How to choose a sound card? Forget about discrete audio cards. Integrated is enough for everyone

Internal and external sound cards

Sound cards are divided into internal and external. External cards connect to the computer via USB or FireWire. Internal cards can only be connected inside the system unit to expansion slots (if available) PCI or PCIe. Internal cards of comparable quality are usually cheaper due to the lack of an external casing. The disadvantage of internal cards is usually a high risk of being exposed to poor-quality computer power and numerous interferences. External sound cards are often more convenient to control due to separate external volume controls for the headphone output. Also, an external card can work with both desktop computers and laptops.

Internal sound card ESI Juli@ and external ASUS Xonar Essence One

Professional and household

Sound cards are divided into home and professional. Professional cards use connector types common to music equipment, such as balanced Jack 6.3 and XLR, while consumer cards use RCA or Jack 3.5 connectors.

NuForce Icon uDAC-2 consumer sound card and E-MU 0404 USB professional sound card

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What features should you pay attention to?

For external sound cards, external power is used or from the USB bus. When using external power, the sound card can work better, because does not depend on the quality of the computer's power supply. In contrast, cards that are powered by the USB bus are more mobile, because... do not require an additional outlet and can work connected to a laptop on the road.

This is a special protocol for transferring data from programs to the sound card driver. ASIO allows you to transfer sound from a program to a sound card without distortion. The second option, in demand only by musicians, is to set the minimum delay level for sending a signal from the program to the sound card, which is important when playing instruments live. As practice shows, the latency of internal cards is significantly lower than that of external ones, which is why serious sound cards for musicians are internal.

This is a free driver that adds ASIO support to any sound card. From the standpoint of sound quality and data transfer accuracy, the driver unfortunately does not provide bit transfer and is necessary in cases where the sound card does not have its own ASIO support, and the program with which you are working can only output an audio stream in ASIO.

For Windows 7 and 8, there is an alternative option for transmitting distortion-free audio via WASAPI, but fewer audio programs support it. WASAPI is an alternative to ASIO for accurate music playback.

Microphone support and phantom power

Modern microphones are divided into dynamic and electret. The first type of microphone does not require phantom power and such a microphone will work with both a home and professional sound card. The second type of microphone requires phantom power, which for household microphones is around 5 V, and for professional microphones from 12 to 48 V. For this reason, household electret microphones cannot be connected to professional cards (the phantom power will be too high and the microphone may be damaged), and a professional microphone connected to a household card will not work due to insufficient phantom power.

To enjoy all the benefits of high-definition video and the latest PC games, you need both a powerful processor and powerful graphics adapter. However, very often users forget that for complete immersion in the atmosphere, high-quality multi-channel sound is also required. However, codecs, drivers and the built-in sound card will help little in this matter. You need a serious device. The article will describe how to choose a sound card. Useful tips when choosing will also not go unnoticed.

Built-in chips

Audio devices soldered directly on the system card board are unable to compete with discrete equipment. 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-ampere power lines. The electromagnetic field created by them leads to increased interference and interference. The architecture of the built-in equipment is simplified to the maximum.

How to choose a sound card for a computer?

There is a variety of hardware for sound output, all of which can be divided into two types: music cards and multimedia.

The first group is used for recording, playback and processing of audio information. This makes them narrowly targeted, and such devices are intended mainly for musicians. They can be installed either inside the system unit or connected to a USB connector. The price of this type of equipment is high.

Multimedia sound cards are suitable for a wider range of users. They are ideal for both stereo systems and acoustics 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 has a beneficial effect on computer performance.

Main characteristics

In order to choose a sound card for your computer, you must be familiar with the basic characteristics of the device. First of all, the main task is installed on the board - processing the digital signal and creating its analog equivalent. This device is essentially the brain of the audio card.

DAC parameters

How to choose a sound card for a computer, what characteristics should a DAC have? A DAC with a bit depth of 16 Bits and a maximum sampling frequency 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 large as that which will be reproduced. According to this theory, we can say that 44.1 KHz is sufficient for almost any recording; this level exceeds the threshold of frequencies audible to humans by two times. However, tests show that the rule is not always followed as written on paper, which means it makes sense to choose a device with a higher sampling rate for greater audio fidelity.

Marketing Tricks

It must be said that the figures written in advertising brochures are not always true, they are often greatly exaggerated. For example, a card with a stated 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 technology, pay attention to the company that manufactured the DAC. Ti-Burr Brown, Wolfson, Texas Instruments are considered the best.

