USB soundcard

[RedBike]

My Soundblaster X-fi in my PC seems to be having problems. More often than not it's no longer found upon boot-up and windows often finds 'new-hardware' which it then can't install.


I would like a USB hub/dongle that I can plug into both my PC and laptop that will playback music (stereo) to a high standard. In other words something thats significantly better than the standard sound cards they both currently have installed.

Is there such a thing, that preferably doesn't cost a fortune?


I have no need for 5.1 audio or digital outs. The output is going straight into a valve

 

[ian turner]

I have no need for 5.1 audio or digital outs. The output is going straight into a valve

Does this help prevent punctures ?
Hmm no 5.1 is a somewhat unusual request and amp output usually involves spdif queries
so I assume as it's just stereo you're after a headphone output.
Try this which seems to have a lot of enthusiastic reviews and is cheap.

 

[RedBike]

Oops. That sould be straight into a valve amp.

I'm after the purest / best quality mp3 reasonably possible so I don't really want or need 5.1 suround or any 'special effects'.

 

[marinyork]

USB ones work all right I would say.

 

[ian turner]

Oops. That sould be straight into a valve amp.

I'm after the purest / best quality mp3 reasonably possible so I don't really want or need 5.1 suround or any 'special effects'.

That would amuse the hifi lot no end.
A dedicated sound device will be superior to most low end embedded sound chips as they rely on offloading to the cpu so can be vulnerable to other software loading the cpu. Mind you so are mp3s unless you fancy plugging your ipod into a high end docking station.

 

[RedBike]

I'm not expecting hi-fi quality sound from my laptop/computer.I'm only just after something a little better than the built in soundcards.

I only tend to play mp3s in the home as background music when i'm on the PC. It just saves me rumaging through piles of LPs or CDs. I was quite happy with the quality of the X-Fi soundcard but the built in soundcards on these two machines to be honest are rather naff.