The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    5.1 USB sound cards matchup

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Kalevispetke, Aug 30, 2010.

  1. Kalevispetke

    Kalevispetke Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Since Asus dropped ExpressCard slot from their G73Jh "stealth fighter laptop" I'm afraid that I can't use my SB X-Fi Extreme Audio Notebook in future laptops. I also read somewhere that ExpressCard was dying but can't remember where. I have a 5.1 home theater setup which I would like to continue hooking to laptops. I'm looking for a good USB sound card that would be equal in sound quality to mentioned X-fi card.

    These three I would like to hear about:

    TerraTec SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 MK II

    Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1

    Zalman RSSC 5.1

    Does anyone have experience of any of these cards or would you recommend something else? I'm staying in the below 100 € price range.
    Edit: I'm using analog 5.1 connections so no SPDIF is needed.
     
    Kalevispetke, Aug 30, 2010
    #1
  2. Kalevispetke

    Kalevispetke Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    bump********
     
    Kalevispetke, Aug 31, 2010
    #2
  3. Satyrion

    Satyrion Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    123
    Messages:
    1,404
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I use Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 with a Edifier 550D 2.1 system. It gives my speakers a new meaning when it comes to sound and am very happy with it. The only problm is finding good drivers from Win 7 64 Bit, since the card is so old.

    The mic in gives crystal clear mic sound, even with a cheap mic. So the sound quality is just awesome.
     
    Satyrion, Aug 31, 2010
    #3
  4. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    What have you compared it to? When I used the same product, it really sucked...
     
    sgogeta4, Aug 31, 2010
    #4