The 10 Best Usb Soundcard Of 2024, Researched By Us

Nicolas Ward By, Nicolas Ward
Updated
UGREEN USB to Audio Jack Soundcard Adapter with Dual TRS 3-Pole 3.5mm
Image credit: Amazon.com

The Rundown

1. Best Of The Best: UGREEN USB to Audio Jack Soundcard Adapter with Dual TRS 3-Pole 3.5mm

The UGREEN USB to Audio Jack SoundCard Adapter with Dual TRS 3-Pole 3.5mm is a perfect solution for your needs. It offers an easy way of connecting any computer or laptop to a headphone device without having to worry about the compatibility of your device. The plug and play design makes it easy for you to use without any hassle. Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: Sound BlasterX G6 Hi-Res 130dB Gaming DAC, External USB Soundcard

Unleash the true power of your games with the Sound BlasterX G6. With 7.1 virtual surround sound and Dolby Digital, you'll experience high-resolution audio like never before, giving you a completely immersive gaming experience. The discrete headphone amplifier lets you rock out with your favorite tunes and streamers too! Read Review

3. Best Easy To Use: USB Soundcard, TechRise USB External Stereo Sound Adapter

The TechRise USB External Stereo Sound Adapter is perfect for Mac and PC computers. This 3.5mm jack device, no driver required, comes with a mixer function and operates on all major operating systems. The adapter is easy to install and offers users an adjustable audio sound quality experience. Read Review

4. Best Connectivity: StarTech.com 7.1 USB SoundCard - External Soundcard for Laptop

Upgrade the sound quality and fidelity of your PC with this 7.1 USB Sound Card from StarTech.com. This external sound card for laptop takes your stereo sound to a whole new level. With a 7.1 channel surround sound system, you can enjoy all the excitement of your favorite games and movies with crisp, realistic audio effects and powerful bass - without any additional software required. Read Review

There’s a lot of confusion around the best USB sound card. Back in the old days, when you needed to plug a piece of equipment into your computer to listen to music or watch videos, you would just connect it using an audio cable or a headphone jack.

However, things have changed with the introduction of digital media and external devices like speakers or microphones. Now, we need an audio interface so that we can record our music and microphone-enabled videos. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the best USB sound cards for your computer.

You'll have an easier time deciding with our UGREEN USB to Audio Jack Soundcard Adapter with Dual TRS 3-Pole 3.5mm recommendations. However, to provide the reader with a wider variety of alternatives, we recommend adding Sound BlasterX G6 Hi-Res 130dB Gaming DAC, External USB Soundcard if you are interested in purchasing another appealing one.

Here are the buying guides that we specially made for you guys. Follow all the words below for successful shopping!

