Rating of external sound cards. Choosing a laptop with good sound

Have you often come across laptops with good sound? Not loud, but good. So that it’s not a sin for a music lover to use his portable machine to listen to his favorite compositions? And without grumbling and disgust. I suspect the answer will be no. However, in Lately the situation is changing for the better. Manufacturers have realized: good sound can become a tangible competitive advantage. Thereafter, they began to produce music-oriented laptops, attracting various acoustics developers.

One of the most famous series of multimedia devices is the musical “Asus” of the autumn harvest. Those with the letter N in the name. In addition to proprietary Sonic Master technology, a decent sound card and fairly large built-in speakers, they are also equipped with an external subwoofer, to which the engineers of the world-famous acoustics company Bang & Olufsen ICEpower contributed. We came across the largest model to date: the 17-inch ASUS N75s.

Specifications ASUS N75s

Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium.
CPU: Intel Core i7-2630QM 2 GHz.
Display: 17.3 inches, 1920x1080 pixels, glossy.
RAM: 8 GB.
HDD: 2x750 GB, 7200 rpm.
Video adapter: GeForce GT 555M (2 GB).
Communications: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet.
Battery: lithium-ion, 5200 mAh, 10.8 V (56 Wh).
Ports: 2xUSB 2.0, 2xUSB 3.0, VGA, HDMI, 3.5 audio connectors (microphone and headphones), card reader, RJ45 LAN Jack, subwoofer connector.
Dimensions and weight: 426x290x38 mm, 3.6 kg.
Camera: HD.
Additionally: Blu-Ray DVD Combo.

Appearance and design

The laptop body is made entirely of plastic. Black gloss cover wears beautiful name Piano Black. It really makes the ASUS N75 look like a musical instrument. Only until you touch it: it is almost impossible to avoid the ubiquitous fingerprints. This means you will either have to put up with them or constantly wipe the surface. But while the laptop is “resting” somewhere on the side, it is quite capable of decorating the interior of the room.

Still life "Office utility room". Canvas Laptop cover, piano lacquer, camera

The silver metallic trim on the lid complements his shiny suit while adding a bit of practicality to it. The rear is not particularly chic; ordinary and practical rough plastic is used here.

It's difficult to call a laptop thin. However, the requirements for the “figures” of 17-inch models are not as strict as for their smaller counterparts. After all, large laptops are rarely portable, especially multimedia ones intended mainly for entertainment. Therefore, the thickness and considerable weight (3.6 kg) should not be reduced to disadvantages of the device. There are reasons for this, and these are good reasons - high performance and audio system, which will be discussed below. On the sides there is a rich set of connectors, typical of modern full-size models. The front and rear edges are freed from them.

The lid opens and closes without problems and does not wobble. The hinges give the impression of longevity. The opening angle is approximately 155 degrees. Maybe someone can be more precise, in the photo where the sub-fucker serves as the leg, the lid is open as much as possible.

The body does not bend or creak. With the exception of minor flex in the right and left edges of the keyboard. Inside there is a combination of a glossy screen matrix, its glossy black border, a silver full-size keyboard and speakers, a dark space under the keyboard, on which a dark touchpad looms. And although this dark plastic is not glossy, it is very easily soiled. In short, the design is interesting (by the way, its author is quite famous, and his name is David Lewis), but frankly speaking, it reminds me of the average fashion model. The one that looks much more interesting in photographs than in life.

Screen

I liked the screen. By at least, in the top-end configuration we received. They installed a Chi mei N173HGE FullHD matrix here (there is also an option with a 1600x900 pixel matrix), and it is very good. Very bright, contrasting, with wide viewing angles and pleasant colors. There is only one thing that upsets us: the same gloss. Because of him in the light sun rays The screen is a little glare.

Keyboard and touchpad

Frankly, I have never been a fan of the keyboards that ASUS equips its mobile solutions with. I don’t remember that they could be called bad, but they are far from excellent (in my understanding). In short, average. That is, a keyboard to which you adapt over time and stop noticing its shortcomings due to habit. The ASUS N75s is the same. The keyboard is made together, and despite the fact that the keys here are large, it leaves a feeling of some compression: they are located very close to each other.