In addition to the manufacturer, it is worth finding out the serial number of the DAC. It indicates the “advancement” of the model. That is, the higher the number, the more modern the development. You can only check the code name of the chip on the manufacturer’s website.

If there are several 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 the surrounding channels. This reduces not only the price of the final device, but also the quality of multi-channel sound.

EAX

Before choosing a computer sound card, find out if the hardware supports EAX technology. Also, be sure to check which version you are using. Today the oldest is 5.0.

In simple terms, EAX is an “audio positioning” technology. The closest analogue is DirectSound3D. It controls the coordinates of the audio source in three-dimensional space. In computer games, this system is used most often; with its help, effects are added to the game that create the illusion of distance from the sound source and its location relative to the listener (left, right, behind).

To what has already been said, it should be added that EAX emulates reflections and reverberations. This gives the user a sense of the parameters of the game world. For an open world, a cramped room, and an empty multi-story building, the character of the same audio recording will be different.

ASIO

ASIO is a protocol used to transmit audio information with minimal delays. Recording in dedicated applications is almost impossible if the ASIO does not support the computer's sound card. How to choose the best option?

For musicians, having this technology is a must. If the computer is used not as a recording studio, but as a multimedia processor, ASIO can be considered an optional feature.

Midi interface

If the user is going to write arrangements, then what should a sound card for a computer have, and 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 supplied to the sound device, but information about which key is pressed, whether it is completely lowered, and with what force and speed the user pressed it. All data is transferred to the program, and the program already plays 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 else preset.

Phantom power

If you intend to use a condenser, you should know that not every sound card for a computer can work with such equipment. How to choose the right device? It's simple - ask about the presence of phantom power on the audio card. Remember that dynamic microphones require the absence of this element! Phantom power can damage them.

Instrument and line inputs

If you are going to install an audio card in your computer for recording electric guitar, it must have an instrument input (another name is high-impedance).

Its resistance level is quite high (about 1 megaohm), which makes it possible to transmit a signal from the instrument to the computer without loss. If you connect a guitar to a regular input, a significant part of the overtones and low frequencies will be lost, which will make the sound dull. In this case, not a clear, beautiful sound will be recorded, but a dull sound with loss of low frequencies. A large microphone jack is often used as a connector.

Line In is required for connecting various stereo devices (player, vinyl record player) to the audio card. Typically, each channel uses its own connector. You won't be able to connect a guitar or microphone to it; the recording volume in this case will be very quiet.

Built-in preamp

A preamplifier is another module that can be equipped with a computer sound card. How to choose the right one and which one is better - with or without it?

First you need to understand what a preamplifier is. The amplitude of the signal that goes from the microphone to the input is very low. To record, 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 the device has a microphone input, it may not have a preamplifier. Then the software does its job. However, in this case, the amplitude of not only the useful signal increases, but also noise with interference.

Choosing a sound card for a PC: is a preamp required?

For musicians or announcers, having a preamplifier will be a good bonus. But in this case there was a fly in the ointment. The quality of built-in amplifiers is almost always quite modest, but the price rises significantly due to such a built-in element. It must be said 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 another way - comparison. To do this, you need to listen to the same audio recording on different devices. In this case, the one that sounds most pleasant will be suitable.

Remember that the audio card is only part of the audio reproduction system. You also need a high-quality amplifier and good-quality speakers. Without them, all efforts aimed at selecting equipment will be in vain.

Sound card(or board) – a device responsible for sound reproduction. This is an essential component of any modern computer, because without it even the simplest actions such as listening to music, watching a movie or video, or playing the sound of any computer game are impossible.

When starting to choose a sound card for your computer, you should know that they come in three forms:

• internal integrated;
• internal discrete;
• external.

Integrated sound cards are the most budget option. This is a separate chip soldered into the motherboard. Typically, more reputable motherboards have higher-quality sound chips soldered on them, while simpler motherboards contain an inexpensive chip (for example, Realtek).

However, saving on the purchase of a sound card is justified only if no high demands are placed on the quality of the reproduced sound. It should be noted that the sound chips themselves can produce fairly high-quality sound, however, after soldering, external factors begin to influence the result of their work. First of all, this is electrical noise, which inevitably arises on the system board and affects the characteristics of the analog part of the audio signal.

