Best External Sound Cards in 2022

Last update: November 21, 2022

Are external sound cards any good?

If you're looking to improve your computer's audio output, then you might be wondering if an external sound card is worth the investment. The answer is: it depends. If you're using basic, built-in audio, then an external sound card will definitely offer an improvement. The sound will be richer and more detailed, and you'll have more control over the audio settings. However, if you're already using a high-end sound card, the difference may not be as noticeable. External sound cards are also a good choice if you're looking to add extra features

Can sound card reduce noise?

Sound cards are used to record, playback, and process audio. They can be used to reduce noise in a recording by using software to remove or mask the noise. Sound cards can also be used to reduce noise in a room by using a noise cancellation algorithm.

Do I need a 7.1 sound card?

A sound card is an important part of a computer for anyone who wants to use audio applications or play games. A sound card converts digital information into an analog signal that can be amplified and played through speakers. Many motherboards have integrated sound cards, but they are usually lower quality. For anyone who wants to improve their audio experience, a dedicated sound card is a good investment. There are several things to consider when shopping for a sound card. The first is compatibility. Most sound cards will work with any computer, but some are designed for specific types of computers. It is important to

Do USB sound cards work with speakers?

A USB sound card is a great way to improve the sound quality of your computer's audio output. While most computers have built-in sound cards, these are often not very good at producing high-quality audio. A USB sound card can provide a significant upgrade, and will work with both speakers and headphones.


DuKabel ProSeries USB to 3.5mm Jack Audio Adapter, TRRS 4-Pole Mic-Supported USB to Headphone AUX Adapter Built-in Chip External Stereo Sound Card for PS4 PC and More [Metal Housing & Durable Braided] Review:


This adaptor transmits and receives sound with good quality. I really prefer this adapter with the pigtail since, when hooked into a laptop, it doesn't take up any more space than a regular USB. The pigtail wire is of the same high caliber as the product, which is of great quality. Simply connect the adapter to your computer and your headphones, and your computer will detect the adaptor and provide you with convenient, high-quality reception. For this or any other of my evaluations, I have NOT received any kind of payment.



TROND External USB Audio Adapter Sound Card with One 3.5mm Aux TRRS Jack for Integrated Audio Out & Microphone in, Do Not Work for TV or Car Review:


It's ironic because I almost sent this back, but I'm glad I didn't;This was originally purchased to fix a HyperX Cloud headset that had a Y cable splitter that was allowing sound to enter the mic input even when the mic was muted. It completely fixed the problem. However, I ultimately decided to return that headset and buy a new one, the Coolermaster MH751. I mistakenly believed that my issue with sound leaking through my output into my input was specific to the HyperX, but it wasn't; the issue persisted even when my microphone was muted.This USB adaptor fills that need: Being able to simply put it into the front panel USB port and eliminate all sound seeping through the Y splitter is such a blessing. In addition, the built-in sound card actually increased the sound quality of my headset. I am very happy with this purchase, and I would suggest it to anyone who struggles with Y splitter cables or simply wants to use their sound card to increase the sonic depth of their headset.



Creative Labs Sound Blaster Play! 3 External USB Sound Adapter for Windows and Mac. Plug and Play (No Drivers Required). Upgrade to 24-Bit 96Khz Playback Review:


When you needed an amplifier to power some speakers, I recall that they would be as long as my arm. That era has long since passed. Amazing power can be obtained from a unit no bigger than a thumb drive. The software is user-friendly to me and has a ton of capabilities without being overly difficult. Before making a judgment, be sure to download the program. You can choose headphones with an impedance range of 30 to 60 or 60 to 300 ohms. The headset input can also be used as a headphone input. They are entirely silent when there is no audio, so if you hear any hiss, turn off the microphone monitoring in the software. Perfect. Along with a fully configurable 15 band EQ, there are numerous pre-sets for various listening situations. You'll have a separate dac/amp if you're a true audiophile. However, the Play 3 is ideal for dipping a toe into the water because it has plenty of power without being overly difficult.I could tout the Play 3 all day long. I'm currently listening to Superlux HD668B and Grado SR60e. I'm surrounded with incredible low-cost sounds.



USB Audio Adapter, Gaming Headset to USB to 3.5mm Jack TRS AUX Adapter Built-in Chip USB Sound Card for Headset with Separate Plug [Metal Housing & Durable Braided] -DuKabel ProSeries Review:


When I put my HP on-board audio into a USB socket, the driver issue that prevented Windows 10 from supporting it was immediately resolved!I'm revising my evaluation and rating for the next issue after a few days. Please read the entire document.I've got a set of rather decent Cambridge Soundworks powered speakers attached to my PC (my former company). I hear two thumps (from the speakers) when I turn on the PC and one thump when I turn it off, even though the speakers are always on. It's possible that this is just how USB audio devices work because they are powered by the computer. I cannot postpone the audio service launch in Windows 10's "services" menu, but I believe that may have fixed the issue.Simply put, I don't have enough information to say whether this is a problem with the USB Audio adapter's design or a problem that exists in all products of this kind. I'll do additional research, speak with someone who may be more knowledgeable in D/A circuit design, and I'd want to hear from the seller, who also seems to be the manufacturer.



