Finding the Right Sound Cards - Computers aren't just computers anymore; today, they also work as our entertainment centers, televisions, stereos, telephones, and much more. It's a lot to expect out of one machine. But with highly sophisticated gadgetry, our home computers and laptops are able to perform all of these duties flawlessly. At least ideally! A few glitches now and then are to be expected, and if one of those glitches happens to occur in your sound card, you'll notice immediately. You won't be able to hear movies, songs, your friends' and family's voices on phone calls, or video conferencing. Audio sound cards process audio files so we can listen via the computer's speakers. They also give you the option of plugging in and listening to an external device, such as an MP3 player, or plugging in a mic to record. Without this, you are definitely not wired for sound. How do you find the best sound card? Read on and find out.
Do You Need a New Sound Card? - Today, sound capability is built into the motherboard, and your machine will have audio output and input. It is very easy to check if your sound card is working properly. Go to the Start menu and Control Panel. Double click on the Device Manager, and then select "Sound, video, and Game Controllers." Expand the list and right click on audio device. Select Properties, which will give you the information you need. If all is well, you will see the message "This device is working properly." If it isn't working properly, you may already have suspected that from the crackling, popping, fuzzy, or otherwise distorted sound quality you've been experiencing.
It could be that your factory-installed audio sound card is perfectly fine, and you just want to upgrade to a more advanced model for gaming or more sophisticated multimedia. In either case, it is crucial that you choose the right card. If you just want to replace a faulty audio sound card, you have a wide range of inexpensive options; sound cards can be found for $30 or less (although more is usually better quality). If you want more advanced sound, the sky is the limit. Professional music sound cards can cost thousands. Buying a Sound Card -
* What do you need? - If you just need to hear a movie but don't care if it's in surround sound, a cheaper card will work perfectly well. The higher end cards are for those people who want a full multimedia experience for music, movies, games, and more. A dedicated sound card will provide the sound you need. What's the difference between low and high end sound cards? It is in the amount of features and the quality of the sound. A low end card might, for instance, offer an input port for external devices, a front and rear speaker port, a port for a mic and MIDI. As you get more advanced, and pricy, you'll see features including 64 audio channel playback, multiple inputs, multiple line volume controls, specialty software for recording, manipulation, playback, and much more.
*How much do you want to spend? - You can find a basic card for $10 or a feature-packed card for $250.
*Do you want Surround Sound? - If so, look for sound cards with EAX and 5.1 or 7.1 Surround Sound support.
Sound Card Reviews - The best source for reviews is at CNET, they carry information on brands like Creative, HP, Asus, M-Audio, and SIIG. Pick your slot type - PCI, ExpressCard, CardBus, ISA, etc. CNET has in depth coverage for compatibility, connector type, interface type, and more. Read technical sound card reviews from experts and get feedback that will make buying a sound card much easier. Consumers tend to be lost when it comes to technical jargon, but we feel CNET cuts through all that and delivers quality reviews. Creative Labs tend to top their list of best performers. Testfreaks.com is another well respected hardware test website and their reviews on sound cards are first rate. Learn about the latest Asus and M-Audio products that give your computer the best sound quality. RECOMMENDED- We suggest shopping online at Amazon.com for their extensive selection, owner reviews, and competitive pricing. You can browse the best selling sound cards here.
Best Sound Cards:
If you want a step up from onboard sound, BrightHub advises you to go with the Sabrent SBT 6-Channel PCI Sound Card. You'll get basic audio quality and 5.1 Surround Sound capability. The 32-bit Sabrent also features EAZ audio technology, 3D audio, PCI interface, karaoke key, echo sound effects, high performance dual game port, compatible MIDI interface, wavetable music synthesizer, front-out, rear-out, center and LFE ports, and more. It does have a great deal of functionality for the price of $14. Reviewers like its price but warn you not to use the included disc to install the program. If it doesn't automatically load, go to the Sabrent website and go from there.
Another BrightHub pick for a budget sound card is the Diamond XS51 XtremeSound 5.1 16 bit Sound Card. This, too, is a basic sound card that offers Dolby EX and DTS formats, 5.1 channel DVD playback, 48k/16 bit playback and recording, EAX 2.0 and A3D sound support, and PCI 2.2 interface with bus mastering and burst modes. It is $30.
TestFreaks and BestCovery agree that the Asus Xonar Essence STX Sound Card is at the top of the field. BestCovery calls it the "audiophile's sound card." The Xonar features Hi-Fi headphone amplifier, main stereo RCA out, headphone out, SPDIF out, line in, mic in, other front audio header, Aux in, S/PDIF header, sound/noise ratio of 124, and EAX 5.0. It has, according to BestCovery, superior sound and playback quality. TestFreaks concurs, giving it a Freak Score of 10/10. The Xonar is just under $200. Quite a jump from the Diamond and Sabrent, but worth it if you want a much more crisp experience.
If that's a little pricy, you can find great middle ground in the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Sound Card. Another BestCovery pick, the Sound Blaster offers excellent sound quality and is especially well-suited for gamers. It features headphone Surround Sound with 9 virtual speakers, 15 percent improved performance over onboard sound, EAX Advanced HD sound effects, X-Fi Crystalizer for great detail, X-Fi CMSS-3D technology, distinction between voices and ambient sound, Dolby Digital EX decoding via free download, and included Cyberlink PowerDVD software with DTS. You can pick this up for $60.
Sound cards can boost your experience and make movies, music, conversations, and much more rich and satisfying. Stick to your budget and know what you need; you're certain to find the best sound card for your needs.
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BUYING GUIDES
process audio files so we can listen via the computer's speakers. They also give you the option of plugging in and listening to an external device, such as an MP3 player, or plugging in a mic to record. Without this, you are definitely not wired for sound. How do you find the best sound card? Read on and find out.
. You'll get basic audio quality and 5.1 Surround Sound capability. The 32-bit Sabrent also features EAZ audio technology, 3D audio, PCI interface, karaoke key, echo sound effects, high performance dual game port, compatible MIDI interface, wavetable music synthesizer, front-out, rear-out, center and LFE ports, and more. It does have a great deal of functionality for the price of $14. Reviewers like its price but warn you not to use the included disc to install the program. If it doesn't automatically load, go to the Sabrent website and go from there.
Another BrightHub pick for a budget sound card is the 
. This, too, is a basic sound card that offers Dolby EX and DTS formats, 5.1 channel DVD playback, 48k/16 bit playback and recording, EAX 2.0 and A3D sound support, and PCI 2.2 interface with bus mastering and burst modes. It is $30.
TestFreaks and BestCovery agree that the 
is at the top of the field. BestCovery calls it the "audiophile's sound card." The Xonar features Hi-Fi headphone amplifier, main stereo RCA out, headphone out, SPDIF out, line in, mic in, other front audio header, Aux in, S/PDIF header, sound/noise ratio of 124, and EAX 5.0. It has, according to BestCovery, superior sound and playback quality. TestFreaks concurs, giving it a Freak Score of 10/10. The Xonar is just under $200. Quite a jump from the Diamond and Sabrent, but worth it if you want a much more crisp experience.
If that's a little pricy, you can find great middle ground in the