In addition, the built-in sound adapter does not have its own processor. Accordingly, the load on the central processor increases, which in some cases can lead to a delay in the sound signal or “stuttering” of the sound. Don't forget that integrated cards are not designed to connect powerful high-end external devices. They can only work with inexpensive headphones and microphones, as well as multimedia acoustic systems.

Discrete sound cards

Discrete sound card It is an independent board that is installed in a free PCI slot. This is the most ancient type of board - it was their use that at one time turned silent computers into multimedia computers. Discrete cards have a sound processor that performs the functions of audio processing, mixing audio streams, and so on. This makes it possible to reduce the load on the central processor, which certainly increases computer performance and improves the quality of audio signal playback.

Such boards provide more decent sound compared to integrated ones. As a rule, when using them, there is no interference or sound delay. You can use more powerful external devices - high-quality speakers or headphones, it is possible to connect a home theater system. Typically, a discrete sound card comes with a disc containing software that, among other things, allows for automatic sound processing. Manual setup is usually performed through an audio player installed on the computer.

External sound cards

Installation required for high quality professional sound external sound card. Of course, it must be a good expensive device. Cheap USB cards do not provide high-quality sound. External sound cards have appeared quite recently. They look like small plastic or metal boxes equipped with a certain number of inputs and outputs for connecting external devices. Some boards are additionally equipped with various tuning controls. Such sound cards are connected to a computer using USB or WiFi interfaces.

External boards are much more functional than internal ones. They allow you to use the entire wide range of capabilities of high-quality audio equipment. In addition to the sound output function, they also implement the function of recording sound signals - the case has inputs for connecting various types of microphones.

Every external sound card comes bundled with software. As a rule, this is a package of applications that allow you to configure output devices for the most comfortable sound. In addition, they provide automatic driver updates, which is quite convenient.

Results

To summarize, it should be noted that when choosing the type of sound card, you first need to focus on the required sound quality and the level of acoustic equipment that you plan to use.

All computers have an integrated sound module designed for audio processing. Its technical characteristics do not allow you to get all the depth and realism from listening to studio recordings or high-quality films. A separate sound card can correct the shortcomings of the built-in analogue. But the wide range makes it difficult to choose the required device model. Reviews from specialists and videos demonstrating the operation of the equipment will help you choose the right option that will meet all the user’s needs.

Most computers that go on sale are equipped with one that is integrated into. They have low parameters to reproduce high-quality and clear sound. For music lovers or users who want to connect types 4.0, 5.1, 5.2, etc. To achieve the effect of presence while watching a movie, this sound card will not be enough, since the capabilities of the device will not allow this. The best way out of this situation is to purchase equipment with high technical characteristics.

Classification of sound cards

The main task assigned to it is processing the incoming audio signal. These products are divided into two main types:

• external;
• internal.

External devices are connected to a personal computer either via a USB port or FireWire. The second option is installed inside the system unit via PCI or PCIe connectors, depending on the model of the motherboard and the equipment itself. The price of internal sound cards is slightly lower compared to external devices. But they are sensitive to the quality of the electrical current received from the PC and are susceptible to the negative effects of interference. All this can affect the purity of the reproduced sound.

Attention! The design of laptops does not provide for the installation of an internal sound card.

Regardless of the type of execution, devices are divided into two types:

• for professional use;
• for household needs.

Professional equipment differs from home equipment in that it has connectors for connecting musical instruments: Jack 6.3 and XLR, as well as built-in filters for finer sound purification. There is also a price division of these devices, which divides them into three classes:

• Budget. Such devices have the lowest quality sound reproduction. They have a minimum set of inputs and outputs for connecting an acoustic system.
• Average. Products in this segment have high technical characteristics to create an immersive effect while watching films in 3D or Blu-ray format. They convert the audio signal from digital to analog during playback, and back during recording, without delay or noise. The package may include software to expand your audio processing capabilities.
• Premium Equipment of this class reproduces high-frequency sound and is mainly used by professional musicians. Its interface allows you to connect multiple devices. They have several volume controls and their own equalizer. The package may include specialized software for professional audio recording.

Technical characteristics and selection criteria

On the modern market, sound cards are presented in a wide range from different manufacturers who have a large range of their products. This circumstance greatly complicates the selection of the necessary equipment modification. When choosing a device, you should pay attention to the following parameters: bit depth and sampling rate, hardware interface and supported technologies.

Advice. When purchasing an internal sound card, it is recommended to choose a device with a PCIe connector, since the PCI bus is obsolete and will soon fall out of use.