But it is full-size and has an additional column of multimedia keys (on the left). In appearance, the buttons that control music are the same as all the others; you don’t even notice them right away. You need to remind yourself that they are there, so as not to try to use them for other purposes. By the way, they have a stiffer ride than all the others. But these are all minor quibbles; you can work on the keyboard even after acquiring a certain skill; you type on it quickly and easily. For example, this text was typed blindly on ASUS N75s (the test sample was not Russified). The biggest oddity of the keyboard is the location of the computer's on/off key. I invite attentive readers to find her in the photograph and be surprised. For those who are too lazy to strain their eyes, I inform you to look for an ordinary key in the upper right corner, but marked with the same icon.

The touchpad is decent, you can’t really complain about it. Perhaps it is about “invisibility”: it is limited only by small vertical slits, you feel them by touch, but practically do not notice them visually. The touchpad is large, with a good pair of buttons, responsive, problem-free.

Sound

The large surface of the speakers immediately reveals the “musician” in the device. However, it is only large for laptops. You are unlikely to find external speakers of this volume that produce more or less good sound. Moreover, they also rely on a subwoofer to help. It's tiny, tabletop. With a specific connector. Everything seems doubtful at first glance! Even taking into account the proprietary Sonic Master technology and the work of Bang & Olufsen ICEpower specialists to create the subwoofer. High quality acoustic system?.. Many people remember the Carl Zeiss inscription under the lenses of cameras built into phones. This was not enough to call them full-fledged cameras. This is all to say that I greeted the marketing statements about the high-quality N-series audio system with a grin. The grin, it must be said, did not last long. Exactly until the moment I turned on quite complex orchestral music. And I immediately felt a spacious stage, heard detailed mids, expressive highs and (yes!) bass. Timpani, double basses and cellos - all were in their places, not blurred, fully complementing the orchestra. When the subwoofer was turned off, the volume went away along with the bass, but the sound remained fairly clear. If you increase the volume above the nominal volume by 50%, the high frequencies begin to wheeze. But there is still a small reserve.

Disadvantages include the body resonating at high volumes, say, when playing rock music. Well, you should consider the size of the subwoofer. It is still very small, so its coverage area is not too large. But enough. Overall, the system deserves all the praise. It reproduces any music well - rock, jazz, classical, pop, electronic. Perhaps this is the most worthy “laptop” audio system that I have ever heard.

By the way, sound card here Realtek ALC663.

System and performance

ASUS N75s is built on a hardware platform Intel Sandy Bridge. In our configuration, the laptop is equipped Core processor i7-2630QM. If you don’t need such power, you can choose a more affordable machine equipped with a Core i5 or i3.

The discrete video card here is powerful (GeForce GT 555M 2 GB of video memory). It is enough for most modern toys. In synthetic tests, the laptop performed at a fairly high level. Thus, Windows 7 Home Premium rated the laptop at 5.9 points, and 3Dmark gave it 1417 points in the Performance test.

In essence, it is a tiny musical operating system: contains a player with settings, playlists and other joys, the ability to go online and load Windows.

MusicNow interface

Among the useful additions, we note support for a special Instant On sleep mode, from which the laptop wakes up in a couple of seconds. Tested: true, it loads very quickly. What else? Let me mention that the built-in camera here is not a simple one, but an HD one. Normal camera with high resolution. And there is also a Blu-Ray combo drive, modern Wi-Fi standards, Bluetooth and more. Everything is on the level.

Autonomy, noise and heating

At minimum screen brightness in power saving mode (with external graphics card and WiFi disabled), the laptop worked (reading) for 4 hours and 45 minutes, after which it turned off. When surfing (also with low screen brightness) - 3 hours 40 minutes. The laptop operates quietly, which is gratifying: you don’t want the harmony of music or a movie to be disturbed by the roar of the cooling system. No, the noise is barely audible, despite the high power of the N75s. But the heating, say, while running tests or games, is quite noticeable.

