Whats the best USB soundcard available?
- Thread starter KiNETiK
- Start date
What price range? Surround or stereo? Inputs required?
There are many high quality ones manufactured for studio/pro type use and don't have to cost a fortune, but they often arn't surround. USB soundcards often miss a normal mic connection too if thats a problem. For something similar to the X-Fi the Audigy 2 NX is probably a good bet since it offers surround sound, EAX and mic connection like you expect on normal PCI cards.
For just stereo, the M-Audio TRANSIT is neat but it won't offer EAX.
Where possible use PCI cards though, tend to be less hassle. I'm assuming you have a laptop or something?
There are many high quality ones manufactured for studio/pro type use and don't have to cost a fortune, but they often arn't surround. USB soundcards often miss a normal mic connection too if thats a problem. For something similar to the X-Fi the Audigy 2 NX is probably a good bet since it offers surround sound, EAX and mic connection like you expect on normal PCI cards.
For just stereo, the M-Audio TRANSIT is neat but it won't offer EAX.
Where possible use PCI cards though, tend to be less hassle. I'm assuming you have a laptop or something?
Hey, thanks for the reply.
Yea the reason i am lookin at usb sound cards is that I have recently bought a macbook and would like to use it as a media centre in my living room with my projector and 5.1 surround setup.
The main input requirements are front rear and centre component outputs so that i can plug it to the multichannel inputs on the AV amp i have. I think the Audigy usb sound card has these outputs, so perhaps this is the one to go for?
Cheers
Robin
Yea the reason i am lookin at usb sound cards is that I have recently bought a macbook and would like to use it as a media centre in my living room with my projector and 5.1 surround setup.
The main input requirements are front rear and centre component outputs so that i can plug it to the multichannel inputs on the AV amp i have. I think the Audigy usb sound card has these outputs, so perhaps this is the one to go for?
Cheers
Robin
Interesting situation. You AV amp may well have an optical/coaxial in? You could then use that as the decoder. I see the new macbooks specify optical digital outputs (combined in the 3.5mm jack). Now, i'm not sure whether this is a surround output or only stereo since i'm unfamiliar with digital connections and macs, but if it is surround you'll simply require a 3.5mm optical minijack to either toslink or coaxial cable (depends on your AV reciever). Hopefully someone can confirm 
Hey again,
I've come to realise (with my desktop machine and my av amp) that outputting 5.1 to is not as easy as you might think. I asked about this in an earlier post - http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17643346 if your interested in reading it. In the end I bought a home cinema cable off the creative website which I finally managed to get me to out 5.1 properly!
This is why I wanted an external soundcard with the outputted i stated.
Cheers
Robin
I've come to realise (with my desktop machine and my av amp) that outputting 5.1 to is not as easy as you might think. I asked about this in an earlier post - http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17643346 if your interested in reading it. In the end I bought a home cinema cable off the creative website which I finally managed to get me to out 5.1 properly!
This is why I wanted an external soundcard with the outputted i stated.
Cheers
Robin
Ah, ok. I don't know much about digital connections, the mac one may well be stereo anyhow. Yeah, if you want a surround USB soundcard the Audigy 2 NX should be fine (probably need to look second hand). I expect there may be an X-Fi USB version sometime, but don't know that it will offer much extra