soundcards?

[cgibsong002]

hey guys, here's my second topic. i'm considering upgrading my laptops sound card. my initial reason was to have superior sound quality when doing guitar recordings. now that i'm on this site i've heard a few things about a sound card putting out superior output sound as well. seems quite obvious actually. anyway, what are my possibilities? keep in mind i'm still under a budget. i don't have a specific budget as of now, but think in terms of college student. if it makes a difference, i'll be hooking up the sound card to a receiver (not sure specific model yet) to amplify the speakers.

i know this is all broad, i'm just looking for ideas.

thanks.

[Feanor]

hey guys, here's my second topic. i'm considering upgrading my laptops sound card. my initial reason was to have superior sound quality when doing guitar recordings. now that i'm on this site i've heard a few things about a sound card putting out superior output sound as well. seems quite obvious actually. anyway, what are my possibilities? keep in mind i'm still under a budget. i don't have a specific budget as of now, but think in terms of college student. if it makes a difference, i'll be hooking up the sound card to a receiver (not sure specific model yet) to amplify the speakers.

i know this is all broad, i'm just looking for ideas.

thanks.
I don't have the requirement for recording, so I'm going by what I've been told rather than what I've heard or used. However the E-MU 0404 USB external sound card has an advanced USB interface and an excellent reputation for sound quality at an very reasonable price. Check it out HERE (http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?product=15185).

[cgibsong002]

ok, well this looks like a pretty versatile machine. but, why do i need it? this has a built in DAC, correct? how exactly does that help to give me better sound?

[Feanor]

ok, well this looks like a pretty versatile machine. but, why do i need it? this has a built in DAC, correct? how exactly does that help to give me better sound?
CG, yes, it has a built in DAC. But let's clear a few things up. You said you want a sound card to drive you receiver. In recommending that E-MU 0404 model I assumed that you wanted your sound card have recording feature. I also assumed you wanted it to feed your receiver's analog inputs, however I might have made a wrong assumption.

If your receiver have a digital input, (either coaxial or optical/Toslink input), then your receiver has a built-in DAC and your sound card doesn't have to have one, (although most do). In that case your sound card will need to have a digital output, (many typical internal sound cards do not).

Maybe you could make your requirement a bit clearer.

[blackraven]

Here's an inexpensive one from creative labs that may fit your budget.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3840926&Sku=C44-3382

[cgibsong002]

Here's an inexpensive one from creative labs that may fit your budget.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3840926&Sku=C44-3382

ok, that looks good too for a fraction of the price. now, i'm mainly looking for sound quality here. does the EMU give much greater sound quality compared to this creative labs soundcard, or is the EMU simply more advanced and has more options?

[blackraven]

Based on price alone, you would think the EMU would sound better, but you never know. Creative makes some nice sound cards.

[poppachubby]

Based on price alone, you would think the EMU would sound better, but you never know. Creative makes some nice sound cards.

Looking closely at the EMU specs, you'll notice an asterick. For a Mac, the dac will output 96k for analog but only 48k for digital. Looks to me like the Creative will ouput in full 96k. I would say if you have a reciver capable of a digital input, the Creative is by far the way to go unless you require the hardware features of the EMU.

Just be aware if you're using the CD digital input of a receiver, you will be limited to 16b/48khz. This is still an amazing rate and your audio will sound brilliant!

[blackraven]

Here's another to consider

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829156008

If your on a tight budget, get the Creative labs and make sure there is a 30day return policy for it. If you don't like it, send it back.

[blackraven]

If you have an optical or digital out from your laptop then these would give you the best sound- The first one has a usb interface!


http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1262918809&/Styleaudio-Emerald-Demo

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1262995802&/Monarch-DIP-48/96

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1263151734&/Cambridge-Audio-dacmagic-2


Take a look at some of these, especially the Sumiko Pro-Ject which is usb for about $150

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=usb+dac&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3121301561&ref=pd_sl_6y30xl0q7b_b

http://sumikoaudio.net/project/products/project_design_boxes.htm

[audio amateur]

I've read some pretty awful reviews of the Creative soundblaster 5.1 on amazon

[Feanor]

If you have an optical or digital out from your laptop then these would give you the best sound- The first one has a usb interface!


http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1262918809&/Styleaudio-Emerald-Demo

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1262995802&/Monarch-DIP-48/96

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1263151734&/Cambridge-Audio-dacmagic-2
The second you mention, BR, the Monarchy, is not a DAC it is only an upsampler.

Our poster mentioned recording as a possible application; neither of the other two support recording; they are playback DACs only.

[Feanor]

Looking closely at the EMU specs, you'll notice an asterick. For a Mac, the dac will output 96k for analog but only 48k for digital. Looks to me like the Creative will ouput in full 96k. I would say if you have a reciver capable of a digital input, the Creative is by far the way to go unless you require the hardware features of the EMU.

Just be aware if you're using the CD digital input of a receiver, you will be limited to 16b/48khz. This is still an amazing rate and your audio will sound brilliant!
It's a pity that cgibsong002 hasn't given us more information about his computer, the receiver he's gettng, and exactly how he expects to use a sound card. We could be more helpful if we know these things.

[cgibsong002]

yeah my laptop doesn't have any digital or optical outputs. it also sounds like i should look into what possible connections my receiver will have?

[cgibsong002]

It's a pity that cgibsong002 hasn't given us more information about his computer, the receiver he's gettng, and exactly how he expects to use a sound card. We could be more helpful if we know these things.

sorry... i gave as much info as i know, aside from laptop specs, which i just gave. its a gateway w6501, no special connections on it, just USB. i also mentioned how i was planning on using the soundcard. i'd like to use it to connect my laptop to my receiver for music playing, as well as using it as in input to record.

[blackraven]

Take a look at this EMU http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=610&subcategory=611&product=15186

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=E-mu+0202&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=5117178937962820668&ei=TsQAS8f6G4vcNpbT3ZoL&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCIQ8wIwAw#ps-sellers

It may be in price range.

[cgibsong002]

anyone have any info on a M Audio Audiophile 192? i've actually got a chance at having one for quite the deal. no software included, but i've had one offered to me for basically $50.

[blackraven]

It looks like a desk top computer sound card. It's not for a notebook or for external use. It looks like a nice card but you cant use it in your laptop. It hooks into a pci slot.

[cgibsong002]

It looks like a desk top computer sound card. It's not for a notebook or for external use. It looks like a nice card but you cant use it in your laptop. It hooks into a pci slot.

ooh, ouch. thanks for pointing that out. not sure how i missed that. it appears you're right. thanks.

[blackraven]

I would buy this card, the price is great and the reviews look good.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=E-mu+0202&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=5117178937962820668&ei=TsQAS8f6G4vcNpbT3ZoL&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCIQ8wIwAw#ps-sellers

[Feanor]

I would buy this card, the price is great and the reviews look good.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=E-mu+0202&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=5117178937962820668&ei=TsQAS8f6G4vcNpbT3ZoL&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCIQ8wIwAw#ps-sellers
I second that. Identical in concept to the E-MU 0404 I suggested, very similar in capability, and half the cost.