Bottom line

It seems that the manufacturer has succeeded in the fifth generation of N series multimedia laptops. The devices turned out to be interesting and worthy of attention. Traveling music lovers in particular. Hi-Fi Sound? Of course not. But very, very decent sound for a laptop with a real, and not declared, presence low frequencies. I would like the manufacturer, having done an excellent job with the audio system, to make a body corresponding to its level. A little less plastic and easily soiled, or something. Perhaps, the soiledness of the case (together with the dubious design, but this is not for everyone) and the design of the keyboard are the weakest points of the laptop. The filling is very good. ASUS N75s is powerful modern system, which will handle most games and can help with graphics processing. Less resource-intensive tasks simply “fly”. In the configuration we received, the laptop costs more than 11 thousand hryvnia. Quite a lot. But not so much, taking into account all the possibilities and novelty. Two reasons to buy ASUS N75s:

Great sound
High system performance

Two reasons not to buy ASUS N75s:

Too much gloss: design is not for everyone
Not the best keyboard

To enable audio playback devices to function, your computer or laptop requires a sound card, also called an audio card. Such devices can be external or internal.

They are also distinguished by connection type: USB, PCI, PCI-E, FireWire, ExpressCard, PCMCIA. Buying a sound card for a computer is a difficult task that requires knowledge of the exact characteristics of the device in which it will be installed.

What is a sound card

An audio card is a sound card responsible for creating, converting, amplifying, editing the sound reproduced personal computer, laptop or any other similar device. Maps are divided into several classes according to the nature of their location:

external;
internal;
internal with external module.

Why do you need a sound card?

A sound card is needed for correct, accurate and timely reproduction of the requested sounds computer programs and the operating system of the device through speakers and headphones. Without it, a computer or laptop will not be able to send any sound signal, since there is no other component with similar functions.

Device

A computer sound card consists of several related hardware systems responsible for collecting, producing, and processing audio data. The purpose of the two main audio systems is to “audio capture” and work with music: its synthesis, playback. The device's memory is accessed directly via a coaxial or optical cable. Sound generation occurs in the processor digital signals(DSP): it plays certain notes, adjusts their tone, frequency. The power of the DSP and the total amount of available notes is called polyphony.

Types of sound cards

You can find audio cards on the market in a shockproof, waterproof case. This type is better suited for connecting an advanced audio system and running powerful games. Separate boards and integrated audio cards are a more standard solution, characterized by average parameters. Cards are divided into three types according to the possibility of dismantling and location relative to the device:

integrated;
internal discrete;
external discrete.

The best sound cards

Choosing a sound card is difficult. Such devices are multifunctional, so the set of characteristics for one audio card can be strikingly different from any other. Many expensive modules should only be purchased on sale or at a discount, because their price may be inflated. To understand which sound cards are suitable for a specific purpose, check out the advantages, disadvantages, features and parameters of the best models.

Professional

This audio card occupies a position a class above other external devices on the market. It is an excellent choice for studio recording:

Model name: Motu 8A;
price: 60,000 rub.;
characteristics: USB connection 3.0, additional thunderbolt, Ethernet interface.
pros: ASIO 2.0 support, control module on the case;
minuses: high price, fragile shell.

In the next model, Motu standards provide high-quality signal processing, it is equipped with an external unit, and the design is pleasing to the eye:

Model name: Motu 624;
price: 60,000 rub.;
characteristics: thunderbolt connection, via usb ports, 2 XLR inputs;
advantages: simultaneous work with several multi-channel systems;
Cons: requires additional power, gets very hot.

Multichannel

The ST-Lab board will delight you for a long time with high-quality sound and the absence of digital noise:

Model name: ST-Lab M360;
price: 1600 rub.;
characteristics: multi-channel audio output, DAC 16 bit/48 kHz, 8 analog audio outputs;
pros: compact external card, low cost;
cons: ASIO 1.0.

ASUS is distinguished by the reliability, quality, and durability of its devices. See for yourself using the Xonar DGX as an example:

model name: ASUS Xonar DGX;
price: 3000 rub.;
characteristics: 7.1 sound, 8 audio outputs, PCI-E connection with a separate internal module;
pros: clear sound, many connectors;
cons: large size.

