Top Computer Sound Cards by Consumer Reviewers

Asus Xonar DX 7.1 Channel PCI Express Sound Card (AV100 - PCI Express - 24 bit - Internal)

353 Reviews

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	Price: $71.99
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Pros: Excellent quality, Has a front panel connector
Cons: Manual switch to headphones, Plugs are not color coded, Doesn't Support DTS Surround

Review: The Xonar DX uses the Cirrus Logic Oxygen HD audio processor just like any other PC Cards but because it provides very clear playback and a notably excellent audio quality, it has a competitive edge among other brands of the same category. It is complete with Dolby technologies such as Dolby Virtual Speaker for a listening environment simulation, DolbyPro-Logic IIx for processing of stereo audio into a 6.1 or 7.1 output, Dolby Digital Live for home theater and Dolby Headphone for personal use. Not to mention, The DS3D GX 2.0 enhances sound effects, bringing PC gaming to life. Other amazing features include VocalFX which allows you to disguise your voice by changing your pitch, Acoustic Echo Cancellation which helps eliminate up to 40dB speaker echo return for better communication quality, Smart Volume Normalizer which of course normalizes all audio into a constant level, Flexbass for professional bass enhancement, Xear 3D Virtual Speaker Shifter for Virtual 7.1 speaker positioning and Karaoke functions for effects that sounds like the professional machine. It has three years limited warranty coverage and is compatible with Windows OS, like XP and Vista. Delivering 35 times cleaner audio quality, the Xonar DX outruns its competitors in every way possible.

Creative Audigy SE Sound Board (Audigy SE - PCI - 24 bit - Internal)

314 Reviews

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	Price: $29.99
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Pros: Great sound
Cons: No front panel audio connectors

Review: Technology has found its way to provide users with superior sound quality while boosting their desktop's performance. Designed by Creative Labs to cater to specific needs, the Sound Blaster Audigy SE Sound Card gives you the audio experience that is way beyond the standard. The advanced EAX HD 3.0 support allows for a more realistic gaming. The CMSS technology enables the processor to mix stereo content to 7.1 surround sound. Its other features include Smart Volume Management, Bass boost and Audio Clean Up that brings dramatic improvements to the usual. It is covered with 1 year limited warranty and comes bundled with a Creative Media Source software that you can use to manage music, create mp3s, add effects and burn your favorite tracks to a CD. The package contains the Sound card, a User Guide, a Quick Start leaflet, a Creative Software Suite and an Installation CD containing drivers for Windows XP, XP Professional x64 and 2000. The Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE Sound Card will leave you more than pleased because it will make sure that gaming, listening to music and watching movies will never be the same again.

Creative X-Fi PCI Express Sound Blaster Titanium Sound Card (PCI Express - 24 bit)

260 Reviews

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	Price: $219.99
WIREDZONE.COM	Price: $201.85
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Pros: Excellent performance, accurate positional audio
Cons: Expensive, less operating systems compatibility

Review: Professional gamers love this sound card. You will get the ultimate best in PC audio performance. You will hear realistic EAX 5 sound effects. The Signal to Noise Ratio is 109 dB. Max Sampling Rate is 96 kHz. There are 7.1 channels. The 3D positional audio will allow you to accurately locate your gaming opponents even with a regular set of headphones. You will also get hardware accelerated audio and X-RAM. Just plug in your PCMCIA sound card and you are good to go. The Creative Sound Blaster X-FI Titanium Fatal1ty Champion Sound Card is only compatible with Microsoft Windows XP.

Asus Xonar Essence STX Sound Card (AV100 - PCI Express - 24 bit - Internal)

166 Reviews

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WIREDZONE.COM	Price: $181.86
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Pros: 7.1 audio with very high signal-to-noise ratio for excellent clarity, Headphone amplifier, Digital Audio processing software
Cons: No HDMI port, Requires an available 4-pin MOLEX power connector

Review: Treat your ears to the best sounds your computer can make with the ASUS XONAR Essence STX Sound card. The excellent audio processing power in this device is perfect for musicians and audiophiles who demand absolute clarity and thundering dynamics in their music, while, as a nice side bonus, the XONAR's elegant black-and-gold construction tips in a little more style into your computer case. This internal sound card makes use of a spare PCI-E X1 Slot, and will require that you have an available 4-pin MOLEX connector to provide it with power. In return though, you get sheer auditory bliss whether you are listening to music, watching movies, or playing games. With an ASUS AV100 chipset onboard, this sound card produces a Virtual 7.1 Channel environment with 192Kbps sampling. The XONAR STX boasts of a device benchmark of a 124 dB SNR rating, which brings out every little detail that your onboard sound card misses. It appears to cater more to headphones users, as it has an actual built-in headphone amplifier that boosts the sound that it channels into your earphones, as well as an EMI shield that insulates signals and lessens distortion. This sound card comes fully loaded with the best digital audio processing suites on the market. With the ASUS XONAR Essence, you get Dolby Digital Live, Headphone, Virtual Speaker, and Pro-Logic II Technology, which all work in sync to produce a total sound environment. It also enhances on some of your operating system's own sound processing drivers. The back panel of the ASUS XONAR Essence has the connection ports for auxiliary equipment, such as left and right Analog RCA outputs, a pair of 6.30mm jacks, one input and the other output, for headphones and microphones/Line-in devices, and a S/PDIF port that you use for connecting the XONAR Essence to Digital audio devices. The thing we were looking for on the ASUS XONAR Essence STX Sound Card is an HDMI port, and this may very well be the main issue with this sound card. Instead of HDMI, it uses an additional S/PDIF out located on the board itself that you need to connect to a graphics card with that particular functionality, which translates to a bit more time setting up the unit than is really necessary if that particular technology had been available from the outset. For headphone users though, this sound card is a definite easy sell, especially as it works great with high-quality headsets.

