All owners of musical instruments, like fans of laptops, sooner or later have a desire to expand the capabilities of their devices. In the case of laptops, everything is clear - the standard sound subsystem is not enough to provide high-quality and surround sound.
As for musicians, as a rule, they are interested in experimenting with music and the desire to connect, for example, an electric guitar to a computer to record their own compositions, is not a reason to buy an external sound system. PC owners, by the way, are also not always happy with the standard sound card with the popular codec from Realtek, and want more from it. And if there is a large video card in the system unit, there is nowhere to shove the “sound card”.
Lately, this topic has become interesting to our readers, so we decided to choose the best external sound cards for various tasks, using the recommendations of our engineers from the test laboratory. Below in the material we will present to you several of the best devices in our opinion and tell you about each of them in detail.
Which external sound card should I choose?
Let's first decide: for what purposes should you buy an external sound card? If you need to process sound and do sound recording, you need to look for a solution in the professional class of devices, but to organize an acoustic system to get good surround sound, you don’t have to chase expensive models with the Pro prefix. Our review is dominated by affordable solutions, but there are also options for professional sound work.
When creating music in special programs, it is important that your PC is equipped with at least 4 GB of RAM and a sound card that supports ASIO drivers.
M-Audio M-Track 2x2
When comparing external sound cards, you should pay attention to the not-so-expensive option from M-Audio. The high-quality aluminum case practically does not react to external mechanical influences; the model’s interface is thought out to the smallest detail. There is nothing superfluous on the front panel, all controls are accessible, it is difficult to make a mistake with the choice of adjustment knobs. Their rotation is so smooth that it allows for very fine tuning of the device.
There is hardware monitoring of inputs, allowing, for example, to hear the original sound of a guitar, mixing it with pre-processed sound. The presence of four-segment pimmeters is small, but a plus.
The rear panel contains a minimum of connectors - a combined output, a jack for monitors, and a USB-C power connector. The manufacturer claims a sound transmission delay of 64 samples, which is comparable to real-time sound.
The sound interface has decent power, it is possible to connect microphones using a 48 V power supply. High and medium tones sound evenly, bass is also without obvious blockages, the outputs transmit sound without distortion, as accurately as possible.
Advantages of the model:
- excellent output sound quality;
- nice design and ergonomics;
- relatively low price tag.
There is also a minus: the low quality of the USB-C port, which becomes loose over time.
First place: Creative Sound Blaster X7
The Creative Sound Blaster X7 external sound card is ideal for gamers and movie buffs who want to fill the space around them with impressive sound. No matter what device you connect to it, 7.1 speakers or headphones, the sound will be powerful and clear, especially when used with the Creative E-MU XM7 speakers. Using this kit, you will accurately distinguish the sound of all musical instruments in a track by ear. An excellent all-in-one option for a music lover gamer who wouldn’t mind feeling like a sound engineer.
The sound card has a Burr-Brown PCM1794 DAC at 127 dB, provides HD audio output at 192 kHz/24 bit resolution - a real Hi-Fi level. At the same time, the sound box can simultaneously act as an external DAC (USB DAC), which operates autonomously without the participation of a PC and is capable of connecting to smartphones via the Bluetooth protocol. Creative Sound Blaster X7 supports aptX encoding and decoding, which ensures minimal audio loss when transmitting audio over the air.
Price: about 25,000 rubles
Asus Xonar U3
One of the most compact external sound cards for a laptop with dimensions resembling a standard flash drive, and such portability is sometimes very convenient. Despite its compact size, the device is equipped with a powerful chip that supports Dolby Home Theater and produces high-quality sound in 8.1 multi-channel mode. Users note that for relatively little money, starting from 2,500 rubles ($35), it is quite difficult to find something similar in terms of its capabilities.
In addition to crystal-clear Hi-Fi sound, the built-in processor supports 128 sound effects, Hyper Grounding technology, a 10-channel equalizer and a wide selection of software settings. The DAC supports 48 kHz and 16-bit, but some applications only output 96 kHz and 24-bit. In general, this is a very good choice for a laptop when listening to music. There are a pair of 3.5 mm analog jacks, and with the help of an adapter you can output digital audio via S/PDIF.
Second place: Behringer U-Phoria UMC204
Behringer U-Phoria UMC204HD is one of the best sound cards in the budget segment, which provides good and detailed sound output with dynamic bass. It is made in a durable metal case, supports ASIO, simultaneous connection of two microphones or musical instruments. However, it is worth considering one nuance: if you buy an external card solely for listening to music, then you should take into account that when using it, the sound becomes so brighter that in some metal compositions it may lose its “heaviness”.
