The sound card is designed to process and transmit a sound signal to external devices (speakers). Modern sound cards are mostly integrated inside the motherboard. They are generally associated with a 5.1 or 7.1 surround system.
If the device is built-in, it turns out that you are not paying for it, since it is inside. However, external sound cards are also quite popular as they have more features. If you want high quality sound, you will have to buy a separate sound card.
First of all, check the connector types. High-quality sound is possible when connecting an audio system with an S / PDIF interface. The device must have a noise canceling system such as Dolby Digital. Also, do not forget that the clarity of sound can be obtained with a good speaker system. That is, if you have simple cheap speakers, then purchasing an external sound card is impractical. If you have a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system, buy an external type device.
Built-in and external sound cards
Internal sound cards transfer most of the functionality to the main unit processor. External sound cards have their own, which does not waste the resources of a computer or laptop.
If you do not need special effects and you are quite satisfied with the usual sound when playing media files, the built-in sound card is for you. Being inside another device, it does not take up extra space.
If you are an advanced gamer or music lover, it is recommended to select and connect an external audio device that supports EAX ADVANCED HD technology. It gives you the opportunity to experience the full power of audio effects in modern games.
Another advantage of the external board is that it can have as many interfaces as needed to provide the best sound quality. In addition, it is immune to electromagnetic interference.
The sound card must have connectors for connecting to a computer, 5.1 system, and a line-out. It is also desirable to have an S / PDIF interface.
It has become optional in the computer - built-in audio chips on motherboards can more than satisfy the needs of most consumers. But many companies continue to release separate sound cards - they are positioned as ultimate solutions for gamers, music and movie lovers.
It should be noted that in this article we hardly consider sound cards for professional use (for sound recording). This is a completely separate conversation, and today we will talk about sound cards for audiophiles, demanding gamers and lovers of high-quality cinema. Also note that we will not consider too cheap cards - buying them in the overwhelming majority of cases simply does not make sense, since they are no better than chips in modern motherboards. However, we will still offer you a couple of not too expensive options.
In the next section, we'll talk about the important characteristics of sound cards to consider when choosing, and then we'll tell you about ten models worthy of your attention that you can buy from sellers in our catalog.
Key features to look out for
All computer sound cards can be divided into three types - internal, external and internal with an additional block. The former are connected directly to the motherboard of the computer, and their outputs are located on the rear and / or front panels of the PC case. The latter are connected using USB, FireWire or other ports and are located on the table or somewhere near the case. Internal sound cards with an add-on box allow you to connect additional devices to the box without having to look for inputs and outputs on the back of your computer.
If you want another stylish device to decorate your interior and desktop, then you can take a closer look at external cards. Otherwise, internal models are better - they save space and are easier to use.
Connection type
Internal models are connected using PCI or PCI-Express slots (the latter is used in newer and more advanced models). External cards are connected to a PC using USB or FireWire cables (mostly USB, FireWire is rarely used in professional audio cards).
There is no need to worry about the possibility of connecting the internal model - if you have a more or less modern PC (we are talking about computers assembled in the last 5-8 years), then there are PCI-Express and PCI slots of the required versions in it.
If you choose an external audio card, then it is better to connect it using a faster version of USB - USB 3.0. Make sure your computer has such a port or buy a PCI expansion card with it. However, for audio speeds USB 3.0 is not required - most models provide for a USB 2.0 connection, which will be enough in almost all cases.
Multichannel audio
Multi-channel audio output is important for games and movies, and sometimes music. If you have an appropriate audio system or multi-channel headphones, then you need to look for an audio card that can handle them.
Sound scheme
The most popular sound schemes for games and movies are 5.1 (5 speakers and 1 subwoofer), 6.1 (6 speakers and 1 subwoofer) and 7.1 (7 speakers and 1 subwoofer). Again, if you have such an audio system or headphones, make sure that the future sound card supports the desired circuitry.
Built-in controller panel
Some external audio cards are equipped with such a panel. It hosts the various controls that are needed to control the volume and other parameters of the audio output or input. Optional but nice thing.
Phantom Power
This feature is available on professional models designed for recording sound from condenser microphones in studio conditions. Note that phantom power is not required to record sound from dynamic microphones.