Creative Sound Blaster XFi Titanium HD Sound Card

157 Reviews

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	Price: $172.30
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Pros: High fidelity sound, Easy installation
Cons: Expensive

Review: While built-in audio cards are sometimes sufficient for casual use, the Creative Sound Blaster XFi Titanium HD Sound Card is designed to meet specific needs and standards. Whether you're a musician, a gamer or an avid movie fan, it delivers true cinematic experience and stellar performance for your music, games and movies. Although there are cheaper alternatives, it is a great step-up to lower and less expensive models. It is embedded with THX TruStudio PC audio technology for enhanced sound quality and lets you enjoy 5.1 surround sound through DTS and Dolby Digital Live encoding. Its ASIO drivers combined with its high-quality inputs not only provide clearer sound quality during conference and video calls, it also enable musicians to record songs in their highest possible quality and take advantage of exceptional and convenient home studio recording. There are swappable OP-amp sockets for easy upgrade and EAX 5.0 sound effects and 3D positional audio which permit a highly-immersive gaming experience. Issues about the drivers that come with Creative products have also been resolved as the included drivers are now easy to install. It is not compatible with other operating systems but it works perfectly with Windows Vista and Windows 7. The Creative Sound Blaster XFi Titanium HD Sound Card offers outstanding value for your money. When paired with high-quality speakers and headphones, sound quality is noticeably better than your motherboard audio. Overall, the price may be a little steep but the smooth installation and high-fidelity sound make it definitely worth the upgrade.

Diamond Multimedia XtremeSound Sound Card (PCI - 16 bit - Internal)

157 Reviews

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	Price: $29.99
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Pros: Good basic sound card, Easy to install, Great sound quality, Inexpensive
Cons: Outdated drivers, Software could use some improvement

Review: While there are times when your motherboard's built-in sound is sufficient for everyday use, there are also instances when using an additional sound card would enhance the overall experience, for example, gaming and multimedia viewing. The Diamond Multimedia XtremeSound, like other sound cards, is capable of giving you true 5.1 surround sound but at a price you can afford. The low cost, the great build and sound and the decent array of connections make it a good entry-level sound card. It is not comparable and not as versatile as higher-end models but for the price, we really can't complain. It suits your basic audio needs and is easy to install. Everything you need to know is in the quick start guide and installation CD. Audio quality is also pretty good. It produces clearer and louder sound that matches your stunning graphics. The card supports 48K/16 bit playback and 48K/16bit recording as well as EAX 2.0 and A3D sound. It works well with desktop computers running Windows XP or Windows 2000 systems and requires an AMD Athlon or Intel Pentium 4 processor along with a 20MB free hard disk space. In addition to offering a 6 Channel Audio Output and Karaoke support, there are also special effects like Concert Hall, a 5.1 virtual speaker shifter for your mp3s and CDs and a 10 Band Equalizer with Presets. On a less positive note, the Diamond Multimedia XtremeSound comes with outdated drivers. The bundled software could also use some improvement as it is not as great as those that came with other sound cards in the same class. However, the former can be quickly resolved by downloading the latest drivers provided in the company's website.

Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro USB Audio System

118 Reviews

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	Price: $59.99
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Pros: Abundant connectivity options, Easy installation, Compact design
Cons: Not compatible with Mac

Review: The SoundBlaster Xfi by Creative enables you to enhance your audio experience without the complexity of internal sound cards. It incorporates THX TruStudio Pro technology which reproduces every detail of your music and movies and Dolby Digital Live which allows easy connection and helps keep extra cables to a minimum. Thanks to its no-fuss installation, you'll be up and running in no time. Although it is not compatible with Mac systems, this external sound card works seamlessly with Windows 7, Vista and XP. It even comes complete with a Stereo RCA to mini-jack adapter, a USB Cable and an installation CD that will guide you through the set-up. It also offers a wealth of connections including an Optical Digital Output, a Center/Sub Output, a Rear Left & Right Speaker Output and microphone and headphone inputs. Furthermore, it comes bundled with Cyberlink PowerDVD software for watching your favorite movies and ships with aremote for controlling the volume from a distance. It also doesn't require an AC adapter since it is powered directly from your notebook's USB port. In general, the Creative SoundBlaster Xfi makes a worthy replacement to your onboard sound card. The sound it produces suits every kind of music and its ultra compact design makes it ideal for those with limited space on their desk. On top of all these, it provides true surround sound and delivers stellar performance for everyday activities.