PCI cards

Internal discrete and integrated boards are famous for their excellent sound quality and high frequencies:

model name: ASUS Xonar D1;
price: 5000 rub.;
characteristics: PCI interface, DAC 24 bit/192 kHz, multi-channel audio 7.1;
pros: optical output S/PDIF, support for EAX v.2, ASIO 2.0;
Cons: Periodically produces loud digital noise.

Creative boards allow you to enjoy high-quality sound in any multimedia format:

Model name: Creative Audigy;
price: 3000 rub.;
characteristics: PCI interface, coaxial output, 1 mini-Jack connector;
pros: alternative drivers expand the capabilities of the audio card;
Cons: Makes a loud bang when the device is turned off.

USB audio card

Portable audio cards can provide great audio anywhere:

Model name: Zoom UAC-2;
price: 14,000 rub.;
characteristics: external card, USB interface 3.0, shockproof housing, DAC 24 bit/196 kHz;
pros: quality/cost, minimum required for studio recording;
cons: the settings of the control panel buttons are not obvious, there are no symbols.

External computer modules should not only be convenient, but also of high quality. Line 6 POD will give you the opportunity to place an extended audio system anywhere:

Model name: Line 6 POD studio UX2;
price: 16,000 rub.;
characteristics: 24 bit/96 kHz, stereo audio outputs, 7.1 multi-channel audio;
pros: ability to connect many devices, excellent noise reduction;
Cons: the price does not correspond to the functionality and quality.

With optical output

Fiber optic cables provide unmatched protection against interference. Experience clear sound with Universal Audio cards:

model name: Universal Audio Apollo Twin SOLO Thunderbolt;
price: 40,000 rub.;
characteristics: optical output S/PDIF, EAX v.2, ASIO 2.0;
pros: clear multi-channel sound, excellent card for studio recording;
cons: small number of outputs.

WITH by ASUS purchasing a high-quality audio card has never been easier. An excellent combination of cost/quality and clear sound will help you appreciate any track:

model name: ASUS Strix Raid PRO;
price: 7000 rub.;
characteristics: PCI-E interface, optical output S/PDIF, ASIO 2.2, 8 channels;
pros: control panel, ability to connect headphones up to 600 Ohm;
Cons: The software conflicts with other sound drivers.

Sound card 7.1

If you find it difficult to find an inexpensive good audio card, the portability, reliability, ergonomics and advanced controls of this model will reveal all the capabilities of the audio system:

Model name: HAMA 7.1 surround USB;
price: 700 rub.;
characteristics: external audio card, USB 2.0, stereo analog audio outputs;
pros: ease of control, good amplifier;
cons: low frequency.

Multi-channel analog audio outputs facilitate comfortable listening to your favorite music with any audio systems:

Model name: BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UM2;
price: 4000 rub.;
characteristics: USB interface, ASIO 1.0, 2 analog outputs;
pros: perfect for rough recording of a vocal part;
Cons: There is no separate headphone volume control.

Sound card 5.1

The common 5.1 format is suitable when using both simple and advanced audio systems:

Model name: Creative SB 5.1 VX;
price: 2000 rub.;
characteristics: integrated 5.1 system sound card;
pros: suitable for any computer, the card connects easily and quickly;
cons: sound chips are poorly soldered, which causes sound delays, microphone connection is unstable.

Creative SB Live! 5.1 is suitable for connecting professional sound systems and studio recording:

Model name: Creative SB Live! 5.1;
price: 4000 rub.;
characteristics: 6 multi-channel audio outputs;
pros: support for audio extensions modern computers;
Cons: the card is not suitable for music lovers due to its low bit depth.

Audiophile

True music lovers will be able to appreciate the ideal sound available with ASUS Sonar Essence audio cards:

model name: ASUS Sonar Essence STX II 7.1;
price: 18,000 rub.;
characteristics: 8 outputs, incl. coaxial S/PDIF;
pros: clear reproduction of vocals and instrumental music;
Cons: Non-SSD hard drives create strong background noise.