Signal converter

The sound card is equipped with a so-called central processor. It is designed for digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) of a signal with subsequent output to an acoustic system and analog-to-digital conversion - when recording sound and saving data on. The processing speed of the streaming audio signal depends on its frequency. A device with 2 -3 DAC/ADC is capable of simultaneously processing several audio channels.

DAC capacity

This parameter is responsible for the quality of the processed audio signal during recording or playback. The standard bit width is 16 bits. There may be products on sale with 8-bit, 24-bit, etc. When using a 16-bit device, audio is reproduced with 65,536 volume levels, and on 8-bit – 256. Accordingly, the higher the bit depth, the better quality.

Sampling frequency

This device parameter is responsible for the quality of filtering the audio signal before saving it. To create stereo 2.0 audio, the sampling frequency must be 44.1 kHz, which is twice the hearing threshold of the human ear. This value is accepted as standard and is supported by all models of budget and mid-class sound cards. To watch movies in the format: DVD - 48 kHz, FullHD - 91 kHz, to transmit full sound and create the effect of presence, the parameter must be 192 kHz (studio recording, 3D or Blu-ray video playback requires 192 kHz).

Attention! Sound cards with a sampling frequency less than 44.1 kHz reproduce low quality sound with extraneous noise.

Interface

Depending on the user’s needs, the device can be equipped with connectors for connecting various equipment: speaker system type 2.0, 4.0, 5.1, 5.2 (number of channels), Jack 6.3 sockets (musical instruments), optical inputs and outputs S/PDIF (transfer of information without compression and deterioration in quality). Equipment with a MIDI interface provides the ability to connect MIDI devices: keyboards, controllers, etc. The presence of Full Duplex connectors ensures simultaneous recording and playback of signals from several channels. External cards may have volume and balance controls for each channel.

Technologies

Sound cards, depending on their class, support various technologies designed to improve sound quality.

• Dolby Digital – provides suppression of electrical, electronic and mechanical noise.
• DTS Digital – creates surround sound and presence, used for recording films in 3D and Blu-Ray formats.
• EAX ADVANCED HD – used to create sound effects in games, 3D and Blu-Ray films to ensure maximum realism. Due to reverberation and reflection of sound waves, it creates a virtual world of everything that happens around the user.
• ASIO protocol – provides optimization of data transfer when working with various applications, thereby increasing computer performance.

Advice. It is recommended to select a device that supports certain technologies depending on the capabilities and technical characteristics of the speaker system.

The main criterion when choosing the optimal sound card model is the needs of the consumer, based on which the necessary requirements are presented. The number of different connectors, support for various technologies and form factor (type of execution) determine the class of the device and its cost. When purchasing this equipment for, it is recommended to give preference to those modifications that receive power via a USB port, which will increase mobility. The right products can connect the required equipment, deliver high-quality sound and depth to create realism and full presence.

How to install a sound card in a computer: video

The purpose of this mini article is to outline the main characteristics that are really important when choosing a sound card, as well as to show what you can gain by using a discrete (separate) sound card.

These tips will help you choose a sound card for a long time, and taking into account the durability of these products and how they reach the ceiling in sound quality, for a very long time.

(codecs) that are soldered directly to the motherboard do not provide the same level of sound as discrete sound cards.

This is primarily due to the fact that the codec that is soldered to the motherboard uses processor resources (which, although by a percentage, degrades performance). Sometimes, the codec wiring runs next to high-ampere power lines, which create electromagnetic interference, have a mediocre and simplified architecture to the maximum, which negatively affects the sound quality. For lack of a separate, more or less quality DAC-a (digital-to-analog converter), the signal is processed by the codec itself, which does not always cope well with this task.

For those who doubt purchasing a separate sound card.

So what are the main advantages external sound card?

1. CPU offload. The processor will not be distracted by processing sounds, which will accordingly increase its free processor time. Performance gains in games (processor-dependent and with support for various technologies like EAX) can reach 5%.

2. More high sound quality. There is no point in arguing with this. In built-in sound cards, all sound processing processes are performed by a codec, the cost of which usually does not exceed $2. The length of the tracks along the mat. board, the quality of the audio output ports, the lack of a separate DAC and DSP processor - all this has a negative impact on the quality of the output sound. Also, built-in sound cards almost always do not support ASIO and WDM, which are also important for working with sound.

