USB Sound Cards

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Stormlifter

2[H]4U
Joined
Oct 19, 2002
Messages
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Alright, so I was all amped about the Creative X-FI ExpressCard sound card for laptops, when I did more reading it became obvious that it wasn't really all that great. So... Now it is up to USB to save the day.

I'm looking at ASUS Xonar U1 right now [Newegg Link]

Anyone got any USB Sound Cards they like? Or has anyone got any experience with the U1.
 
Best you can get is EMU 0404 USB. Has really nice sound quality, has built in ClassA headphone amp too. If 0404 is too much then check out their 0202 model. M-Audio makes decent USB soundcard too.

http://www.emu.com/
 
Woah, that stuff is awesome. I think I need something more game/movie geared, I don't have very good speakers, I do have nice headphones though, but I'd like to stay in the $150 range. The one I linked to has EAX-like ability, which is nice.

Keep the knowledge flowing, Milkweg, your suggestion was awesome.
 
pretty much everything has eax 1 and 2 ability. for game geared -creative labs is the only real choice. the asus thingy uses a c-media chip (a higher end one)like most usb sound cards that arent from creative labs. the reviews on it are decent.
keep in mind that there is no eax/surround sound support in vista with the asus

i have used a turtle beach cmedia chip usb card- its ok-better than my laptops audio
(let u have it for 10.00 :) )
and a creative labs extigy- sounds nice but is large and has a power brick
 
ourfpshero said:
pretty much everything has eax 1 and 2 ability. for game geared -creative labs is the only real choice. the asus thingy uses a c-media chip (a higher end one)like most usb sound cards that arent from creative labs. the reviews on it are decent.
keep in mind that there is no eax/surround sound support in vista with the asus

i have used a turtle beach cmedia chip usb card- its ok-better than my laptops audio
(let u have it for 10.00 :) )
and a creative labs extigy- sounds nice but is large and has a power brick
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Thanks for the offer, I'm alright, I have a tiny USB sound card that's basically the same.

I don't use Vista, so maybe the Asus will work for my situation.
 
Stormlifter said:
Woah, that stuff is awesome. I think I need something more game/movie geared, I don't have very good speakers, I do have nice headphones though, but I'd like to stay in the $150 range. The one I linked to has EAX-like ability, which is nice.

Keep the knowledge flowing, Milkweg, your suggestion was awesome.
Click to expand...

OK, EMU stuff is for 2channel music mostly and is not really for gaming but can be used for gaming too. They have no EAX support or hardware acceleration though. Creative has this one for gaming but I've never used it so can't say if it is really good or not. Just keep in mind that all USB audio uses more cpu resources than an internal soundcard.

http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=206&product=10702

Check out this site for everything USB audio related.

http://www.usb-audio.com/
 
I've thoroughly enjoyed the Total Bithead from HeadRoom. It lacks EAX and some other frills, but it also functions as a battery-powered portable amp and I feel that makes up for a lot. Sound quality is great, too (check some of the reviews if you don't believe me).
 
Stormlifter said:
Woah, that stuff is awesome. I think I need something more game/movie geared, I don't have very good speakers, I do have nice headphones though, but I'd like to stay in the $150 range. The one I linked to has EAX-like ability, which is nice.

Keep the knowledge flowing, Milkweg, your suggestion was awesome.
Click to expand...

BTW, street price of EMU0404 is only about $160.00 USD. I'm in Canada though so paid $220.00 CAD. I use it connected digitally to an X-Fi so still get all the effects the X-Fi can do (except multi-channel audio)and also get better DAC, cleaner sound and the headphone amp on top. If I want I can connect it through both digital and USB at the same time and have many more options. I've done it that way before but not right now. Next I am going to connect it to my other PC using optical so I can use it for both of my PC's. I will use the Chaintech AV-710 to do that.

I only use 2 channel audio anyway so don't need a card wih multi-channel capability.
 