High-quality sound and unique driver configuration solutions will improve the performance of your audio system with ASUS xonar Phoebus:

model name: ASUS xonar Phoebus;
price: 10,000 rub.;
characteristics: 2 analog channels, 2 3.5 mm connectors;
pros: all driver settings are located on a special banner window;
cons: lack of technical support.

For headphones

Not all headphones can accurately transmit the sound signal. MOTU Audio Express converters solve this problem:

Model name: MOTU Audio Express;
price: 30,000 rub.;
characteristics: USB 2.0 interface, coaxial input/output, 2 headphone jacks;
pros: robust body, clear playback through headphones;
cons: close location of external controls.

Tascam offers audio cards that help musicians work due to excellent signal transmission:

Model name: Tascam US366;
price: 10,000 rub.;
characteristics: USB 2.0, instrument output, phantom power.
pros: analog outputs and jack provide ideal sound;
cons: unstable drivers.

For laptops

Audio cards for laptops are gaining popularity. External modules will improve the sound:

Model name: Creative X-FI Surround 5.1 Pro;
price: 5000 rub.;
characteristics: USB 2.0 interface, Asio v.2.0, 5.1 multi-channel sound, 6 analog connectors;
pros: headphone amplifier, stylish design;
cons: does not support Linux OS.

Sound quality on laptops has always been an issue. Solve it with Creative sound blaster:

Model name: Creative sound blaster Omni Surround 5.1;
price: 9000 rub.;
characteristics: 24 bit/96 kHz, 6 audio outputs, connection via USB 2.0, optical output S/PDIF;
pros: advanced optimization options for microphone and headphones;
Cons: May produce digital noise when CPU load increases.

For games

The Sound Blaster line board guarantees complete immersion into the sound world of a computer game:

Model name: Creative Sound Blaster X;
price: 5000 rub.;
characteristics: 24 bit/192 kHz, PCI-E interface, 6 multi-channel audio outputs, ASIO 2.0;
pros: excellent software, compatible with many programs;
cons: when the sound is amplified, rattling and background noise appear.

The gaming acoustic module UR22 differs from analogues in the absence of distracting noise:

Model name: Steinberg UR22;
price: 12,000 rub.;
characteristics: USB 3.0 interface, 24 bit/192 kHz, 2 multi-channel outputs XLR, Jack, analog;
pros: availability of all necessary connectors;
Cons: Registration in the driver support program can be confusing for the user.

Best budget sound card

There are inexpensive audio cards on sale that are not inferior in quality to expensive options:

Model name: ASUS Xonar U3
price: 1400 rub.;
characteristics: external audio card, USB 3.0, 2 analog outputs, 16 bit/42 kHz;
pros: perfectly improves the sound quality of a low-power device;
cons: lack of ASIO support.

The Creative company offers cards that cost no more than 2,000 rubles:

model name: Creative SB Play;
price: 1600 rub.;
characteristics: USB 1.1, DAC 16 bit/48 kHz, 2 analog connectors;
pros: small, convenient audio card, durability;
Cons: Output frequency is lower than most internal integrated boards.

How to choose a sound card

To find a suitable audio card for a laptop or computer, pay attention to the following criteria when choosing:

Form factor. This is also the type of location. External card It is needed only in certain cases, and the internal one will not fit every device.
Playback sampling rate. Audio file formats may have different requirements for the frequency of the synthesized waveform. For a standard MP3 file you need 44.1 kHz, and for the DVD format it is already 192 kHz.
Signal/noise level. The higher the value, the better the sound. Standard sound is from 70 to 80 decibels, ideal is about 100 dB.

External

The discrete sound card is designed to connect powerful professional audio systems that create almost perfect sound. It's also suitable for amateurs computer games, in which the sound component plays a large role. Important parameters:

Frame. Any external module is subject to potential danger. The shell must be made of impact-resistant material.
Connectors and number of channels. The more types the better. Not all audio systems use standard jack, mini-jack, micro-jack outputs.

Internal

The choice of an internal audio card or board is based mainly on the availability of a slot for it or the type of attachment to the motherboard, but there are other criteria:

Connection type. The PCI connector was used in older motherboard models; most manufacturers have replaced it with PCI-Express. First, find out which connector is supported by your computer.
Mounting type. Internal cards can be discrete and integrated. To install the latter, you may need the help of a computer technician.