Our Top Picks

  • UGREEN Aux to USB adapter offers an easy and portable way to upgrade the sound quality of your favorite laptop or desktop computer. This USB to audio jack gives you easy access to a wide selection of audio input and output ports so you can plug in a microphone, a gaming headset, or speakers. You could even use the external sound card to plug in a home theater sound system or to assist in recording music or podcasts.
  • Seductive Sound for You: With a built-in DAC high-resolution chip, UGREEN USB to headphone jack for PC provides you with high fidelity audio. Up to 16bit/48kHz of sampling rate, this audio adapter could enhance the original sound quality of your devices.
  • Wide Compatibility: The USB to audio jack is Compatible with Windows 11/10/98SE/ME/2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista/7/8/Linux/Mac OSX/PS5/PS4/Google Chromebook/Windows Surface Pro 3/Raspberry Pi. Please kindly note. Not compatible with PS3.
  • Plug and play: No driver required, just plug and play! USB bus-powered, no external power required for this convenient sound card. In addition, UGREEN Aux to USB can work as a second sound source for simultaneous operation of speakers and headphones.
  • Compact and Portable: Durable ABS material make the USB to headphone jack compact and lightweight. IMPORTANT NOTE: This usb sound card only supports mono microphone TRS, DOES NOT support TS, TRRS.
TOP Choice #2 Sound BlasterX G6 Hi-Res 130dB Gaming DAC, External USB Soundcard
Our Score:
9.5
Creative
  • 7.1 VIRTUAL SURROUND SOUND AND DOLBY DIGITAL | Enjoy the latest in immersion technology with Dolby Digital decoding or Sound Blaster’s proprietary surround sound perfect for games and movies
  • UPGRADE YOUR GAMES ON PS4, XBOX ONE, NINTENDO SWITCH, AND PC | Get immediate increased enjoyment over basic motherboard and controller audio! Apart from incredible audio quality, the Sound BlasterX G6 boasts gaming-centric features such as Sidetone volume control and easy-to-reach profile buttons
  • INDUSTRY-LEADING AUDIO PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY | Enjoy full audio customization and enhanced audio realism with immersive 7.1 surround virtualization, accurate cues, bass boost and in-game voice communication enhancements. It also has Scout Mode than enhances in-game audio cues, letting you hear your enemies before they hear you
  • DISCRETE HEADPHONE AMP | Custom-designed Xamp headphone amplifier features discrete components through all stages of amplification in a bi-amp design. Each audio channel is individually amplified to deliver a whole new level of pristine audio fidelity in an authentic, unaltered lossless model. The ultra-low 1 Ohm output impedance perfectly drives performance-grade sensitive 8W in-ear monitors all the way to studio-grade 600W headphones
  • 130dB DNR, 32-bit 384kHz DAC Advanced 32-bit oversampled multi-bit modulator with mismatch shaping technology eliminates distortion, ensuring audio is streamed with the highest level of detail and fidelity
TOP Choice #3 USB Soundcard, TechRise USB External Stereo Sound Adapter
Our Score:
9.4
TechRise
  • 3.5mm JACK DEVICE: USB audio sound card, supports normal stereo, earphone, headphone, headset or microphone with 3.5mm jack, Raspberry Pi 2/3 Xbox PS4 Surface Tablet Laptop, especially for gaming headsets. International standard USB replaces traditional sound card. You can also use microphone and headphones together on iMac/Mac Mini devices with our product.
  • MIXER FUNCTION: Multi-channel will bring you a “surround sound” experience. Mini LED and surround sound can improve the level of gaming audio. Microphone/Headphone mute function allows the headset and loudspeaker mode to switch freely providing 16 kinds of rhythmic pattern and 23 kinds of environment mode, without unplugging from the computer.
  • NO DRIVER REQUIRED:Headset USB adaptor, international USB connector, no extra drivers are needed, easy to use, plug and play for instant audio playback. Lightweight and portable size make it convenient to take anywhere.
  • OPERATIING SYSTEM: The external USB 2.0 sound card adapter can work with all major operation systems like Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP/ Server 2003/ Vista/ Win 7/8/10, Linux, Mac OS, etc.
  • ADJUSTABLE AUDIO SOUND: The volume of the output audio can be adjusted by the volume roller on the control panel. Adjust the appropriate sound volume according to your needs.
  • QUALITY AUDIO: Supports 44.1KHz and 48KHz sampling rates for analog playback and recording; SPDIF Digital output only supports 48KHz audio playback; SPDIF optical input passthrough supports up to two-channel audio at 48KHz
  • UPGRADE YOUR PC SOUND: With support for analog and digital audio output for stereo to 7.1 channel audio applications, the bus-powered audio to USB adapter upgrades the existing integrated audio on a desktop or laptop computer; 1m USB Cable Included
  • 7.1 USB SOUND CARD: This External Sound Card adds up to 7.1 channels of audio through a single USB port to your computer; This sound card supports 7.1, 5.1 and 2 channel output using 3.5mm jacks, a headphone port, line-in and stereo microphone inputs
  • EASY INSTALLATION: The digital audio adapter is easy to install with plug and play support in Windows 7/8.1/10; The external sound card features easy-to-use volume controls and mute buttons; The audio outputs are selectable via the included software
  • 【Operating system】The External USB 2.0 Sound Card Adapter can work with all major operation systems like Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP/ Server 2003/ Vista/Windows 7, Linux, Mac OS, etc. Lightweight and portable size makes it convenient to take everywhere.
  • 【Wide application】Designed for 3.5mm jack and virtual 7.1 channel devices like headphones, headset or microphones that stop working or have issues with output cutting in and out. USB headset adapter is also suitable for sound card in the computer/laptop/desktop that dying or losing connection with motherboard. You can also use mic and headphone together on iMac/Mac Mini devices with our product.
  • 【Louder previous-sound】Louder the sound that computer cannot do by itself, create surround sound effect which will bring you fantastic feelings. USB audio adapter supports normal stereo, earphone, headphone, headset or microphone with 3.5mm jack, Raspberry Pi 2/3 Xbox PS4 Surface Tablet Laptop, especially for gaming headsets.