Thrash said:
I've thoroughly enjoyed the Total Bithead from HeadRoom. It lacks EAX and some other frills, but it also functions as a battery-powered portable amp and I feel that makes up for a lot. Sound quality is great, too (check some of the reviews if you don't believe me).
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Never heard one but have read that amp/DAC is decent.
 
Yeah I was also looking for a USB replacement, but for my X-Fi xtreme music. I need eax though for my games. I was lookin at that little asus one it seems interesting. I wanted to see some more reviews on it though.
 
If you have Firewire available (though you probably don't on a laptop), M-Audio Firewire Solo > 0404
 
Well this would be for my desktop but it would be nice to be able to tote it between my desktop and lappy. I was thinkin down the road pickin up a used dell vostro.

But after the rant I do have firewire available.
 
carajean206 said:
Well this would be for my desktop but it would be nice to be able to tote it between my desktop and lappy. I was thinkin down the road pickin up a used dell vostro.

But after the rant I do have firewire available.
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Make sure that it really is better than the EMU 0404 though. Just because he claims it is doesn't mean it is true and I have my suspicions because I read headfi forums daily and if it really was better they would have said so. EMU 0404 is regarded as the best bang for buck in quality computer audio right now and has been for about a year now. Not saying that M-Audio Firewire is not good too though. I have never heard it. I've put my feelies out though and will see what responses I get back. I have a firewire port on my PC so might buy one if it is better.

BTW. Why would M-Audio choose to use firewire over USB 2.0? Everyone has USB ports but many people do not have firewire ports. What advantage does firewire have over usb 2.0 for audio transfer? None that I am aware of. Doesn't seem like a very smart move on their part. maybe that's why no one talks about it at headfi. Even the high end companies that make specialized headphone amps use USB 2.0 if they have a built in DAC in their amps. There must be some good reason M-Audio chose firewire over usb 2.0.
 
dandragonrage said:
HTGuide. Head-fi doesn't know what they're talking about. HTGuide is full of engineers. Head-fi is full of assholes.
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This is twice now I have had a run in with you over audio gear and both times you have made ignorant comments with nothing to back up your claims. Saying people at headfi don't know what they talk about is just stupid. These are people that listen every day to high end headphones through various setups which are far more resolving than stereo speakers. Put up or shut up.
 
milkweg said:
These are people that listen every day to high end headphones through various setups which are far more resolving than stereo speakers. Put up or shut up.
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im going to have to say that is rather biased, his head-fi comment is entirely false, and the people there are great, but when you say its far more resolving than stereo speakers, thats not true.....im sure what PiniPig623's electrostat setup could put up some serious competiton to the higher end of head-fi and well sound staging of speakers generally edges out what headphones can offer, same to bass impact, ever seen a concert live? the snap of the drum can be replicated in a good headphone setup but the punch you get in your chest? only speakers can do that


I understand that people have very valid reasons for needing headphones, such as myself, i dont want to worry about people telling me this and that about my music, and offer privacy and does not disturb others.

@ OP

You said gaming was priority? what about the X-fi for notebooks did you hear and dont like about it...generally i have found that x-fi's are probably the best soundcard catering to gamers,
 
milkweg said:
This is twice now I have had a run in with you over audio gear and both times you have made ignorant comments with nothing to back up your claims. Saying people at headfi don't know what they talk about is just stupid. These are people that listen every day to high end headphones through various setups which are far more resolving than stereo speakers. Put up or shut up.
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1. Funny that you would quote that given that I edited it 8 hours prior.

2. Head-fi is full of elitist morons that think you need a $1000 amp to drive less than 1W of power to get great sound.

HTGuide is full of people that actually design things. There is a big difference here.
 
Cat1yst said:
im going to have to say that is rather biased, his head-fi comment is entirely false, and the people there are great, but when you say its far more resolving than stereo speakers, thats not true.....
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Why do you think audio engineers use high end headphones when monitoring recordings for defects etc.? And I said more resolving and not more pleasant sounding. Do you even know what resolving means?
 
dandragonrage said:
1. Funny that you would quote that given that I edited it 8 hours prior.