Remote control
The presence of a remote control allows you to control the volume, equalizer parameters and other sound parameters remotely. Quite a convenient "feature" for a PC media center and fans of movies or games on the TV, but you shouldn't focus on it - there are always enough ways to control these parameters even without a remote control.
DAC capacity, bit
The sound quality at the output of the audio card directly depends on the bit depth of the digital-to-analog converter. Cheap models are usually equipped with a 16-bit DAC, mid-budget and expensive models are equipped with a 24-bit. Needless to say, you should only choose models with a 24-bit DAC.
ADC capacity, bit
The bit depth of the analog-to-digital converter directly affects the quality of the sound that the card receives from a microphone or other external devices. The situation is the same as with the DAC - if you are going to record sound or at least communicate with other players in online games, then it is better to choose a 24-bit ADC.
Maximum frequency, kHz
The sampling rate of a DAC in stereo mode also affects sound quality. The optimal sampling rate in stereo mode is 48-192 kHz.
Also, audio cards differ in the sampling rate of the DAC in multichannel mode (the recommended value is 48-192 kHz) and the sampling rate of the ADC (the recommended value is 96-192 kHz).
EAX version
EAX is a technology developed by Creative that allows gamers to fully immerse themselves in the three-dimensional audio panorama of the gaming world. The latest version of EAX is the fifth, but in games you can be content with older versions - even the second. It should be noted, however, that not all developers use EAX.
OpenAL is an open API for developers that allows you to process sounds in the 3D space of games. Quite an important, but not critical function for gaming sound cards.
Audio card support for ASIO technology allows you to use professional software packages for working with sound and music. If you are going to do this, make sure that the card supports ASIO 2.0 or ASIO 2.2.
Inputs
If you only need a sound card for games, movies and music, then you won't need a lot of inputs - one input for a 3.5 mm minijack microphone is enough.
If you plan to make music and sound professionally and are looking for a model for your home studio, then make sure you have all the inputs you need in the present and near future - for microphones, instruments and other devices that you will use in the studio. These can be MIDI, RCA, S / PDIF, XLR, and so on.
Outputs
A computer sound card for home use must have at least two analog outputs - for headphones and an audio system. If you have more audio devices to which you want to output sound, then select the appropriate model. For audiophiles and cinephiles, the presence of S / PDIF-outputs is important, with the help of which high-quality audio systems and home theaters are connected.
To enjoy all the benefits of high-definition video and the latest PC games, you need both a powerful processor and a powerful graphics adapter. However, very often users forget that high-quality multi-channel sound is also required for complete immersion in the atmosphere. At the same time, codecs, drivers and the built-in sound card will not help much in such a matter. A serious device is needed. The article will describe how to choose a sound card. Helpful advice when choosing will also not be overlooked.
Built-in chips
Sound devices soldered directly on the motherboard of the system card are unable to compete with discrete hardware. First of all, the codec installed on the motherboard actively uses processor resources during its operation, which reduces overall performance by several percent.
It happens that the built-in sound card is located in close proximity to high-current power lines. The electromagnetic field created by them leads to an increase in interference and interference. The architecture of the embedded hardware has been simplified to the maximum.
How to choose a sound card for your computer?
There are many types of hardware for audio output, all of which can be roughly divided into two types: music cards and multimedia.
The first group is used for recording, reproducing and processing audio information. This makes them narrowly focused, and such devices are intended mainly for musicians. They can be installed both inside the system unit and connected to the USB connector. The price of this type of equipment is high.
Multimedia sound cards will suit a wider range of users. They are ideal for both stereos and speakers with five and seven channels. Codecs are already built into the sound card and do not require additional configuration; in addition, in addition to codecs, the device has its own processor, which favorably affects the performance of the computer.
Main characteristics
In order to choose a sound card for your computer, it is imperative that you familiarize yourself with the basic characteristics of the device. First of all, the board is installed. Its main task is to process a digital signal and create its analog equivalent. This device is essentially the brain of an audio card.
DAC parameters
How to choose a sound card for a computer, what characteristics should a DAC have? A 16-bit DAC with a maximum sampling rate of 48 kHz is almost always sufficient. The last digit indicates how often the converter reads the signal during recording or playback.