Video

We often assign tasks to it as a full-fledged device. Fortunately, the current level of technology allows compact devices to work just like their full-size counterparts. But, if the processors and video cards in laptop computers have long been at the level of full-size desktops, the sound often leaves much to be desired. By reading this article, you will learn how to choose the right laptop not only in production parameters, but also in sound. I'll tell you what parameters are responsible for good sound, what you should pay attention to. You will learn about the advantages of some technologies and the uselessness of others.

Before we start talking about specific laptops, I would like to provide you with a little theory. To make it easier for you to understand what we are talking about.

The first thing worth mastering is what sound is. To simplify it as much as possible, sound is mechanical waves. The easiest way to imagine sound is as waves on water, only in the air. We see them, we don’t feel them, but we hear them. Sound waves, like waves on water, break against obstacles and lose their strength.
The main conclusion from my words is that the further the source is from us, the worse it is audible. Turn on music in the bedroom and go to the kitchen, you won't hear it as well as you should.
Accordingly, translating the topic of sound into the plane of laptops, we can say that one of the important indicators in terms of sound quality is the location of the speakers themselves. If the speakers are hidden in the case, if they are located somewhere on the bottom or somewhere else, you will not get good sound.
The laptop speakers should be located on the top or side of the device. Only with this arrangement you will get the correct and high-quality sound of the device. This is the only way the sound will not be distorted.

Oh, what an interesting thing is drawn on top, isn't it? This is a sound card. This means that we will talk about the initial “power” of sound.
On simple models laptops do not have sound cards. They are usually mounted directly and work very mediocrely. In devices with such equipment, you will not get loud sound, clear high frequencies, or deep bass. The sound, like the sound card, will be very mediocre.

When choosing a laptop with good sound, you should pay attention to the presence of a separate sound card. Manufacturers love to praise their equipment, which means that such information will always be indicated on specific model. A good sound card is the basis of good sound. It is responsible for the quality of reproduced sounds. It will give you the opportunity to hear both high frequencies and deep bass, without distorting anything and giving you the actual sound of the music.

Good “hardware” inside the device will give you the opportunity to hear when the guitarist played the wrong string or played the wrong note, you will hear the music as it is.

By analogy with sound cards, sound amplifiers and subwoofers can be built into a laptop. They perform the same roles and give you the opportunity to enjoy the sound of your device.

When choosing a laptop with good sound, you should pay attention to the presence of additional equipment, such as sound cards, subwoofers and sound amplifiers - they are fundamental to the correct sound.

At the same time, you need to understand that every bells and whistles require energy, which means that the better the sound, the more energy it needs. Make sure you have a laptop with a good battery if you don't want it to turn off halfway through the movie.

AND last tip, regarding sound. If you're tired of the sound of your old laptop, you don't have to buy a new one. You can save a lot by purchasing a portable subwoofer or portable sound card. These devices connect to your laptop and significantly improve its sound quality. At the same time, they have their own body and look very neat.

The only downside is that in addition to a laptop computer, you also have to carry an amplifier with you. But this is no longer so convenient and contradicts the very idea of portability.

Now that we have finished looking at the main correct characteristics of models with rich sound, we can move on to the second part of the article, in which I will tell you which laptop models deserve attention.

ASUS Pro BU401L will be the first model with which I want to start, I will not talk about the technical aspects of the model - they do not interest us. At the same time, you will get accurate sound characteristics.

I’ll deviate a little from the topic of sound and note that the laptop weighs some 1.64 kg, very pleasant figures. At the same time, the design and “flatness” of the device are no less surprising.

I'm glad that the speakers are located absolutely correctly - on the top panel.

It is worth noting that Asus has been producing computer hardware in general and laptops in particular for quite a long time. At the same time, the company has solid experience in terms of sound. Consider the Asus N750JV model with a subwoofer and probably the best sound among laptops. Asus engineers did not ignore this model, giving it excellent sound in such a thin body. The speakers do not wheeze at full power, and the portable device itself has special software to better settings sound. AudioWizard offers us a choice of different modes: music, movies, sound recording, games and voice enhancement.

