discussion USB Sound Cards can be GAME CHANGERS!

[Gav]

When it comes to getting the best sound from your smartphone or laptop, external USB sound cards can be game changers. But which sound card is right for you? Is it worth spending the money on a high end sound card or portable DAC? In this video we'll find out if they improve versus internal audio and bring better sound when compared against a typical laptop and smartphone headphone DAC.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Which USB sound card is best for you?
1:01 - Why USB sound cards?
1:15 - The Ultra Portable $29 USB DAC (SoundBlaster Play4!)
1:56 - A mid-range USB-C DAC (SoundBlaster G3)
3:42 - AMAZING FANS - Ad Spot
4:14 - For the Gamer - Sound BlasterX G6
6:37 - A Desktop Friendly DAC/AMP (SoundBlaster X4)
8:34 - The Most Ultimate USB Sound Card Ever?
10:25 - Which one should you buy?

 

[sswilson]

Subbed.... (Hopefully there's some commentary about optical out and supported bit rates).

 

[Shadowarez]

i rem way back these were a gimmick as theyd be stuck with usb 2.0 and had issues with drivers and windows seeing them. but that was way back in the windows XP days.

 

[sswilson]

i rem way back these were a gimmick as theyd be stuck with usb 2.0 and had issues with drivers and windows seeing them. but that was way back in the windows XP days.

I ran into quite a few issues with legacy USB audio devices when windows 7 came out.... (at least I think it was 7 as opposed to 10). They changed the audio stack and legacy drivers did not play nice.

I've been using some form of USB audio device on/ off since my first "gaming" laptop, and have been a discrete audio dude for almost as long as I've been building PCs.

 

[Shadowarez]

im a recent convert as my sig entails i cant go back onboard even some discrete sound cards id tested sound like garbage now >< plus these have replaceable tubes which can acutally change the sound profile!