Difference between USB sound card and dedicated sound card?

[-Nighthawk-]

Recently, I was looking for a new headset (one with a 3.5mm jack) and I previously had a pair of headphones which connected with a 3.5mm jack but it had horrible static/hissing noise with the mic. I currently have an integrated sound card with my motherboard (asus p8z77-v lx 2). I was thinking of buying a sound card and came across these:

USB sound card: http/www.amazon.co.uk/USB2-0-External-Quality-Channel-Adapter/dp/B003ZM0XIY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429469732&sr=8-1&keywords=7.1+soundcard+usb

AND

Dedicated sound card: http/www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-Xonar-Express-Sound-Card/dp/B007PTJNBQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429469722&sr=8-1&keywords=7.1+soundcard

What is the difference between the two? Will the USB sound card enhance my audio or mic?

 

[Stuart27]

USB sound cards are simply external. They do the same job only you don't have to install them inside and instead plug them into the USB. One advantage, although this is getting into audiophile level, is that you don't have the interference caused by the other components inside the tower creating a cleaner analogue signal.

If you're buying/already own higher end headphones, I would suggest investing in a better sound card particularly if they have a higher impedance effectively meaning they have a higher resistance and therefore needing an amplifier.

 

[ssddx]

i will say that the difference in products you listed is huge. the first is junk while the second is a respectable internal card.

an external more akin to the dx would be the soundblaster omni or x-fi 5.1 or xonar u5/u7.

both usb and internal soundcards have the same purpose. externals are more for people needing to use them with laptops or who have no room inside for an internal while internal cards are more for people who have a desktop pc which has space for a full sized card. you typically have more options available to you when picking internal cards and i'd generally go that route if possible but that doesnt mean you cannot use an external if one suits your needs.

 

[sora]

A USB sound card is external and in my opinion is that I would personally go for the dedicated sound card as it will take up one less USB slot.

 

[-Nighthawk-]

i will say that the difference in products you listed is huge. the first is junk while the second is a respectable internal card.

an external more akin to the dx would be the soundblaster omni or x-fi 5.1 or xonar u5/u7.

both usb and internal soundcards have the same purpose. externals are more for people needing to use them with laptops or who have no room inside for an internal while internal cards are more for people who have a desktop pc which has space for a full sized card. you typically have more options available to you when picking internal cards and i'd generally go that route if possible but that doesnt mean you cannot use an external if one suits your needs.

I think my sound card may be crappy because I had a previous pair of headphones and the mic was horrible, there was a lot of static/hissing. Those headphones connected with a 3.5mm jack. My second pair of headphones I have and still work connect with a USB, they on the other hand perform well. There is no static, everything is crystal clear. Now, the third pair which I have ordered is connected with a 3.5mm jack. I don't want the same experience with the headphones that made the static/hissing sound (first pair). I want to keep costs low, so would the USB sound card help with clarity of the new pair of headphones I have ordered or would it be the same. Thanks.

 

[ssddx]

sounds like typical low quality onboard sound, though some crackling or other noises can be caused by bad ports on the front of your case as well. most likely its just poor onboard audio though.

connecting directly up to ANY decent soundcard should eliminate any of those issues.

for $27 the xonar dg would work fine as an internal and would give you both good mic and headphone jacks as well. you can also connect your front panel case jacks to the card to make them use the card as well. any of the decent brand externals are going to cost you more than this.

 

[-Nighthawk-]

sounds like typical low quality onboard sound, though some crackling or other noises can be caused by bad ports on the front of your case as well. most likely its just poor onboard audio though.

connecting directly up to ANY decent soundcard should eliminate any of those issues.

for $27 the xonar dg would work fine as an internal and would give you both good mic and headphone jacks as well. you can also connect your front panel case jacks to the card to make them use the card as well. any of the decent brand externals are going to cost you more than this.

Thanks for the help!