2. Head-fi is full of elitist morons that think you need a $1000 amp to drive less than 1W of power to get great sound.

HTGuide is full of people that actually design things. There is a big difference here.
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Seeing as you think a cheap ass T amp is going to sound better than a $1,000.00 ClassA amp I'm not really persuaded by your arguments. Your generation grew up listening to shitty mp3's so WTF would you know about good audio anyway? You have never even heard good audio.
 
milkweg said:
Your generation grew up listening to shitty mp3's so WTF would you know about good audio anyway? You have never even heard good audio.
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Just because a generation grew up in the era when the majority were persuaded in a specific direction does not mean everyone from that generation, especially here, was part of that majority.
 
theDreamer said:
Just because a generation grew up in the era when the majority were persuaded in a specific direction does not mean everyone from that generation, especially here, was part of that majority.
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OK, not everyone but most.
 
theDreamer said:
Just because a generation grew up in the era when the majority were persuaded in a specific direction does not mean everyone from that generation, especially here, was part of that majority.
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I think hes a redneck...or a very biased individual who refuses to hear out others non offensive comments and think he is "king milkweg"

Industry recorders use headphones...and they use monitor speakers, if you have even seen the inside of a recording studio...you will see speakers designed to replicate the entire frequency range with no coloration...and you will see cold dry revealing headphones as well...
dont snap at me when im giving a non offensive comment about how you failed to see and understand something...oh wait i forgot you are king milkweg and whatever you say is true and what everyone else says is false


@ dandragonrage
Specs mean nothing, are you going to say that a modified tundra with a W-16 and four superchargers in the back is going to out edge a similar bugatti? is the driving experience going to be the same? according to your theory both have 1100bhp so they should be the same :rolleyes:

and do not stereotype head-fi ers as those who go for placebo's and expensive amps for certain reasons....there are many on that forum that are extremely helpful and friendly who actually are nonbiased in their opinons and are willing to incorperate it into their thinking, unlike you...
 
Cat1yst said:
@ dandragonrage
Specs mean nothing, are you going to say that a modified tundra with a W-16 and four superchargers in the back is going to out edge a similar bugatti? is the driving experience going to be the same? according to your theory both have 1100bhp so they should be the same :rolleyes:
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I didn't mention specs.... And horsepower isn't all that counts. Torque counts. And not just peak in either case, but the whole graph. Also weight, transmission, gearing, and much more.


HTGuide subforum that matters: http://www.htguide.com/forum/forumdisplay.php4?f=6
 
Um, there are plenty of people who build their own amps at headfi too. Ever hear of MisterX? He is a headfi member and builds amps for people. You calling him an asshole too?
 
Cat1yst said:
Industry recorders use headphones...and they use monitor speakers, if you have even seen the inside of a recording studio...you will see speakers designed to replicate the entire frequency range with no coloration...and you will see cold dry revealing headphones as well.
Click to expand...

Missed this bit the first time around so will reply now. You still are not understanding what resolving is. What do think is more resolving to defects in the recording? A pair of really good headphones strapped to your head or a pair of monitor speakers 3 - 4 feet away? And monitor speakers do not play the full frequency spectrum due to their speaker and cabinet size. To get the full spectrum you would need a much larger box and driver.
 
milkweg said:
Missed this bit the first time around so will reply now. You still are not understanding what resolving is. What do think is more resolving to defects in the recording? A pair of really good headphones strapped to your head or a pair of monitor speakers 3 - 4 feet away? And monitor speakers do not play the full frequency spectrum due to their speaker and cabinet size. To get the full spectrum you would need a much larger box and driver.
Click to expand...

so? they have space.... any concerns with speakers and their distance is easily taken care of using a transparent and powerful amp. same with room treatments, the room will not color the sound either

@dandragonrage

so why dont we assume that they have the same specs, do you think the truck with the same specs will perform as well as the bugatti?
 
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