Best external sound card models

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A few years ago it was common for a PC to have a dedicated sound card inserted into a PCI expansion slot. However, with the advancement of technology and the arrival of new integrated sound cards, they gradually became less popular.

Currently, the vast majority of PC motherboards have a sound card, such as those from Realtek. This may be sufficient for most users, but not for some who need it. somewhat more advanced functions, either because they are dedicated to this professionally/amateur and need a PC for editing music, or because the one they have does not satisfy their needs.

The problem is even worse when it comes to an AIO or laptop, where you can't add a dedicated sound card to the expansion slots. In any case, you always have the option of using a external sound card, which connect via USB.

What is an external sound card?

An external sound card It is exactly the same as a conventional sound card, the only thing is that it comes packaged in a special format to be housed outside the PC and with an interface that is usually a USB port.

That is, you can connect as a peripheral more to perform their functions, without the need for internal installations. The rest of the features are almost identical, with a DSP chip for processing, and input and output ports for connecting microphones, speakers, headphones, etc.

In addition, some external sound cards also include some extra buttons to be able to perform some functions more comfortably.

Advantages and disadvantages

External sound cards have a number of advantages and disadvantages that you should know to know if it's really what you're looking for.

Advantages

• They don't require installation; just plug them in and install the drivers. This means you don't have to open your PC to connect them.
• This has other positive side effects. On the one hand, you can connect them to AIO computers or laptops that don't have space for a dedicated sound card. On the other hand, they can also work on a computer with all the expansion slots occupied.
• They can be used on multiple computers, so you just have to disconnect and connect them to the other computer you want it to work on.
• They expand the capabilities of integrated or internal cards, for example, by adding more sound ports.

Disadvantages

• They take up space, since they are not integrated into the interior.
• They'll limit the number of available USB ports, as they require one of them to function. This can be a limitation to consider, especially on ultrabooks that don't have many free ports.

Do I need an external sound card?

Hay some common situations where having an external sound card can save you from having to buy new equipment or limit your capabilities…

• You don't have a good built-in sound card and need better sound quality.
• You're going to dedicate yourself to creating podcasts, producing sound, being a YouTuber, etc., and you need to improve your existing sound system.
• You've outgrown the sound ports you have now.
• Your laptop or AIO has a combo jack for microphone, speakers, and headphones, and you need dedicated inputs and outputs.

Purchase criteria

To choose a good one external sound card you can guide yourself by the same recommendations than for a dedicated sound card. The only extra an external sound card may include is the buttons that some include, although that's not the most important thing.

These botones It can have functions that can range from raising and lowering the volume, to gain, outputs, etc.

Best external sound cards

There are many external sound cards out there, but if you want some recommendationsHere is a good list of models that won't let you down.

Creative Sound Blaster X G6

One of the best external sound cards that you can find. It connects via USB and has a DAC specially designed for gaming, with 7.1 HD sound, Xamp headphone amplifier and compatibility with PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PlayStation. Excellent sound quality, which also includes Dolby Digital, Scout Mode, and several connections for 3.5mm jack plugs.

Creative Sound Blaster X3

Another alternative from the legendary brand dedicated to PC sound. It's an external USB card with a DAC and amplifier, specifically designed to offer the best experience. for the most cinephiles. Featuring Super X-Fi technology, Discrete 7.1 Surround for speakers, Virtual 7.1 Surround for headphones, Dolby Digital Live, and truly incredible sound clarity and quality.

FiiO E10K

FiiO E10K is another interesting product that also has amplified and DAC Like the previous external sound cards, it offers truly surprising features for its compact size, allowing you to get the most out of your system's sound. It has simple external controls (volume, bass, and gain) and also supports both 3.5mm and 2.5mm jack connections, which can be useful for some sound peripherals. The advantage is that it doesn't require drivers and is super compact, allowing it to be used on a laptop or desktop PC without any problems.

ASUS Xonar U7 MKII

The fantastic South Korean motherboard brand has also made the leap into other products such as sound cards. In this case, an external USB model with some very interesting features. Like its 7.1 channels sound, its quality, power, fidelity 192 Khz/24-bit for high definition outputs, 8 ports, and external controls for volume, etc.

Creative SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro v3

Another model that's a bit more affordable than the previous one, but no less interesting. A compact product made for the most demanding users, especially gamers. With it, you'll get fantastic sound performance for your video games, with Surround 5.1, and control via Sonic Studio.

Creative Sound Blaster Play! 3

If what you want is something cheap, compact, and simpleThis Creative is the one for you. A device with a DAC and amplifier, high quality, and a connection for headphones or external speakers and a microphone (it only has two input and output jacks). Plus, it's quite compatible with a multitude of operating systems. However, it lacks external action buttons, due to the simplicity of this model.