Looking for sound card

[lux3d3]

Hey guys
I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for my question but I am looking for a sound card for my PC. I read that external cards are actually better but only found the omni as candidate...
I want to have two exits. One for headphones (phone jack) and one for speakers (optical). I don't want to spend more than 200 USD
Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you in advance.

 

[hang-the-9]

Hey guys
I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for my question but I am looking for a sound card for my PC. I read that external cards are actually better but only found the omni as candidate...
I want to have two exits. One for headphones (phone jack) and one for speakers (optical). I don't want to spend more than 200 USD
Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you in advance.

First is your PC a desktop or a laptop? Why do you want a sound card? In most cases better speakers are a much better thing to get instead.

 

[lux3d3]

A desktop PC with some decent bookshelf speakers (don't remember the name right now but from edifier). They won a couple of prices, I'd say mid-fi.
I want a sound card because I want to a proper sound when listening to music etc. I mean isn't that the reason to buy one? The on board ones are usually not that good...

 

[hang-the-9]

A desktop PC with some decent bookshelf speakers (don't remember the name right now but from edifier). They won a couple of prices, I'd say mid-fi.
I want a sound card because I want to a proper sound when listening to music etc. I mean isn't that the reason to buy one? The on board ones are usually not that good...

Yes a good soundcard will in general be better than onboard sound, but onboard audio cards, especially in the better motherboards, can still be good. I would not spend $200 or even $100 on a sound card unless I knew that it was better than what I have and that I could tell the difference which is the big thing. A sound card may be better, but you may not be able to tell the difference, either because of your ears or your speakers.

This is a good mid range sound card https/www.amazon.com/Xonar-DSX-Engine-Playback-Support/dp/B00198DM2K?SubscriptionId=AKIAINYWQL7SPW7D7JCA&tag=aboutcom02lifewire-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B007TMZ1MY&ascsubtag=833111%7Cgoogle.com%7C%7C%7C66%2C21%2C83%2C75%2C27%2C3%2C80%2C9%7C1%7C&th=1

 

[lux3d3]

I forgot to mention I'm also using the mark 2 headphones from akg.
The Mainboard I have is the Fatal1ty ab 350. It's about 100 USD so I doubt it's a good sound card

 

[hang-the-9]

I forgot to mention I'm also using the mark 2 headphones from akg.
The Mainboard I have is the Fatal1ty ab 350. It's about 100 USD so I doubt it's a good sound card

It is not bad, if you look at the audio branding, it looks to have Elna capacitors https/www.hificollective.co.uk/components/elna_capacitors.html

Those AKG headphones are good, in relation to something in the $30-50 range but I am not so sure they are good enough where you will be able to tell the difference with a higher end sound card.

Up to you though, better than spending the money on pizza if you think you will get better sound. And believe it or not, in a lot of cases, if you THINK it will sound better, it WILL sound better to you. I am just trying to make sure you are putting your spending in the right place.

 

[faalin]

Could look at the Asus Xonar U5 or the Creative G5 7.1. I have the Creative G5 7.1 hooked to a set of corsair 2.1 and really cant tell a difference, it does on the other hand give me presets and EQ where onboard doesnt.


Now at home i have the Creative SB ZxR hooked to a set of Yamaha HS5 monitors and Shure 750DJ headphones and boy can you tell the difference between onboard and soundcard.

It really depends on what you use, a $1000 soundcard is not going to help a pair of iphone headphones sound any better and a $1000 pair of headphones isnt going to make onboard perform better. You have to find that happy in between for soundcard and headphones/speakers.

 

[Corwin65]

Agree with everyone above, $200 soundcard with the speakers and headphones you have would not be noticeable.