcard for my laptop but I don't know much about them. Can you provide me some suggestion? I only know Creative Xmod and Creative Soundblaster X-fi go!, does anyone know which one is better?
     
    nhanphan1990, Jun 11, 2009
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  2. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I think it depends what you look for.

    I have an X-Fi Go and it sounds better than my onboard card - it only has a headphone jack an a microphone jack.
    My mother has another USB card... which support 5.1 sound too.

    But my X-Fi Go sounds worse than my Sony X1060 (yes an MP3 player).

    Say what you need them for and people may be more able to help you.

    I'd say the X-Fi go is ideal as a mobile card - its not "the best you can get" though.
     
    DetlevCM, Jun 12, 2009
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  3. nhanphan1990

    nhanphan1990 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I need a good soundcard to listen to movie and music, and even some games too. I do not need a 5.1 sound. I will go and try x-fi go
     
    nhanphan1990, Jun 12, 2009
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  4. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    What kind of music are you used to??

    High end systems or your general laptop?

    If its high end systems the X-Fi may not be good enough - but it clearly beats the onboard card in most laptops. (Things like Sigmatel or Realtek audio)
     
    DetlevCM, Jun 12, 2009
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  5. LPTP-LVR

    LPTP-LVR Notebook Deity

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    True...all depends on your own standards....some are satisfied with the sound of an ipod with the included earbuds ;)
     
    LPTP-LVR, Jun 12, 2009
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  6. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Very true.

    On my Sony EX-85 my Sony MP3 player (X1060) beats the X-Fi Go and the X-Fi Go beats the on board card.

    I've also got some Sennheiser IE8 waiting for me in Germany with my grandfather - on teh 16th I'll finally will be able to test and use them :)
    (and complain about bad audio?? :D)
     
    DetlevCM, Jun 12, 2009
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  7. Syndrome

    Syndrome Torque Matters

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    I have a creative xmod and its horrible IMO. I currently use a Echo Audiofire2, its Firewire not USB, which is more inconvenient, but it sounds so much better. I currently use it with my Ultrasone HFI-780's, but my Westone ES3X should be in my hands come the 17th(one day after you detlevCM). But like I said, I've never been satisfied with any of creative's recent audio products.
     
    Syndrome, Jun 13, 2009
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  8. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Try adjusting the equlizer through the audio driver or 3rd party software. Correctly setupped onboard audio are not bad. Without expensive audio monitors or headphones, there's probably minimal difference between a properly setupped onboard audio vs a expensive usb audio card.
     
    jackluo923, Jun 13, 2009
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  9. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Well, you can hear the difference between the Sigmatel HD audio (onboard), the X-Fi Go and my Sony X1060 (MP3 player).

    They were 45 Pounds 1 year ago - I'm not sre if they are still sold, but they aren't that expensive - but not cheap either.
    Cheap is something different like earbuds...(yuck)
     
    DetlevCM, Jun 13, 2009
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  10. Syndrome

    Syndrome Torque Matters

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    Even the xmod is tons better than my sigmatel on board in my laptop. It filters out a TON of noise from my laptop, For that alone its worth it, even if it doesn't actually sound better.
     
    Syndrome, Jun 13, 2009
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  11. nhanphan1990

    nhanphan1990 Notebook Enthusiast

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    thank you you guys very much. It seems that the Xmod is what I need.
     
    nhanphan1990, Jun 13, 2009
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  12. Aeris

    Aeris Otherworldly

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    +1 on XMOD, but personally, I can recommend you the X-Fi Go as well.

    I have a X-Fi Notebook Audio Express Card.
     
    Aeris, Jun 13, 2009
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  13. nhanphan1990

    nhanphan1990 Notebook Enthusiast

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    and Aeris? does X-Fi technology satisfy you?
     
    nhanphan1990, Jun 14, 2009
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  14. Aeris

    Aeris Otherworldly

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    It does, my laptop has an integrated Realtek Sound Driver, and the performance is very, very noticeable, the music sounds clear and rich, coupled with X-Fi Crystallizer, CMSS-3D, EAX and the Digital Equalizer, it enhances the music, and I can make it sound as if it was live using those, however, the "Play sound through the computer's speakers." feature is flawed for me, but it does not really matter to me at all, word of advice, though.
     
    Aeris, Jun 14, 2009
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  15. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    The 3D on the X-Fi Go and the X-Fi that my mother has (some 5.1 USB card) is absolutely horrible when it comes to music quality.

    Post processing music does not work.

    The cystalizer does give music a bit of a punch - but if the bitrate is higher it looses its effectiveness, this is really meant for low bit-rate files.
     
    DetlevCM, Jun 14, 2009
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  16. nhanphan1990

    nhanphan1990 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ah so it will help me because all my music files are only 128 kbps to 192 kbps.
     
    nhanphan1990, Jun 14, 2009
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  17. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I suppose it would :)

    I think its still noticeable on MP3s at 320KBit/s - but wave, nothing.
     
    DetlevCM, Jun 15, 2009
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  18. mechrock

    mechrock Notebook Evangelist

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    I have a X-FI Desktop Card and could not be happier with the enhancements. The change in sound quality from my integrated desktop to the sound card is beyond night and day change. It is true the cystalizer does not do as much on Higher bit rate files, but still can enhance them a little. Most any sound you stream off the internet won't be of high quality and the X-FI really helps with this.

    I'm looking at the 5.1 USB sound card from creative for my laptop. Does anyone have this and compared it to the desktop version of an X-FI card?
     
    mechrock, Jun 15, 2009
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  19. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    It helps on low bit rates and does less and less on high ones.
     
    DetlevCM, Jun 15, 2009
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  20. mechrock

    mechrock Notebook Evangelist

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    Oops that's supposed to say higher bit rate files. I'll fix that.
     
    mechrock, Jun 15, 2009
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  21. rambo5501

    rambo5501 Notebook Consultant

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    rambo5501, Jun 18, 2009
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  22. mechrock

    mechrock Notebook Evangelist

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    I highly doubt it depending on how old your laptop is.
     
    mechrock, Jun 18, 2009
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  23. Clutch

    Clutch cute and cuddly boys

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    depending upon your price range m-audio has some really nice stuff.
     
    Clutch, Jun 18, 2009
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  24. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    As they are so cheap I'm not sure they'll actually work :D - they may, but if no-one posts any experience I wouldn't trust them.

    I have an X-Fi go - on on the "cheap side" - that is definitely a good buy, better and louder (if that's important) than the onboard card.
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-La...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245393323&sr=1-1
    And I think last christmas that was 30 Pounds at PC World...
     
    DetlevCM, Jun 19, 2009
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  25. nashpec

    nashpec Notebook Geek

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    nashpec, Jun 19, 2009
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