3. The best software. Allows you to customize your sound the way you like. Also allows you to use the sea settings and proprietary functions that affect the sound in one way or another. Without any problems you can parallelize stereo sound (2.0) on a surround sound set 5.1 , 7.1 and so on, using proprietary technologies. The ability to customize the sound according to the location of your acoustics, up to 10 mass media 5 degrees. By the way, it is very useful when setting up high-quality, surround sound in films (AC 3, DTS) for a non-standard room.

4. Technology support surround sound, including hardware ones. In games, these are EAX, EAX Advanced HD (the implementation of which takes precious processor resources). In Creative sound cards, hardware processing of this technology is implemented, up to version 5.0. In films, this is Dolby Digital, DD EX, DTS-ES, DTS-ES Surround, DTS Digital Surround, Dolby ProLogic I, II, Dolby Surround and many others. Create the effect of presence in films with surround sound. The effect is fantastic (naturally for a computer and of course there is no question of comparison with a home theater). Most cards use hardware decoding of tracks in a movie, for example DTS, which significantly improves playback quality and processing speed.

5. Diversity ports entry/exit. Which you almost never see built into the mat. codec board. This S/PDIF(optical) and digital output that does not create distortion and interference from nearby power cables, telephone networks, etc., like analog outputs. And also, the analog outputs of external cards are of higher quality, where higher quality alloys are used and they are gold-plated.

If you are a music lover, amateur quality sound and want to have a variety of sound technologies, then the choice is obvious.

So which ones? characteristics, should you pay attention first when choosing a discrete sound card?

DAC and ADC , bit depth and quality.

*digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converter

– serves to convert a digital signal (100100100001) into an analogue one (to outputs in the form of electrical signals).

– has an inverse function, converts an analog signal into one understandable for a computer. Used primarily for sound recording. If you don't do this, then the quality ADC– it doesn’t matter and it won’t affect the quality of the reproduced sound.

Meaning and DAC, in many sound cards it is exaggerated.

Sample rate DAC 192kHz, may sound worse than a DAC with a sampling rate 96kHz.

It’s not always worth buying into pretty numbers.

It all depends on the manufacturer, how respected he is in the world of chip manufacturers and digital audio. Good DACs for multimedia cards, do: Wolfson, Ti—Burr Brown, Texas Instruments. The advancement of the DAC can be determined by serial number(this is what is mainly used). Usually, the higher it is, the newer and more advanced the chip. You can find out which chip is used on the manufacturer’s website in the description or on the website of the store where the sound card is sold.

Also, it is worth paying attention to the moment if you use different DACs for central channels and surrounding ones. This suggests that the manufacturer saved a little on quality DAC-s surround sound, which may slightly affect the quality of multi-channel audio playback.

*usually, the difference is noticeable only on expensive acoustics.

Manufacturer and software company.

The most important players in the multimedia audio market are companies Creative And Asus. So let’s take a closer look at them. If new major players appear, they will definitely be included in the list.

Creative.

Sound cards from the company Creative , can be classified as gaming sound cards. They fully support all technologies related to surround sound output in games - on hardware level. What can we say, because exactly Creative, developed standards EAX. Company Creative— is a pioneer in the field of digital audio.

It is the cards of this manufacturer, in particular starting from the series X—fi(not less X-Fi Extreme Gamer),most remove sound load from the processor, taking over all the work of audio processing. That is, this is obvious choice of gamers. However, do not forget that these sound cards cope well with music processing.

The quality of the software can be assessed as good. But still a little lacks flexibility. And often, there are small “glitches” and the settings can sometimes go wrong. This is usually due to conflicts from other software or Windows And DirectSound support

Asus.

Famous Taiwanese company ASUS , which produces sound cards under the brand Xonar- who specialize in high-quality music playback and rely on high-quality element base. Are used high-quality DACs the latest models from well-known manufacturers. The sound of music, usually better and more detailed than company maps Creative(the comparison is very appropriate, these are two main competitors), and the variety of communication ports is wider. One of the downsides is that almost everything in these cards is processed “software”, that is, slightly loading the processor.

Many cards from this manufacturer have protective caps that protect the sound card from EM- Interference coming from power lines and other components inside the computer. Not a bad solution, considering that there are a significant number of such waves inside the computer. In addition, cards with these caps look solid and stylish, and even glow.

To be honest, the sound card software ASUS, more interesting in terms of settings and expandability.

Frequently updated drivers and a bunch of application programs. There are settings for both music and movies separately. In general, the cards are perfect for music lovers and those who like to experiment.