Despite its affordable price, the Behringer U-Phoria UMC204HD is a semi-professional solution, so it is more logical to use it in studio mode along with the appropriate software for recording and mixing sound. Note that each audio input is equipped with a preamplifier and phantom power (48 Volts), which is designed to work with condenser microphones. Audio resolution is a respectable 96 kHz/24 bit.
Price: about 9000 rubles
What to choose?
Depending on your needs, the choice can be reduced to the following models:
- Gamers and music lovers should pay attention to the Creative Sound Blaster Play! 3 – affordable devices produce high-quality sound in games, when listening to music, watching movies
- Beginning musicians will appreciate the Behringer U-Phoria UM2 - the capabilities of this device are sufficient for an entry-level, and support for phantom power and Hi-Z will allow you to use any microphones and pickups
- DJs should like the M-Audio M-Track 2×2 card - it has everything you need to work with audio editors, and when purchased in a “bundle” you can also get licensed software
- For professional musicians, Roland Rubix22 or Steinberg UR22mkII are suitable - there is no fundamental difference between them, and support for MIDI devices will allow you to connect any instrument
Third place: Steinberg UR242
the Steinberg UR242 external sound card in a metal case gives it a stylish and classic look. The device is quite portable, so you can safely take it with you to on-site recording sessions. Among the connectors on board are two linear combo inputs with phantom power, two regular line inputs and a headphone output. Everything you need for most tasks.
Guitarists will certainly appreciate the dspMixFx software mixer, DSP effects for sound processing, and the ability to play with active pickups. And fans of Apple products will be able to take advantage of the ability to work autonomously with Apple tablets. The high resolution audio of 24 bit/192 kHz adds to the impressions. the Steinberg UR242 with professional audio software: Cubase AI, Basic FX Suite and Cubasis LE.
Price: about 13,000 rubles
Behringer UMC22
If you are interested in the question of which external sound card to choose on a limited budget, we can recommend the Behringer UMC22 model. Although the functionality here is not as extensive as that of the opponents located above, the sound quality is decent. There are only two inputs here, 6.3 mm jack and XLR. The latter allows you to connect a microphone and musical instruments. There is support for condenser microphones with the best sound quality and excellent suppression of various noises.
There is a Midas preamplifier on the connector, and it is possible to connect a phantom load with a voltage of 48 V - for this there is a special switch on the rear panel of the device.
Headphones allow you to hear the processed signal, the source of which is a PC, as well as the sound from a musical instrument. A single knob is used to adjust the volume of sound from both channels. The audio signal is transformed in 24-bit format at a maximum frequency of 48 Hz. The compact size of the card fits especially well with laptops, allowing you to use the device on the go. The metal case protects the electronics well from external mechanical influences.
Advantages of the model:
- affordable price;
- ASIO driver support;
- simplicity of design, ease of operation.
Users note the possibility of clicks when recording audio, which is a consequence of the low-power processor.
Fourth place: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
A good sound card that lost a few points due to problems installing drivers. In this regard, when purchasing a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, you will have to do a little tinkering: first install the first version of drivers from the official website, and then install more recent ones in search of the most optimal ones for realizing high-quality sound.
But if everything goes well, you will be delighted with the quality of playback and sound recording. On board the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 are two microphone preamplifiers, a DAC with 96 kHz/24-bit audio resolution, line and instrument mode switches, knobs for controlling the gain for each channel, with LED indication that will indicate overload.
The build quality and hardware of the sound card are at a high level, and to use it you will need a relatively powerful PC or laptop. However, we do not recommend buying it for professional studio work. It is better to pay attention to more expensive analogues.
Price: about 9500 rubles
Fifth place: Native Instruments TRAKTOR AUDIO 6
The TRAKTOR AUDIO 6 professional sound card from Native Instruments is ideal for sound engineering and DJ tasks. It is notable for its simplicity: no additional settings are required after connection. In addition, the device is enclosed in a durable metal case, which protects it from physical influences. The LED lighting here is not just a design element. From a practical point of view, this is a very smart move, allowing you to work with a sound card in poor lighting conditions.
TRAKTOR AUDIO 6 is well equipped and allows you to connect up to three stereo sources. In general, the card has three linear outputs, a headphone jack, a USB interface for connecting to a PC, and a port for external power (the card can work autonomously). The Cirrus Logic CS4270 converters installed here provide support for audio resolution up to 24-bit/192 kHz, dynamic range of 105 dB, distortion + noise of 87 dB. The card also comes with advanced DJ software Traktor LE 2, designed for mixing ready-made tracks.
Price: about 20,000 rubles
