▷ Best sound cards on the market 【2020】?

If you are faced with the need to install a sound card to your computer or update the sound card that you already have, you have several options. A large number of specialized audio PC sound cards are available to choose from. For this reason we have made a brief guide to find the best sound cards on the market 2019.

Before going into the matter with the list we are going to review some points so that whatever card you choose, be clear about what key points you should observe.

Apart from the following points, this mini guide is likely to be useful to you in the future: How to choose a sound card on PC.

SPDIF output

The SPDIF ( Sony-Philips Digital Interface ) output allows output to a digital amplifier via a coaxial cable (RCA).

MIDI interface

MIDI is the communication interface standard that allows multiple electronic musical instruments to work together. This serves to drive the sound of the software synthesizer to your computer with an external keyboard. These connections are mainly present externally. They are the best sound cards used by musicians.

Microphone input

It allows you to connect a microphone to your computer. Particularly useful for VoIP.

The resolution

This regulates the sound quality. Resolutions are expressed in bits. The best sound cards today offer 16-bit or 24-resolution most of the time. The higher the resolution, the better the sound will be.

Sampling

This is the frequency defined in hertz (sampling hz or khz, a good example is the number of the sample they produce every second). The higher the frequency, the higher the quality.

Connection type

The options are diverse when it comes to connecting our sound card to our editing devices, so stay tuned to the list:

• USB 2.0: highly efficient in a home environment with a communication capacity of up to 16 simultaneous inputs and outputs of audio channels. USB 3.0: it is much superior to 2.0 but this also adds a capacity that we would not take advantage of in a domestic environment. If what you are looking for are sound cards for recording studios or advanced works, this is yours.

If you are unfamiliar with cards with a USB connection, we recommend that you take a look at this article: USB Sound Card: Better than a dedicated one?

• Firewire: Currently it can be quite a feat to have Firewire on motherboards or laptops. USB has come to the industry to replace this type of port but depending on the equipment we can still find them. PCI-E: The PCI Express is based on a fast serial communication system that uses current programming concepts and communication standards, being used especially by Intel. PCI-X: The next version to PCI-E features up to 32 times faster frequency. Unfortunately, if we add more than one device, the base frequency is reduced and transmission speed is lost. ThunderBolt: This type of connector uses high-speed optical technology. We are currently going for ThunderBolt 3 and it is one of the fastest connections.

Best sound cards on the market 2019

To develop this guide we have made a distinction between the two ways sound cards can be presented to us: internal and external.

We should also note that the cards listed here are not listed in any particular order, only in the two categories mentioned above.

Best internal sound cards

Creative Sound Blaster ZX

This sound card offers us a maximum output of channels up to 5.1 surround and has an external controller, which gives it some control outside of our computer. Its SBX Pro Studio sound technology achieves great clarity by emitting up to 116 dB. This means that with this card the sound is purer than that reproduced by our motherboard by default.

Creative Sound Blaster ZX - Internal Sound Card (Sound Blaster Microphone Included), Red Sound Core3D audio processor; Signal to noise ratio (SNR): 116 dB; Headphone Amplifier: up to 600 Ohms 123.30 EUR

Creative Sound Blaster Z

This version of Creative Sound Baster is cheaper, maintaining practically all the benefits of the previous model. The difference is that the Sound Blaster Z sacrifices the external controller and to have 5.1 surround sound we need to connect it to the decoder or home theater system. It is a good base option if you do not have a 5.1 speaker assembly to take advantage of but want to continue to have the clearest possible sound quality within a range of less than € 80.

Creative Sound Blaster Z - Internal Sound Card (Sound Blaster Microphone included), Red, 24-bit With improved and clearer SBX Pro Studio and CrystalVoice technologies; Low latency pristine audio recordings EUR 72.00

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX 5.1

You are already seeing that at least in the category of internal sound cards Creative Technology is in the lead with the Sound Blaster series. The Audigy FX 5.1 is a sound card that offers 5.1 sound for less than half the price of the Sound Blaster Z. This model incorporates a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with a playback speed of 192 kHz 24-bit, allowing you to listen to raw music. However, their number of connections is less. The signal to noise ratio is slightly lower and the design may be less attractive to the naked eye, but if you are interested in a good and cheap sound card, look no further.