Sabrent Aluminum USB External Stereo Sound Adapter for Windows and Mac. Plug and Play No Drivers Needed [Black] (AU-EMCB) Review:


I got this adapter to enhance the audio output of my microphone.But I'll start with sound quality because I was also interested in this. Well, this doesn't sound good at all. Maybe a little worse than integrated audio, maybe on par with it. You'll hear sharp treble and a lack of bass. Therefore, the audio/music quality isn't very great, but that's true of all cheap USB audio adapters.But the mic works well. The mono microphone input is all that is needed. I strongly advise purchasing the longest USB cable you can find in order to place it as far from your computer as you can. All interference from the computer, power supply, and other installed hardware will be eliminated. I used the supplied cable as well as 2 and 3 meter USB cords. First and second were alright, although there was some pulsing noise. It operates flawlessly with the longest one and the greatest distance from the PC case. Friends comment that my microphone now sounds "studio grade," crystal clear.The adapter won't work by itself, but if you place it, your "analogue" mic cord, and a long enough digital USB cable, it will produce excellent mic audio quality.Oh, the high-quality box, poster, and brief USB cable that were included truly impressed me. felt and appeared to be a $50–100 item.Given the foregoing, I can suggest this device, but you'll need to correctly attach it.



UGREEN USB Audio Adapter External Stereo Sound Card with 3.5mm Headphone and Microphone Jack for Windows, Mac, Linux, PC, Laptops, Desktops, PS4 (Black) Review:


Wow. Before making a purchase, you truly can't tell if you need something. I just purchased a new Dell 3650. I connected my computer's Logitech Z323 2.1-channel speakers ( two satellite and one sub-woofer). I could hear static from my speakers when I turned the volume dial up past 50%. At this point, I came to the conclusion that my Dell was faulty. The following day, I switched it for the exact same Dell model 3650. However, I observed the static noise was still there on the freshly swapped PC as well. My speakers also operate perfectly on a Dell 660s that I also own. That led me to conclude that the motherboard of the new Dell 3650 had a flaw in its design, which is disappointing. That's why I decided to purchase a UGREEN external sound card. I must admit that my speakers have never sounded better in my life. My speakers don't sound as clear when they are connected to my Dell 660s internal sound card as they do when I use the UGREEN external sound card. Not only was the static gone, but the sound emanating from my speakers in general was of a much higher caliber. I don't believe I can live without this wonderful little sound card now that I have it. I would still use this sound card to receive the extra rich quality sound it produces even if I were to purchase a machine with no flaws. You will undoubtedly value this little gadget. The best thing is that it doesn't have a "stub" design like other external sound cards. While utilizing this sound card, you won't be blocking any other USB ports or plugs at the back of your computer thanks to its short extension design. Finally, I give it two thumbs up! Regards, UGREEN



Sabrent USB External Stereo Sound Adapter for Windows and Mac. Plug and Play No Drivers Needed. (AU-MMSA) Review:


Updated on February 2, 2017There have been numerous comments on this review claiming that the quality of these Sabrent USB External Stereo Sound Adapters has decreased. When utilizing the microphone, there have been reports of distorted sounds. Even while I still stand by my first assessment, I thought it only fair to include these fresh details, especially because this review currently holds the #1 spot and will almost certainly be read by prospective clients.Original post: October 25, 2015Unfortunately, the Neewer® 2X 3.5mm Hands Free Computer Clip on Mini Lapel Microphone (2X Lapel Microphone) I had purchased wasn't functional because the microphone port on my computer was damaged. My built-in mic received numerous complaints for being grainy and unpleasant to listen to, so I decided to get that cheapo mic. So I bought a new microphone, but it didn't function on my computer. Even when I tested the microphone on different PCs, it performed well. I eventually came to the conclusion that the signal wasn't passing through because the microphone jack must have been damaged. I plugged this guy in after purchasing it for about $6, and it now functions perfectly. For those who are interested, the answer is that you can configure your speakers such that they only use the built-in sound system and not the USB. Simply change it in Windows Sound settings. Make your built-in speakers the default on the Playback page before switching to the Recording tab and selecting the USB as the default microphone. I've included images so you can see what it looks like. The Sabrent is USB audio. To check how it was, I also tested the audio capacity, and it works great. The green port is where you should insert your headphones. To give you a sense of the size and how I use it, I've included some images. Here is what I advise. Given that it is performing its own processing, the gadget is larger than the majority of USB devices, which makes sense. Make every effort to ensure that the setup won't be pulled. I see why that would be awful. On October 17, 2015, I got it. I'll try to keep in mind to update this review if it breaks or does anything else, noting when it happened, how hard I was on it, etc. This is a stationary PC with a microphone that I never remove from the desk, so I can't see it breaking any time soon. a headphone jack is green. Microphone Jack is pink.



