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    High quality usb sound card?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by StealthReventon, Jun 5, 2010.

  1. StealthReventon

    StealthReventon Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm looking for some sort of high quality audio output device for my Envy 17 to output music to my studio monitors.

    Any suggestions/ideas?

    Thx
     
    StealthReventon, Jun 5, 2010
    #1
  2. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    do you intend to have an amp between your laptop and the speakers?
     
    newsposter, Jun 5, 2010
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  3. mahtson

    mahtson Notebook Geek

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    Needs and budget? There are many good products out their there but they also do many different things. Does it need to be compact? Since you mention studio monitors, I won't worry about DAC's with an amp as studio monitors normally come with their own amp.

    I can give you a few choices that seem to get praise for <$200 as an un-amplified DAC. I will try to remember a few more that I've seen to forgotten. I've looked for this exact same thing to give me ASIO control of 8 channels for a carpc.

    "Prosumer":
    E-MU 0202 or 0404
    M-Audio Fast Track series
    EDI Gigaport AG

    Consumer:
    Audigy 2NX (and lesser external Creative Labs DACs)
    Xitel Pro HiFi Link
    Behringer UCA-202
     
    mahtson, Jun 5, 2010
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