Which USB sound card

**dmcdlrn** · 03-31-2012, 12:58 PM

So I need a new USB sound card for my setup. I have an older sound blaster mp3+ usb which works but has pops on startup/resume from standby, driver support is nill, and still outputs sound on 0% master volume while being not loud enough at 100% volume. (probably drivers issue)

All of the threads I found were over a year old. Amazon has thousands of results for usb sound card. I was thinking, where to start? I was hoping I would start where others have left off. Can anybody recommend a usb sound card that they know works well? I'm running windows 7 32bit. I use 2 channels a mic and a line in. I have RCA now but could adapt.

**Larry49** · 03-31-2012, 01:02 PM

Terratec DMX6, it's fantastic ...

http://www.terratec.net/en/products/..._USB_2084.html

**dmcdlrn** · 03-31-2012, 01:28 PM

To me that is more of a recording interface than a sound card. I'm not looking for an audiophile solution, just a reliable workhorse that isn't junk. Perhaps less than $100 ish...

**SNOtwistR** · 03-31-2012, 02:34 PM

I use the diamond usb devicehttp://www.provantage.com/diamond-mu...u~7BESD08L.htm . I couldn't be happier, lots of inputs and 7.1 sound nice clean sound for cheap price. Just my 2 cents SNO

**dmcdlrn** · 03-31-2012, 04:18 PM

Thanks SNO. Is it really 8.6"!!!! My little MX-5 doesn't have space for 8.6" LOL! Price is definitely right though.

**SNOtwistR** · 03-31-2012, 07:12 PM

Product Dimension : 5 x 2.5 x 1 inches
Package Dimension : 8.6 x 6.4 x 2.1 inches
its small you were looking at the size of the box it ships in SNO

**dmcdlrn** · 03-31-2012, 07:40 PM

oh ok. Amazon listed it wrong then:

Product Details
Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 2.1 x 8.6 inches ; 11.2 ounces

**anuchit** · 04-01-2012, 03:11 AM

Use USB DAC for perfect sound stereo system..

search... Musiland Monitor

cheap price..but Hitech dac chipset ...sound very good

**dmcdlrn** · 04-01-2012, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by anuchit

Use USB DAC for perfect sound stereo system..

search... Musiland Monitor

cheap price..but Hitech dac chipset ...sound very good

I wouldn't call 125 cheap (perhaps it is for that chipset, don't know). I'm sure it sounds great but is overkill. The noise floor in my car is probably 60 - 70db WITH the top up... I'm not going to be able to tell the difference between 44.1 and 44 khz or 16, 24 or 32 bit. If we were talking my living room, yes, I would be looking for something of this caliber.

Originally Posted by SNOtwistR

I use the diamond usb devicehttp://www.provantage.com/diamond-mu...u~7BESD08L.htm . I couldn't be happier, lots of inputs and 7.1 sound nice clean sound for cheap price. Just my 2 cents SNO

I don't know if you standby, hibernate or shutdown, but how is the card on popping? My current one pops in and out every time usb power is applied or removed. Does it have a bunch of add-on software that sits in the audio stack? Do you have control of the line in and stuff from the front end?

Sorry for all the questions, my wife tires of me buying and selling(for a loss) equipment. After all, I drive the brand new sports car and she drives the 12 year old econo box that looks like somebody rolled it down a hill

**BassBinDevil** · 04-05-2012, 07:07 PM

Some of the C-Media chips aren't bad; under $5 will get you a "Music Fairy" USB interface. Burr-Brown codecs may be better; how about $15 for a PCM2704 board including shipping?