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Need a recommendation for a sound card primarily for music

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  • Music
  • Components
  • Sound Cards
Last response: in Components
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September 14, 2014 9:42:56 PM

I have an old SB X-Fi (not one of the good ones, either). I'm using Grado SR80i headphones.

I want to upgrade. My primary use is listening to music and some gaming. Which is the best sound card for music (and what is the best for the money)?

A headphone would amp would be nice, but isn't necessarily required.

More about : recommendation sound card primarily music

September 14, 2014 9:45:30 PM

Although you say best one for the money. It will be great if you provide a budget. ;) 
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September 14, 2014 10:16:40 PM

best for the money? Asus Xonar DX (SNR116dB for just $70)
best audiophile grade card? HT Omega eClaro (C-Media CMI8788, high quality DACs and pre-amps - $180)
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September 15, 2014 6:35:06 PM

Joeteoh99 said:
Although you say best one for the money. It will be great if you provide a budget. ;) 


I'm thinking $100 or so.

Though if audiophile level is under $200, I might be willing to part with the extra money, especially if it has a headphone amp. The only question at that point is if Grado SR80i headphones are high enough quality to benefit from an audiophile level sound card.
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September 15, 2014 7:10:15 PM

jamesp81 said:
Joeteoh99 said:
Although you say best one for the money. It will be great if you provide a budget. ;) 


I'm thinking $100 or so.

Though if audiophile level is under $200, I might be willing to part with the extra money, especially if it has a headphone amp. The only question at that point is if Grado SR80i headphones are high enough quality to benefit from an audiophile level sound card.


Yes, they are. And yet its possible that a Asus Xonar DX sound quality could satisfy your needs. .
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September 15, 2014 7:52:15 PM

Personally (as a musician), I'd recommend using a USB card that supports 1/4" jacks (namely TRS connections). These are usually used for recording instruments via MIDI. I've been using my old L6 TonePort UX1 for a while now, and I've had zero complaints as my primary sound card. You can find used ones for a pretty good price, and they support much higher quality connections than the 3.5mm outputs most gaming sound cards provide (I prefer to stick with 1/4" for all outputs). This will also give you a better card to run if you ever decide to use studio monitors. For serious/audiophile/studio listening, I wouldn't get a sound card that isn't TRS supported, as a shielded cable is pretty essential for the purest audio delivery to the speakers; this especially goes for cables that run beyond the 10' length (you can get away with 15-20' having little/no bleeding, but that's pushing it for listening quality).

My UX1 supports TRS out for both L/R output channels, as well as a 1/4" headphone jack (for headphones, 1/4" isn't a requirement for 'best' quality), and dual 1/4" line inputs (I believe they are TRS) for recording, as well as a 1/4" instrument and XLR mic input. Definitely overkill for your use, but it it's definitely a decent option to consider. And... you can probably grab a used, newer version in the $70-100 range. There are also a few decent studio USB sound cards in the $100 range if you want multiple outputs you can control individually (from one input, of course). I'll be upgrading my TonePort for a two/three output studio card some time soon; that way I can run studio monitors, headphones, and my stereo, all from the same card/source. It's definitely an option to consider.
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