It is believed that this parameter should be twice as high, which will be reproduced. According to this theory, we can say that for almost any recording, 44.1 kHz is enough; this level is twice as high as the threshold for human-audible frequencies. However, tests show that the rule is not always executed as written on paper, which means that it makes sense to choose a device with a higher sampling rate for greater sound fidelity.
Marketing gimmicks
I must say that the numbers written in the brochures are not always true, they are often greatly exaggerated. For example, a card with a declared sampling rate of 98 KHz may sound much worse than a device with more modest numbers. "How to choose the right sound card if you can't trust the specifications?" - the user will ask. When studying the technique, pay attention to the company that made the DAC. The best are Ti-Burr Brown, Wolfson, Texas Instruments.
In addition to the manufacturer, you should also find out the serial number of the DAC. He points to the "advanced" model. That is, the higher the number, the more modern the development. You can check the code name of the chip only on the manufacturer's website.
If several are installed on the audio card, it is desirable that they all be the same. Often a high-quality DAC is used for the central channels, and an inexpensive one for those around. This reduces not only the price of the end device, but also the quality of multichannel sound.
EAX
Before choosing a sound card for your computer, ask if your hardware supports EAX technology. Also, be sure to check which version you are using. To date, the oldest is 5.0.
In simple terms, EAX is "audio positioning" technology. The closest analogue is DirectSound3D. It controls the coordinates of the audio source in 3D space. In computer games, this system is used most often, with its help, effects are added to the game that create the illusion of the distance of the sound source and its location relative to the listener (left, right, back).
To what has already been said, it should be added that EAX emulates reflections and reverberations. This gives the user a feel for the parameters of the game world. For an open world, a cramped room, and an empty multi-story building, the nature of the same audio recording will be different.
ASIO
ASIO is a protocol used to transfer audio information with minimal latency. Recording in special applications is almost impossible if the ASIO does not support the sound card for the computer. How do you choose the best option?
This technology is a must for musicians. If the computer is used not as a recording studio, but as a multimedia combine, ASIO can be considered an optional function.
Midi interface
If a user is going to write arrangements, then what, in this case, should a sound card for a computer have, how to choose a suitable device? An important feature of audio cards is the presence of midi-inputs and outputs. They are used to connect synthesizers and musical keyboards.
With the help of such an interface, not an analog signal is sent to the sound device, but information about which key is pressed, whether it is fully lowered, with what force and speed the user pressed it. All data is transferred to the program, and the program is already playing the sound. Moreover, the possibilities of these programs are enormous. You can use those that emulate real instruments (for example, piano, guitar, drums), or you can create your own unique and unlike anything preset.
Phantom Power
If you intend to use a capacitor, you should be aware that not every sound card for a computer can work with such equipment. How to choose the right device? It's simple - just ask about phantom power on the audio card. Remember, dynamic microphones require this element to be absent! Phantom power can damage them.
Instrument and line inputs
If you are going to install an audio card for recording an electric guitar in your computer, it must have an instrument input (also called high impedance).
Its resistance level is high enough (about 1 megohm), which makes it possible to transmit a signal from the instrument to the computer without loss. If you connect your guitar to the normal input, you will lose a lot of overtones and low frequencies, which will make the sound dull. In this case, not a sonorous beautiful sound will be recorded, but a dull sound with a loss of low frequencies. A large microphone jack is often used as a connector.
Line In is required to connect various stereo devices (player, turntable) to the audio card. Typically, each channel has its own connector. You won't be able to connect a guitar or a microphone to it, the recording volume in this case will turn out to be very quiet.
Built-in preamplifier
A preamplifier is another module that can be supplied with a sound card for a computer. How to choose the right one and which one is better - with or without him?
First you need to figure out what a preamplifier is. The amplitude of the signal that goes from the microphone to the input is very low. For recording, you have to amplify it, and then stabilize the volume. It is this function that is assigned to the preamplifier. Not all audio cards have it. Even if your device has a microphone input, the preamp may not be there. Then the software does its job. However, in this case, the amplitude not only of the useful signal increases, but also of noise with interference.