UGREEN USB External Sound Card Audio Adapter with 3.5mm Combo Aux Stereo Converter for Headset, Mac, PS4, PC, Laptop, Desktops, Windows, and Linux White Review:


As I couldn't get them to function in the front inputs (it would detect I put anything into either jack, but would not make any sound, and I couldn't be heard), I got this for simplicity to operate with some basic earbuds with a built-in microphone on the same line. I was previously utilizing a controller connected through USB and the controller's own 3.5mm socket for the earbuds to communicate while playing games without any problems, but I wanted to make it a little easier as I don't like huge wireless gaming headsets. After a time, I find those unpleasant.In the end, I decided against fiddling with the controller and instead wanted to run a 6 foot 3.5mm extender cable (which I already owned but wasn't using at the time) neatly from the back of my computer to the area next to my keyboard and mouse. However, for this to work, I needed both the mic and stereo jack to be accessible on the rear inputs (which wasn't the case for the mic). I figured that buying this with the stereo input and the single mic would solve my issue. I simply adjusted a few sound settings, and now voice chat sounds crystal clear through the headphones and I can be heard without any problems.Other thoughts: A black color choice would have been preferable, but as of the time of writing this, I had not seen one. Despite this, the small adapter still has a decent overall appearance and solid build, and it blends in well enough with other cables.



USB Sound Card Adapter BENGOO External Audio Adapter Stereo Sound Card Converter 3.5mm AUX Microphone Jack for Gaming Headset Earphone PS4 Laptop Desktop Windows Mac OS Linux, Plug Play Review:


I've been using my ASUS Z170I Pro Gaming-based gaming system for a while, but despite claims that the on-board "SupremeFX" audio chip is noise-isolating and "flawless," it actually had awful hissing and noise entering my headphones.I can use my in-ear headphones because this "Bengoo" USB card contains a universal 3.5mm headphone audio port in addition to the standard mic and audio 3.5mm jacks. The audio quality you get, even at 100% audio levels on the Windows mixer, is really clear and is noticeably better than the on-board audio on my Asus board and on par with a SoundBlaster E5 DAC that I had but that just stopped operating after less than two years of ownership.I have the Bengoo plugged into the USB hub on my monitor for convenience, and I had no problems connecting it up for Teamspeak and Discord.The microphone is well-liked by those on the other end. I think it was a pretty nice purchase all around.



HyperX Amp USB Sound Card - Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound - Works with PC/PS4 - Plug and Play Audio Upgrade for Stereo Headsets (HX-USCCAMSS-BK) Review:


I'll start by mentioning that for about a year I utilized the older sound card and could use an II without any problems. That accounted for roughly 90% of the playtime on a computer and 10% on a PlayStation 4. I therefore made the decision to purchase both the new upgraded Alphas and the sound card after learning about them. The sound card did not operate as I had hoped, much to my dismay. Do not buy this sound card if you play PS4 and talk to your buddies on the platform. Even with the PS4's game chat priority set to maximum, party talks have a volume that is about 500 times higher than game audio. After speaking with support, they suggested an Astro mixamp that wouldn't even let the user use the sound card. With the enhanced comfort of the alphas, I have been using the outdated sound card from the cloud IIs.Update: Using the V-MODA BoomPro Microphone for Gaming


Do you really need a sound card?

A sound card is an expansion card that produces sound for a computer. Most computers have sound cards built-in to the motherboard, but some computers require an expansion sound card. A sound card converts digital data into an analog signal that can be amplified and played through speakers. Do you need a sound card? If you want to improve the audio quality of your computer, then you need a sound card. On-board sound cards are usually good enough for most people, but if you’re a audio enthusiast or a musician, then you need a sound card with better sound quality

Does external sound card make difference?

If you're a music producer, sound card definitely makes a difference. An external sound card can provide better sound quality than what's built into your computer. It can also offer more features, like multiple inputs and outputs, MIDI support, and superior software.

Does USB sound card improve sound quality?

USB sound cards are external sound cards that plug into a USB port on a computer. They are used to improve the sound quality of the computer's audio output. USB sound cards typically have better sound quality than the sound card that is built into the computer. They also often have more features, such as support for multiple audio channels and better control over the sound card's output.

How can I improve the sound quality on my computer?

If you want to improve the sound quality on your computer, you can do a few things. First, check to see if your computer's sound card is up to date. If it's not, you can usually download updates from the manufacturer's website. You can also try adjusting the sound settings in your computer's control panel. If you're still not happy with the sound quality, you can buy external speakers or a new sound card.

Is Realtek a sound card?

Realtek is a sound card. It is a hardware device that allows a computer to play audio files. Realtek is a company that makes sound cards.

Is sound card better than onboard?

There are a few things to consider when deciding if a sound card is better than onboard audio. One is whether you need the extra features that a sound card can provide, such as surround sound or Dolby Digital support. If you don't need these features, then you're better off sticking with the onboard audio. Another thing to consider is the quality of the sound. In general, sound cards provide better sound quality than onboard audio. Finally, you should also consider whether you need the extra input/output options that a sound card can provide. If you don't need these, then you