Sound cards from companies such as ECHOM—audio– are semi-professional solutions. They have polished software, high-quality DAC And ADC, many outputs (for creating and recording music). They are usually of little interest to a simple user due to their high cost and not really what they need. BY and functionality. On such maps there is not always room even for technologies such as EAX, Dolby Digital And DTS, since they are practically not used for entertainment purposes.

Companies DigiDesignNativeInstruments– release external ones, professional sound cards that connect via, Fireware exits. But these sound cards are not the purpose of this article, so we will omit their description.

The influence of a sound card on surround sound quality (5.1, 7.1).

A discrete sound card can help you easily get a good immersive effect in a movie, through the correct and competent positioning of sounds in space. This happens thanks to technology Dolby Pro Logic I,II; Dolby Surround and others. Usually it is enough to have a licensed disc with a movie and a player that supports these standards. With some players, you may need to dig into the settings to enable them.

Built-in sound cards to which the system is connected 7.1 or 5.1 – can, at best, ruin your immersion in the atmosphere of a film or game. Inexpressive depth, “drabadan” from the subwoofer... Not even all discrete sound cards are capable of high-quality processing of surround sound, not to mention the built-in codec.

Discrete sound card, SIGNIFICANTLY improves the lower range of reproduced frequencies sound stage. And in general, if you have a speaker system with a subwoofer (starting from 2.1 ), then using a discrete sound card is almost mandatory. This helps avoid distortion, unevenness, and hesitation in the bass response in games, music, and movies. The bass becomes softer, deeper and more confident.

Support comes in very handy. If the card passes this certification, then it is capable of delivering cinematic quality sound scenes (when used in conjunction with other THX certified equipment).

Sound outputs.

If you have a home theater or your AC connected via receiver with optical or coaxial output ( S/PDIF), then you definitely need to have these outputs on your sound card. Connection through these outputs does not distort the signal, which allows you to output high-quality sound as intended by the performer. The optical output transmits a signal of higher quality than the coaxial one. It would also be desirable to have analog outputs 3.5 — « mini-» or full-size 6.25 « Jack"(on professional sound cards - 3.5 usually absent, or used for portable devices) for connecting multimedia acoustics with pre-installed amplifiers. Here you need to see whether you need them or not.

Connection method, expansion slot (USB, Express Card, PCI-E, PCI).

The most recent standard is preferable. Almost all manufacturers that produce sound cards for computers are converting their products to this standard. It can be immediately noted that differences in sound or speed between PCI-E And PCI —No. The transition is carried out due to the imminent (possible) replacement of the port with a newer standard PCI-E. Eg Intel, promises that it will stop releasing system logic sets with support PCI- V 2012 year. This is why it is best to purchase cards with a connector PCI-E to maintain compatibility with future components. After all, a sound card will probably outlive all your components more than once.

"External" sound cards that are manufactured for the multimedia market do not provide the same performance as internal sound cards. This is primarily due to the port “not suitable” for this. USB and strict standards for the size of the external sound cards themselves and power consumption. In addition, such solutions are mainly intended for laptop owners, for whom even such a card will be very attractive in terms of sound quality. The same can be said about ExpressCard connector for sound cards.

Due to its small size, such an elemental base cannot be placed in full-fledged sound cards. Quality suffers due to the smaller size.

It is worth noting that many professional cards have a connection exactly USB tire. They use completely different controllers and principles that cannot be applied in cheaper products for the mass consumer. In addition, they are intended primarily for recording, not playback.

A small fly in the ointment or just some parting advice.

If you have inexpensive acoustics 2.0 (before 3000 rubles), then changing the built-in sound card will go almost unnoticed by you. AC 2.1 – the price range should be >2000 R, 5.1 systems >5000 R, 7.1 systems >6000 R.

But in any case, if you have a system with a subwoofer, the quality and detail of the low frequencies will certainly improve.

Conclusions.

For music lovers, gambling addicts or those who simply like to follow the quality standard in everything - the presence of a discrete sound card is strictly necessary.

Music lovers Manufactured sound cards are more suitable ASUS(Xonar).

Gamers, you will like production cards Creative, which allow you to offload the central processor from sound processing and brings support for new sound standards to games.

For quality watching movies with multi-channel sound - all sound cards from these manufacturers are suitable.

Of the main factors that affect the quality of the reproduced sound, you need to take into account: DAC quality, sampling rate, THD, high-quality software, support for new standards and technologies.

Relying on these indicators, you can choose a sound card that will delight you with its clear sound for many years.

The right choice!