Choosing a sound card for your PC: is a preamp required?
For musicians or announcers, having a preamp is a great bonus. But in this case it was not without a fly in the ointment. The quality of built-in amplifiers is almost always quite modest, while the price rises significantly due to such a built-in element. I must say that you can always add an additional device of this type, so you shouldn't add it to the list of required ones.
Conclusion
Since it is impossible to choose a sound card without wasting time, you will have to familiarize yourself with a large number of offers from different computer hardware stores. Of course, if you have no desire to study numbers, you can go the other way - by comparison. To do this, you need to listen to the same audio recording on different devices. In this case, the one that sounds the most pleasant will be appropriate.
Remember that the audio board is only part of the sound reproduction system. You also need a high-quality amplifier and solid speakers. Without them, all efforts aimed at selecting equipment will be in vain.
Gone are the days when computers hit store shelves as "deaf and dumb": today even the most budget models have a built-in sound card. Now speakers or headphones can be connected to any computer - be it office or gaming, desktop or mobile, expensive or cheap.
The problem is that the sound quality at the output of built-in cards often leaves much to be desired. Anyone understands that when choosing a motherboard, the last thing the buyer will pay attention to is the characteristics of the built-in sound card; the manufacturer also understands this. Therefore, the first (and often the only) criterion for choosing a sound chip for a motherboard by a manufacturer is its price.
Cheap sound chips have low-bit, low-speed DACs and are often very noisy - as a result, the output sound is far from ideal. And if for an office this sound quality may be enough, then for a home computer the capabilities of the built-in sound card may no longer be enough - if you connect a 5.1 (or 7.1) speaker system to your computer, then to get a truly three-dimensional sound picture, you will need an appropriate sound card.
A separate sound card is also required for the gaming computer - the built-in cards do not support surround sound technologies used in games.
If you are fond of writing music and / or playing musical instruments, you will need a sound card with a Midi interface and (possibly) high impedance input for connecting an electric guitar.
Classification of sound cards.
Although the principle of operation of all sound cards is the same, according to their characteristics and supported formats, they are usually divided into two classes: professional and multimedia.
Professional sound cards are used, as the name suggests, for professional audio work:
- to create high quality recordings from studio microphones;
- to record music from connected musical instruments;
- for "voice acting" (including polyphonic) and the imposition of sound effects on audio tracks of films;
Such cards are most often external, equipped with specialized connectors, regulators and multichannel high-performance ADCs (analog-to-digital converters). DACs (digital-to-analog converters) on such cards also have high speed and bit depth, providing high-quality sound output to the speakers. The main disadvantage of these cards is that they are expensive. In addition, these cards usually do not support in-game surround sound formats.
Multimedia cards are designed for an ordinary user and are presented in a wide range of prices and other characteristics. Such cards are characterized by the absence of professional connectors, a minimum of adjustments and a simple (usually single-channel) ADC. On the other hand, even the cheapest sound cards of this class have announced support for surround sound formats.
Characteristics of sound cards.
Location cards can be external or internal. Internal cards, as the name suggests, are installed inside the computer in a free expansion slot. External cards have their own case and are located outside the computer, connecting to it via an interface cable (usually USB). Such devices are most often used with mobile computers - laptops and tablets. However, it is not uncommon to use professional external sound cards with a desktop computer - built-in cards have a platform for connectors of limited dimensions, and a large number of connectors on it simply will not fit.
Format sound card corresponds to the number of playback channels and determines whether the multichannel speaker system connected to the sound card will work properly. Most sound cards provide only stereo sound reproduction (2.0 format, two playback channels). To connect and fully use 5.1 (6 channels) and 7.1 (8 channels) surround sound systems, you will need appropriate sound cards.
Digit capacity of the DAC determines how faithfully the high quality audio file will sound. It is important to understand that when playing a 16-bit audio file (for example, audio CD tracks), there will be no difference between playing it through a 16-bit or 24-bit DAC. The 16-bit width implies 65536 amplitude gradations - in most cases this is sufficient. But in theory, under ideal conditions, the human ear is capable of providing greater resolution. While the difference between 96 kHz and 48 kHz sampling is debatable, many people with good hearing can tell 16-bit from 24-bit audio in the absence of background noise. Therefore, if you are going to use a sound card for listening to high-quality audio (DVD and Blu-ray) and sounding Blu-ray movies, you should choose a model with a DAC bit rate of 24.
