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Help choosing a USB sound card or DAC

YonathanZ
By YonathanZ
in Audio
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Hi,

 

I have serious interference issues inside the case (buzzing sound when GPU is under load), so I need a new sound card or DAC, but only external.

I have an ESI Juli@ so I want something that has equally good, or better, sound quality.

 

I currently only use speakers but would like to be able to connect a mic and headphones as well, so the ASUS Xonar U7 looks really nice.

How is its SQ? I'm not too worried about the headphone amp as I'll rarely be using it. I mostly care about the DAC of the U7. 

 

Are there alternatives to the U7, up to $150, with a better DAC?

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I don't really think you need a usb sound card or anything like that. There's this thing called boomstick which boosts your sound quality via your 3.5mm jack. Check out unbox therapy's vid -> 

 

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6 minutes ago, ItsMinJunLol said:

I don't really think you need a usb sound card or anything like that. There's this thing called boomstick which boosts your sound quality via your 3.5mm jack. Check out unbox therapy's vid -> 

 

It's for headphones. I mostly use speakers.

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1 minute ago, YonathanZ said:

It's for headphones. I mostly use speakers.

Oh, sorry. I don't use those stuff so I don't know. Sorry :D

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I don't really trust u box therapies opinion. 

For a good starter DAC there is the SMSL M3. Fits your purpose and doesn't brake the bank. 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/334934-unofficial-ltt-beginners-guide/ (by Minibois) and a few things that will make our community interaction more pleasent:
1. FOLLOW your own topics                                                                                2.Try to QUOTE people so we can read through things easier
3.Use PCPARTPICKER.COM - easy and most importantly approved here        4.Mark your topics SOLVED if they are                                Don't change a running system

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6 hours ago, ItsMinJunLol said:

I don't really think you need a usb sound card or anything like that. There's this thing called boomstick which boosts your sound quality via your 3.5mm jack. Check out unbox therapy's vid -> 

 

How is that going to work. If it sounds like shirt coming out of your pc it is going to sound like shot even after you edit it however. That sounds like some serious snake oil. I am arguing from a pour logical stand point to. I a on mobile so I can't which the video itself. 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/334934-unofficial-ltt-beginners-guide/ (by Minibois) and a few things that will make our community interaction more pleasent:
1. FOLLOW your own topics                                                                                2.Try to QUOTE people so we can read through things easier
3.Use PCPARTPICKER.COM - easy and most importantly approved here        4.Mark your topics SOLVED if they are                                Don't change a running system

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Thanks. Still looking for opinions about the Xonar U7. 

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2 minutes ago, YonathanZ said:

Thanks. Still looking for opinions about the Xonar U7. 

Opinion/ friends experience:

You might still face the same problem with a sound card. Just consider, the day will still be in your box and potentially even closer to your noise source named GPU because it is not on the mob but parallel to the GPU. That ends up being <= 5cm distance! I have a friend who has a sound card that still hisses on the mic in (don't know about the out.  

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/334934-unofficial-ltt-beginners-guide/ (by Minibois) and a few things that will make our community interaction more pleasent:
1. FOLLOW your own topics                                                                                2.Try to QUOTE people so we can read through things easier
3.Use PCPARTPICKER.COM - easy and most importantly approved here        4.Mark your topics SOLVED if they are                                Don't change a running system

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49 minutes ago, GER_T4IGA said:

How is that going to work. If it sounds like shirt coming out of your pc it is going to sound like shot even after you edit it however. That sounds like some serious snake oil. I am arguing from a pour logical stand point to. I a on mobile so I can't which the video itself. 

If it sounds like shirt why not make it sound like a washing machine ^_^ Play back any 1Kbps mp3 file and that snake oil will be back on it's way to Amazon before you've even finished installing drivers.

 

In relation to OP I don't have any experience with sound cards. Following the thread however as I may eventually need one for my PC.

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Don't know what kind of speakers you use, but if they are Logitech or such, get the Fiio E10k.  Has a headphone amp, coax and analog line-out.  If you're using powered monitors, something like the Micca Origen would be better since it has pre-outs.

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