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX 5.1 SBX ProStudio - Internal Sound Card Optimized with SBX Pro Studio technology, offers 5.1 kinematic sound; It incorporates a 24 bit 192 kHz digital to analog converter (DAC) (playback) 31.00 EUR

Asus Xonar DG

Asus Xonar offers us very similar benefits to the Audigy FX 5.1. Both process surround sound but perhaps the most relevant difference may be that Asus Xonar has a greater number of connection channels and a slightly better signal-to-noise ratio. Finally, if we analyze its frequency range, it has an amplitude of 10Hz-87kHz, much higher than the 20-20kHz of the Audigy FX.

ASUS Xonar SE Internal 5.1 Channel PCI-E - Sound Card (5.1 Channel, 24 bit, 116 dB, 110 dB, 24-bit / 192kHz, 0.00251%) EUR 42.12

Asus Essence STX II

Again another Asus, a high-end model that doubles the price of the Creative Sound Blaster ZX sound card. What is special about this little piece? For starters it supports making up to twelve connections, a frequency range of 10Hz-90kHz and its compatibility dates back to the times of Windows XP. Another reason why its price is so high is due to its 7.1 surround sound output with 120 dB of SNR through the motherboard that is included in the package. Of the entire list of internal sound cards this is not only

Asus Essence STX II - Internal Sound Card Easy installation; High quality; High Performance EUR 209.09

Best external sound cards

We come to the second category of the best sound cards, being in this case external to our computer or other work device. These models are less common for users who are not well versed in the world or who are not involved in recording or editing music. Generally we tend to consider that they are more specialized but it also depends on the model in question.

Behringer UM2

The Behringer UM2 is a practical sound card for everyday use. Its connection is also USB 2.0 and it has a stereo 2.0 channel output. It is not a great card, but it can allow you to mix two input channels without using the computer. The possibilities for hobbyist auto production are there and we consider it to be a very competent external sound card within its price range.

Behringer UM2 U-Phoria - USB Audio Interface 16 bit / 48 kH USB Audio Interface; 2 inputs and 2 outputs, 1 XLR combo input / 6.3 mm jack 28.90 EUR

Behringer UMC204HD

This Behringer is upgraded from the previous model. Here the chassis becomes metal instead of plastic and the number of connections is expanded. The connection is also made via USB 2.0, something that as you can see is becoming common in external sound cards. The inclusion of a PAD button and MIDI input give us an extra in features added to its microphone preamps.

Behringer UMC204HD U-phoria - Audio interface, MIDI, USB 24 bit and 192 kHz; 2 inputs and 4 outputs; 2 XLR / 6.3mm jack combi inputs; MIDAS-designed microphone preamps 79.00 EUR

Steinberg UR242

This external sound card needs no power supply beyond the USB 2.0 connection to the computer itself. With a steel chassis and a frequency range between 20Hz-20kHz it presents a practical format for studios and sound tests in premises. In addition to its compatibility with operating systems such as Mac and Windows, we can also connect it to IO systems for Apple Ipads and Iphones. A final aspect of interest is its Loopback function for streaming retransmissions by mixing the input audio signals with the playback signal from Cubase or another DAW.

Steinberg UR22 mkII 2.0 channels USB - Sound card (2.0 channel, 24 bit, USB, Windows 10, Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite, Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain 24bit / 192kHz USB 2.0 Audio Interface; 2nd Class D to Microphone Preamps with + 48V Phantom Power EUR 151.50

Focusrite Scarlett 2i4

This sound card is connected to the computer via USB 2.0 and has a frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz. Although the amplitude is somewhat standard, the sound obtained is quite natural and the card itself offers us programs to help in editing, such as the Focusrite Creative Pack, Ableton Live Lite or Pro Tools. It is a portable external card, designed for a Home Studio environment and to help calibrate and record music with good quality but not professional.

Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen - Audio Interface 2 Scarlett microphonic preamps for natural sound with big gains.; Sample rate and sampling rates on the vortices of the category (up to 192kHz / 24bit). 148.00 EUR

Audient ID14

Finally we come to the Audient ID14, the external sound card that requires a bigger budget. What makes it special? To start, what stands out the most is its number of connections and functionality in relation to the size given the small size of its measurements. This external card consists of a total of eight output connections (expandable to ten) and four input. The steel structure is not limited only to the chassis but also to the buttons on the cover. How could it be otherwise, its connection port is USB 2.0 to PC, reaching a frequency of 20Hz to 22kHz.

AUDIENT ID14 - High-Performance USB Audio Interface 2 Class A Console Microphone Preamps; Independent headphone amplifier output stage EUR 197.95

The best sound cards for PC
Models	Signal to noise ratio (SNR)	Channel outputs	Connections	Audio processor	Compatible software	Measurements (mm)
Creative Sound Blaster ZxR (internal)	116 dB	5.1	Headphones, speakers, line, microphone, optical input and output	Sound Core3D	Windows 8 and later	538 x 348 x 226
Creative Sound Blaster Z (internal)	116 dB	5.1	Headphones, speakers, line, microphone, optical input and output	SBX Pro Studio	Windows 7 and later	280 x 190 x 60
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX 5.1 (internal)	106 dB	5.1	separate line and microphone input connectors	SBX Pro Studio	Windows Vista and later	138 x 121 x 18
Asus Xonar DGX (internal)	116 dB	5.1	3 line outputs, 1 line input, 1 optical digital output	C-Media USB2.0 6620A High-Definition Sound Processor	Windows 8 and later	239 x 168 x 61
Asus Essence STX II (internal)	124 dB	7.1	Outputs: 1 6.3mm jack earphone, 8 RCA. Tickets 1 6.3mm Line / Microphone combo jack. Digital: 1 S / PDIF out, 1 front panel head	ASUS AV100 High-Definition Sound Processor	Windows XP and later	168 x 107
Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 (external)	100 dB	2.0	One MIDI input and output, four analog outputs, and digital converters	Indeterminate	Mac OS X Yosemite and Windows 7 onwards	47 x 210 x 138
Behringer UMC204HD (external)	96.3 dB	2.0	2 XLR combi inputs. 6.3mm jack outputs (A) and 2 RCA outputs (A and B). MIDI input and output	Indeterminate	Mac OS X and Windows XP onwards	185 x 130 x 50
Behringer UM2 (external)	0 dB	2.0	2 inputs and 2 outputs, 1 XLR combo input / 6.3mm jack	Tracktion	Mac OS 10 and Windows XP onwards	128 x 118 x 50
Audient ID14 (external)	96 dB	2.0	8-channel ADAT input allows up to a total of 10 channels to be expanded	Indeterminate	Mac OS 10.07 and Windows 7 onwards	15 x 12 x 4.5
Steinberg UR242 (external)	0 dB	2.0	2 analog Combo XLR inputs, 2 line outputs and 1 headphone output	Indeterminate	Mac OS 10.07 and Windows 7 onwards	240 x 210 x 100

Conclusions on the best sound cards for PC in 2019

Unlike other sectors in electronics and peripherals in the world of both speakers and sound cards, it is a sector that generally presents a reliable correlation between price and product quality. It is one of those rare occasions when the saying "quality must be paid" applies practically 100%.

We recommend reading: PC speakers: everything you need to know.

From Professional Review, our recommendation is to acquire an internal card if the use you are going to give it is a home cinema or music system (both in a specific room). Unless the size of the chassis of your computer does not allow it, it is usually the most practical option in these situations. If, on the other hand, you have a small recording studio or are playing instruments or singing live in local venues, then an external sound card with integrated controls can be much more practical. The number of sound connections can also become more extensive.