Maximum DAC Frequency determines how often digital data will be converted to an analog signal. The higher the sampling rate, the closer the conversion result to the original signal. It would seem that the higher this indicator, the better. But, according to the Kotelnikov theorem, to transmit a signal of any frequency, a sampling frequency is sufficient, twice the frequency of the signal itself. Taking into account that the highest frequency discernible by ear is 20 kHz (for most people, the upper limit of audible sound generally passes in the region of 15-18 kHz), a sampling rate of 40 kHz should be sufficient for high-quality digitization of any sound. The sampling rate of audio CD: 44.1 kHz, and the maximum sampling rate of mp-3 files: 48 kHz, are chosen based on this criterion. Accordingly, the DAC of a sound card that plays audio tracks and mp3 files must have a sampling rate of at least 48 kHz, otherwise the sound will be distorted.
Theoretically, such a sampling rate should be sufficient, but in practice sometimes there is a need for a higher frequency: a real audio signal does not fully meet the requirements of the Kotelnikov theorem and under certain conditions the signal may be distorted. Therefore, recordings with a sampling rate of 96 kHz are popular among connoisseurs of pure sound.
The DAC sampling rate is higher than that of the original file, it does not affect the sound quality, therefore, it makes sense to purchase a sound card with a DAC frequency higher than 48 kHz only if you are going to listen to blu-ray and DVD audio on your computer or loseless music with a sampling rate. greater than 48 kHz.
If you are firmly aiming at purchasing a sound card with a sampling rate higher than 48 kHz, then you should not save on the purchase. A DAC, like any other audio device, adds its own noise to the signal. Inexpensive models can be quite noisy, and taking into account the high sampling rate, ultrasonic noise, which is dangerous for the speakers, can appear at the output of such a converter. Even in the audible range, the noise can be so high that it overshadows the gain from upsampling.
Maximum frequency and bit ADC determine how accurately the analog signal from the microphone or line input will be converted to digital. These parameters are important if the card is intended for high quality sound recording. For most household needs, a single-channel ADC with a maximum frequency of 44.1 kHz and 16 bits is sufficient.
To record stereo sound, you must have at least 2 recording channels.
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PCI | PCI-E | USB |
Connection interface determines how the sound card will be connected to the computer. PCI and PCI-E are the interfaces for connecting internal sound cards, which must be installed in the corresponding slot on the motherboard. USB - interface for connecting external sound cards.
Signal to noise ratio determines the level of noise added to the signal by the sound card itself. The higher the number, the clearer the sound remains. For listening to music, it is undesirable for this figure to be below 75 dB. Hi-Fi equipment provides a minimum of 90 dB, and high-quality Hi-End devices are capable of providing a signal-to-noise ratio of 110-120 dB and higher.
EAX, OpenAL, A3D support Determines if the card supports in-game surround sound formats. With the help of these formats (with the help of a multichannel speaker system), imaginary sound sources, sound reflections from virtual walls and other sound effects are created in space. Of course, all this requires that the game itself also supports this format.
ASIO support... ASIO is a software interface for direct (bypassing the operating system) data exchange between a sound card driver and a sound recording / playback program. The need for this format arose due to the fact that the Windows OS (which uses this format) may delay the transfer of audio data under high system load. By ear, this is defined as "jamming" and "slowing down" the sound. And, if (for example) when watching a movie one can not pay attention to isolated such cases, then with professional sound processing this is, of course, unacceptable.
At the same time, ASIO support is not a guarantee that audio tracks will sound without delays - much depends on the quality of the sound card and its drivers. You shouldn't expect a big effect from enabling this mode on a cheap base-level card.
Availability of digital output(S / PDIF, HDMI) allows digital audio to be sent to audio equipment that can receive such a signal, such as a home theater. With such a connection, the parameters of the DAC of the sound card are not important - the conversion of the digital signal into analog is performed by the DAC of the home theater. Such a connection is justified if the DAC of the home theater is better than the one built into the sound card.
