What are you using for a USB soundcard?

snoopdan · 05-24-2006, 01:34 AM

So what is everyone using? Ive tried to do searches on here for USB Soundcard threads, and there isnt really a thread discussing it.

My problem is that ive got onboard sound on my mATX Aopen board thats making horrible noise problems, so USB soundcard is my next step in fixing it.

So since no one on Mp3car acutally reviews equipment very often, can someone at least post what they're using and any issues with it, or perhaps suggest something to me?

Im looking at these

1 M-Audio Audiophile
2 Turtle Beach Roadie
3 cheapie $15 usb soundplug

Please post what you have, and how its working out for you

Jahntassa · 05-24-2006, 09:15 AM

I think most people are using the Audigy series from Creative Labs.

snoopdan · 05-24-2006, 02:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Jahntassa

I think most people are using the Audigy series from Creative Labs.

Yeah and ive heard too many people paying all that money, and having noise problems out of them....so thats a

Uh Uh Uh, You didn't say the magic word !

mattress · 05-27-2006, 05:23 PM

what's the benefit of having a USB audio device, versus onboard, or a pci card or something?

PURDooM · 05-27-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by mattress

what's the benefit of having a USB audio device, versus onboard, or a pci card or something?

Shorter travel distance and less chance of signal loss/interference from the analog audio.

mattress · 05-28-2006, 12:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by PURDooM

Shorter travel distance and less chance of signal loss/interference from the analog audio.

That seems kind of odd to me.. I run RCA's from the headunit in my dash to the amps in the trunk.

I though this is the way things are normally done?

How do you guys do it, run a 15ft usb cable to a hub in the dash, and run from the USB audio device to the headunit?

Vinister · 05-28-2006, 12:51 PM

the usb audio device can output directly to the amp, no need for a head unit. I think most people are putting their usb soundcard right next to their amp, so that the RCA's are only a couple of feet long.

Onboard sound is almost always too noisy to use. Often you will hear the mouse movements and harddisk activity through the speakers. The usb soundcard isolates the sound processing from the rest of the cpu, usually making for better sound.

My experience with them is that you will still hear noise as the computer boots up, but as soon as windows loads the drivers, it might make a *POP* then will usually go totally quiet. My solution to this delay is a TR-7 timer on the remote lead, so that the amps dont turn on until after windows loads the drivers.

In such a way I used turtle beach device in a newer benz, and split its single stereo output into 3 RCA's for a trio of large alpine amps. the result was beautiful! No noise, no pops, just really loud, clean sound.

d_sellers1 · 05-28-2006, 09:37 PM

I'm currently running onboard but my system has not made it in to the car yet. I'm running it on the bench (also read as computer desk) hooked up to a Logitech Z5500 set of speakers (the $400 jobs that are really highly rated by most magazines). I've heard no problems with the onboard playing through these speakers BUT the situation will be different in the car. Different grounds and signal paths may change this. If the sound doesn't sound good then I've got a SoundBlast Extigy just waited to be hooked up. I've used it in a previous attempt to a CarPC and did not have any problems with the Extigy. I'm trying to use the least amount of hardware possible,

Like Vinister said you may experience a loud POP regardless of what route you take. Going to take a look at the TR-7 timer but in the past I was looking at the ELK-960 from SmartHome.com. In fact, now that I'm thinking about it I should go ahead and get one of these put on order. Also looking at a DPDT relay board that they have for use with the OPUS 5VDC mod.

Derek

DropD · 06-02-2006, 04:11 PM

I never had any noise from on-board or pci. I have an SB Audigy and it sounds terrific. The PC is right next to the amps, so that helps. The only problem I have is that my 4 year old Audigy 1 has a loose jack, but I just secure the wire and pull it tight.

mattress · 06-02-2006, 05:31 PM

oh ok, i know what you guys mean. I have an audigy 2 zs platinum in my desktop computer, with the creative 7.1 speakers, and sometimes I can hear hardware noises (hard disks, mouse scrolling, etc)

so a USB audio device will normally eliminate this dirty noise?

JC-S60 · 06-02-2006, 06:00 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by mattress

oh ok, i know what you guys mean. I have an audigy 2 zs platinum in my desktop computer, with the creative 7.1 speakers, and sometimes I can hear hardware noises (hard disks, mouse scrolling, etc)

so a USB audio device will normally eliminate this dirty noise?

Yep, it should, as it's mostly coming from other devices in the computer... The usb-soundcards only need to filter for usb-signal interference, not any possible other frequency of any other device in the same case.

My audigy 2 NX worked very well in the S60, now in the V70 I'm testing with onboard sound (via epia MII 12k) and it's horrible!

ThE_KiLLeR · 06-03-2006, 08:51 AM

one question guys,

in the soundblaster homepage
it says that usb soundcards doesn't play dvd sound!

is that true ?

geeky_hawkes · 06-05-2006, 01:42 PM

also, can anyone else recommend usb soundcards not from creative? Im not always convinced they are worth the premium you pay..

midiwall · 06-05-2006, 02:55 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by geeky_hawkes

also, can anyone else recommend usb soundcards not from creative? Im not always convinced they are worth the premium you pay..

It depends on what dollar/performance ratio that you're happy with.

I've spent many years in the pro audio/pro recording industry and the best bang for the buck that "we" have found is from Edirol (a spinoff of Roland):
http://www.rolandus.com/products/pro...x?ParentId=114

There are some high-end pieces on that page, but look at the UA-1EX:
http://www.rolandus.com/products/pro...x?ObjectId=743

Street price is around $70-80:
http://www.novamusik.com/search.aspx...keyword=UA-1EX
http://www.audiomidi.com/UA-1EX-USB-...ace-P7374.aspx

It's a killer box with a lot of support from a company that deals with high-level audio for a living.

geeky_hawkes · 06-05-2006, 03:17 PM

The UA-1ex looks good, but i need 2 sets of rca outputs really, one to drive my amp with the sub and the other to drive my normal amp + speakers... any model edirol do for that?