ASUS N750JV is the previously mentioned multimedia laptop model. One of the best laptops for sound quality.
It’s worth starting to list the advantages of the model with the fact that the kit already includes a portable subwoofer that can significantly improve the sound quality. But there is nothing strange in this, since the model was originally created with an emphasis on multimedia quality.

One of the big advantages of N series laptops is high-quality sound. ASUS N750JV was no exception and received an excellent sound subsystem. According to established tradition, the laptop is certified by Bang & Olufsen, a Danish company specializing in the production of hi-end audio and video equipment.

SonicMaster Premium is a technology implemented by Asus specialists using software and physical levels, increasing sound quality to incredible heights.
Moreover, the device has as many as 4 speakers, the volume of which is pleasantly surprising.
The Waves MAXXAudio software is already included with the laptop as standard - for more precise sound tuning for each ear.

HP laptops deserve a special recommendation. Their main advantage is full cooperation with BeatsAudio, a world leader in audio technology. This means that in almost every model of this company you can get decent sound.

MSI GX660 - the creation of MSI pleasantly pleases with a pair of strong speakers and a built-in subwoofer. It's convenient and compact, yet you get great sound.

To summarize, I would like to note that not all laptops have been named here - there are too many of them to name them all. But at the same time, you received the information that will help you choose the right laptop and not make a mistake. Do not forget to take into account the price tag factor; the most expensive thing is not always the best.

Hello remoncompa.ru, I need your advice. There was no sound on my laptop, I contacted the service center, it turned out that the integrated motherboard laptop sound card and now I have two options:

1. Repair the laptop, but the repair will cost more than three thousand rubles.

2. Buy external sound card for laptop, the cost is from 350 rubles to 5000 rubles, I think I don’t really need super sound for five thousand rubles, but I can buy within a thousand rubles, but again, which manufacturer should I prefer?

And I would like to know whether the sound with such a sound card in a laptop will be no worse than with a built-in one; if it’s worse, then maybe a sensible solution would be to repair the laptop?

Is it possible to have external sound USB card connect to a simple system unit?

Could you please make a short review of external sound cards for laptops on your website, the information content of the resource is amazing, everything is always clear and with pictures!

Hello friends! In this article we will do full review external USB Creative SoundBlaster Play sound card. A review of an expensive external sound card is also being prepared.

Left click to enlarge image

Creative is a leader in the production of sound cards of various classes. I can say with confidence that even the budget models of this company are distinguished by their quality. The Price + Quality ratio in this model is very good, if our readers have other opinions, please speak up, the article will be supplemented. The price of our external sound card is a little less than a thousand rubles and its final rating is a solid four.

An external sound card for a laptop will come in handy if:

1. The sound card integrated into the laptop motherboard has failed and you do not want to repair it, the cost of such repairs is service center usually 2-3 thousand rubles.

2. You want top-notch sound from your laptop.

3. An external sound card can be easily connected to a simple system unit.

Laptops are designed primarily to allow users to access the power of a computer anywhere, under any circumstances, in any environment other than home or work. To reduce the final cost of laptop models, manufacturers, as a rule, focus on the mobility and functionality of the devices. Therefore, a laptop with an integrated high-quality sound card for impeccable sound is quite a rare occurrence. Because laptop speakers don't allow you to enjoy high-quality sound, there is no point in increasing the final cost of models with a high-quality sound card.

The average user who uses a laptop for web surfing, playing multimedia or working with some specific programs, the capabilities of the integrated sound card are quite enough. To improve sound, you can connect to your laptop good speakers. But is it possible to achieve truly high-quality sound using an integrated sound card if, for example, the question arises of using a laptop to output sound to professional acoustics? Or for high-quality sound recording? You can't do without an external sound card here. In what cases is an external sound card used, what you need to pay attention to when choosing it - we will look into all this below.

What is an external sound card?