Availability of digital input allows you to receive a digital signal from audio equipment (such as digital microphones and audio players). When using a digital input, the characteristics of the ADC of the sound card are not important - the sound already enters the card in digital form. In this case, the work of converting analog audio to digital (if any) is undertaken by the ADC of the device from which the digital audio signal comes.
Availability built-in headphone amplifier it will be useful if you often sit in front of the computer with headphones. If you have a high-quality high-impedance headphone, the presence of an amplifier is a must - otherwise they will sound quiet. You can buy a separate headphone amplifier, or you can choose a sound card with a built-in amplifier.
Phantom Microphone Power Used when connecting studio condenser microphones - this microphone is believed to provide the best voice recording. To connect conventional dynamic microphones, the phantom power must be turned off, otherwise the microphone may be damaged.
High impedance instrument input (Hi-Z) is intended for direct connection of electronic musical instruments with high impedance pickups (for example, electric guitars, electric cellos, violins, etc.). When such instruments are connected to a regular line input, the frequency response of the signal may be distorted.
Balanced inputs and outputs necessary when increased protection against noise induced on audio cables is required. Unlike conventional (unbalanced) inputs, balanced inputs use three wires per channel instead of two. In the normal input, one wire is the ground, the second is used to transmit the audio signal. Noise induced on the audio signal is readily transmitted to the ADC input, spoiling the main sound. In a balanced input, one wire is ground, the second is an audio signal, and the third is an antiphase audio signal. In the card, the antiphase audio signal is subtracted from the main one, while the induced noise - since it occurs in the same phase on both signals - disappears, and the useful signal is amplified.
On balanced inputs, a universal connector is often used, which can work both as balanced and unbalanced.
ASIO support, phantom microphone power supply, high frequency and bit depth ADC, balanced, instrument and Midi inputs - these are the distinctive features of professional sound cards capable of producing high-quality sound recording.
If the sound path of the motherboard of your computer or laptop is built on high-quality components, it makes no sense to purchase a discrete card of a budget or even an average level. It will be almost impossible to feel the difference. In the same way as in the case of sound output to inexpensive speakers or headphones. There is an opinion that the cost of the used acoustics should be several times higher than the price of a sound card - then the set will be balanced.
So, you've decided to abandon the built-in sound card. Then we will immediately decide on the options:
- Inexpensive embedded cards- the choice for the undemanding ear, if the sound of the "embedded" is already completely obscene, or you want to connect multichannel acoustics to the motherboard, which has only a stereo output. Although taking into account the fact that now even budget systems allow you to connect at least 5.1 acoustics, such a need may be needed only on a computer, which it is high time to upgrade itself. The same can be said about cheap external sound cards- they remain the only option for laptops, but they are also interesting for PCs because they “collect” less noise on the analog path.
- Do you like music not only to listen, but also to create? Regardless of genre preferences, you need a sound card with the supportASIO, and then we are already looking at our equipment - for power tools you will need high resistance (Hi-Z) input, studio condenser microphones need phantom power. If you work exclusively with VSTi, then you just need to have ASIO “on board”.
- Want to connect your computer to an external DSP or AV receiver? Then choose cards with an exitS /PDIF- coaxial or optics, depending on how the input is implemented on the connected device.
- Interesting multichannel audio in games? In this case, support by the EAX card will still be relevant, although it can already be considered leaving the scene (the last edition of the standard was released in 2005). At the same time, it would be more logical to choose from cards produced by Creative - whatever one may say, this is the company that created EAX.
There are also a number of nuances that need to be taken into account. For example, it is not the first year that Creative has been famous for its disgusting support - the same Audigy of the old series already on Windows 8 can work with problems because of the long-not-updated and initially raw drivers. Any card, both external and built-in, can work incorrectly due to software and hardware conflicts: for example, a loaded USB hub or motherboard bridge can lead to stuttering even with ASIO cards, especially if the driver is set to the maximum frequency sampling (and, accordingly, for the maximum amount of data transfer). So it is not always necessary to immediately blame the manufacturer for all mortal sins - you should also deal with your computer (not to mention the anecdotal cases when they forget to disable the built-in card in the BIOS).
