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I'll probably build a new PC two or three times in the next decade, and the AE-9 sound card might be the only piece that makes the jump. But having both in one package sure as hell is convenient. A basic microphone pre-amp is only $30 or so. There are definitely cheaper ways to get quality sound and power a mic- the AE-9 is $350, and a lot of the sound quality you're paying for there will also be present in a cheaper sound card, like the $130 Sound Blaster AE-5. But if you're a casual Twitch streamer with a quality microphone, or occasionally plug an instrument into your PC to record it, a good sound card can save you the hassle of buying a separate pre-amp and keep your desk cleaner.
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Sabrent USB External Stereo Sound Adapter for Windows and Mac. Best (External) Sound Cards for PC or Mac.
#Creative external sound card for laptop portable
The USB sound card is compact and portable and some can produce better sound quality than a conventional sound card. That's definitely still the most obvious reason to get one. It processes the audio bits and converts digital to analog so that you can hear sound with speakers or headphones. The takeaway for me, after trying out an AE-9 Creative sent me for a couple months, is that you don't have to be obsessed with audiophile-grade sound to appreciate a good high-end sound card. The X7 couldn't provide the +48v phantom power needed to use the mic, so I had to buy another audio device to sit on my desk. Then, last year, I upgraded from a headset microphone to a Behringer B-1 condenser microphone, better for podcasting. It didn't reliably just work, which I'd blame just as much on Windows and USB audio support as I would the Sound Blaster software. Sometimes I'd turn it on and Windows wouldn't recognize the sound device, forcing me to power cycle it a couple times or reboot my PC. Record & play back digital and analog audio without sound card in your computer. The sound quality was great, but over time I got frustrated with USB-based Windows audio. USB 6 Channel 5.1 External Sound Audio Card for PC Laptop OS support: win98 / XP / 2000 / Vista / Win7/8.External sound card USB 6 channel 5.1 audio.
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Creative's latest card (and more importantly, its control box that sits on my desk) helped me simplify my PC audio setup and get rid of another device altogether without sacrificing functionality.įor the past several years I used the Sound Blaster X7, a similarly powerful external sound device that was meant to bridge PCs and entertainment centers. Sound cards do offer better audio quality than the built-in audio on motherboards, but for most people, basic audio is "good enough." I like the AE-9 for another reason: convenience.