An external sound card for a laptop is small device type of flash drive, equipped with a USB port for connecting to computer devices, audio output and microphone input. Some models may be equipped with volume control buttons. This is basic functionality, and some, naturally more expensive, models may provide other connectors and interfaces, for example, coaxial output, analog output channels, etc. But the sizes of such powerful sound cards will be larger, in the form of boxes dotted with various ports, inputs and outputs.

In what cases is an external sound card needed?

Cases for using an external sound card can be different - from the usual whim of the user to enjoy higher quality sound with an immersive effect when playing multimedia content from a laptop to using the latter as a mobile recording studio or player for outdoor discos. An external sound card for a laptop will definitely come in handy for professional musicians, avid music lovers, as well as gamers for whom the quality of sound effects in games is of no small importance.

Why an external sound card and not a discrete one?

As for sound quality, this can be provided by both external sound cards and discrete hardware components built inside a computer device. A discrete sound card is more suitable for PC builds. So, not every laptop model has the necessary space inside to install a discrete sound card inside. Take, for example, netbooks, ultrabooks, tablets. These are devices designed to provide the user with maximum mobility and light weight.

Installing a discrete sound card inside a laptop will disrupt the original assembly of the case, which may cause the retail outlet where the device was purchased to refuse its warranty obligations. An external sound card connects to the laptop's USB port and does not interfere with the original assembly of the case.

A huge advantage of an external sound card is its portability. After all, if the user has several devices - for example, a PC, laptop, tablet, an external sound card can be connected to any of these devices to provide high-quality sound.

External sound cards with volume, bass, and tone control buttons will allow for flexible sound settings, since some laptop models do not even have a mechanical volume control button, not to mention bass or tone.

Another advantage of external sound cards for owners of low-power laptops is the removal of load from their processors. The processing of sound files takes place inside an external sound card, which makes it easier for the processor of a computer device to work.

What should you pay attention to when choosing an external sound card?

Before we begin to consider the parameters of an external sound card, it is worth starting with the fact that it makes sense to buy it only when you already have a high-quality speaker system. It is unlikely that you will notice a difference in sound quality if the sound is output to averagely lousy stereo speakers.

Let's look at the main nuances that should be taken into account when choosing an external sound card

4 audio inputs and 4 audio outputs, which the sound card will provide, are more than enough even in some cases of professional audio work. Although in some cases, using a laptop at home, one pair will be enough, and the sound card will also cost less.

The sound card bit depth requirement for high-quality sound is 24 bits or higher.. A minimum requirement signal-to-noise ratio is about 100-114 dB and higher. The sampling frequency of a good quality sound card should be 44.1 – 96 kHz and higher.

To work with electronic musical instruments, you will need appropriate interfaces - to connect these electrical instruments, digital audio recording standards, etc.

Supports Dolby Digital or Digital Theater System (DTS) audio standard will be needed to read multi-channel audio and video tracks. This is especially useful when watching feature films.

ASIO support– a data transfer protocol that ensures faster transfer and low response time – almost all professional-level sound cards are equipped.

EAX technology support, which provides ambient sound effects, will be useful for gamers playing serious games with multi-channel sound.

Installing drivers for an external sound card

It is not a fact that Windows OS itself will find drivers for a particular model of external sound card in its database. Ideally, drivers, of course, should come with the sound card. But this rule is not always taken into account in cases with budget goods or used goods on the secondary market. In these cases, you can turn to driver packs for help - software, which determines the hardware and external connected devices of the computer and installs drivers for them. Installing the latest version of the sound card driver will provide high-quality sound and flexible settings.

Buying an external sound card

Full name of our external sound card Creative "SoundBlaster Play!" USB Retail. The presence in the name Retail means the presence of a nice box that cannot be thrown away until the warranty expires. The box contains instructions and a CD with drivers. Works with Windows 8 means compatibility with G8; with Windows 7, the external sound card also worked great.

Instructions

Drivers. I want to say that the drivers will be installed into your operating system automatically and without a CD, which contains several not very necessary programs to change the sound quality.

External Sound Card

Left click to enlarge image

Our external sound card has two outputs for speakers, headphones and a microphone.

We connect our external sound card to the laptop, then connect sound speakers or headphones to the output of the sound card, if you need to connect another microphone.