  • 【No drivers】USB sound card is easy to use, no extra drivers is needed. Plug and play for instant audio playback. Microphone/Headphone mute design makes the headset and speaker mode switch freely without unplugging anything from the computer. Output audio sound can be adjusted by the volume adjustment wheel.
  • 【Mixer function】Mixer Function can adjust the output electronically level. Functional keys including microphone-mute, speaker-mute and volume-up/down roller. The mini LED indicator and surround sound can improve the level of gaming audio. Two headset jacks with one microphone jack can satisfy all your needs for an usb external sound card adapter.
  • 【Plug & Play for Different Device or Jack Standard】 This USB to audio jack adapter compatible with both Apple CTIA & Android OMTP standard 3.5mm TRRS jack headphone , It will prevent the static , crackling noisy, no respond problems which caused by incompatibility of different standard jacks(Mic - GND port short circuit) . It also work with audio play TRS jack , NOT work with TRS Microphone . NOT work with TS jack .
  • 【Realtek DAC Chip】 This external usb sound card will provide 24Bit 96Khz sound quality. Its built-in ALC4050 Realtek chip is newest generation DAC chip which max decoding speed up to 32bit / 384khz . It’s way better than the computer's original soundcard with only 16bit 44.1K/48K. It will do improve the audio's sound quality in / out your computer, specially the Hi-res music, singing, live-streaming that requires good audio signal.
  • 【Support Wire Remote signal】 The new generation chip allows this usb to 3.5mm jack audio adapter to support the wire remote control signals like volume adjust , sound recording , pause/play & etc without any peripherals like knob switch and control center . other models in market may not able to provide this convenience & the size much bigger .
  • 【BUY WITH CONFIDENCE】Koopao is a professional USB audio adapter manufacturer. Every product we launch has undergone rigorous testing and meets the quality standards in US. if you have any questions, pls be free to contact us .
  • 【2 IN 1 Alternative Soundcard】 This USB audio adapter could be a replacement for the broken sound card & add a new 3.5mm aux port to the computer . Need No Driver. It support all the USB audio enable devices , such as PC, Laptop, PS4, Xbox, Mac, 4-Pole Microphone (not support PS3, TV, Car, 3-pole mic). Systems like Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista , Linux . Softwares like Skype, Hangouts & etc.
  • Software suite - Full-featured, full customization
  • Surround sound - Immersive 7.1 experience
  • Compact design - Robust and Solid build
  • High-end Smart Chip: With advanced smart chip built-in, USB sound card supports Apple CTIA and Android OMIP standard headsets. This USB to headphone jack offers a sampling rate up to 24bit/96Khz, efficiently decoding the signal of sound ensures the minimum distortion rate. And the signal-noise ratio of this USB to 3.5mm adapter is more than 95db, which ensures high stability sound transmission and hearing more clearly during a call or listening
  • Built to Last: The USB headphone adapter with nylon braided sheath is more durable and portable than other plastic shells and PVC cable USB audio adapter. Nylon braided Aux to USB adapter uses high-quality enameled copper wire, which ensures to offer stable audio signal & excellent lossless transmission texture experience. 10000+ bend tests and 10000+ insertion-withdrawal testing prove that USB headset adapter can prevent damage caused by tangling and scratching.
  • Broad Compatibility: USB sound card is compatible with Windows 10/98SE/ME/2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista/7/8, Linux//Raspberry Pi, MacBook Pro 2019, MacBook Air 2018, PS5/ PS4, Google Chromebook, Windows Surface Pro 3.
  • Easy to Set Up: Just plug and play, UGREEN USB to Aux Headphone Adaptor can be recognized by laptops in few seconds and work straight away, no need to install any driver or software
  • 2 in 1 USB Audio Adapter: UGREEN USB A audio sound card supports listening and talking. In-line control and microphone function allow you to chat while gaming. USB external sound card is designed to upgrade the sound quality of your laptop or desktop computer. This USB Aux adapter enables you to connect headphones, headset, speakers with 3.5mm jack to your PC through a USB A interface.
  • [ Plug and Play ] Easy operation ,just plug and enjoy your tiebreaker
  • [ Integrated controller ] 1Mii considered and tested all the details of the gaming experience for PC gamer, dedicated to providing the most convenient and fast operation to support your game battle. By the sound card ,easy to active 7.1 surround sound , adjust the volume of your headset and microphone . Even one button to MUTE the MIC
  • [ Partner of Gaming Headset ] 1Mii Gaming USB Sound Card with 7.1 virtual surround sound .Enhance the sound of your gaming headset and make you quickly sense voice of directions ,footsteps . Every details clearly in games to win
  • [ Compatibility ] Perfect compatibility with almost of ALL 3.5mm gaming headset .Low budget to bring you virtual 7.1 surround sound gaming experience INSTEAD OF changing your gaming headset. Our 1Mii after-sales team will accompany you to solve any problems during use
  • [ Compact and Portable ] Durable ABS material, Designed gaming lights for 7.1 and Mic button ,with a 6FT low-loss tensile braided cable .Everything borned for gaming
  • 🎧【Plug and Play】No drivers installation required, just easily plug and play. The USB to 3.5mm female port will be automatically recognized by system in seconds. No driver download required, USB bus-powered, no external power required.
  • 🎧【High-quality materials】USB headphone and microphone audio adapter equipped with high-quality aluminum housing and nylon braided jacket, which ensured to offer stable audio signal & excellent lossless transmission texture experience. It is much more durable than other plastic casing and PVC cable USB adapter.
  • 🎧【2 in 1 Essential】JSAUX External Sound Card supports listening + speaking, dual functions. Adds a mono microphone-in (Green one) and a stereo audio-out (Red one) port to your computer through a USB port, enables you to connect your existing headphones, headset, speakers, or microphone with TRS 3.5mm jack to your PC, laptop, through a USB interface.
  • 🎧【Hi-Fi Sound】The inner chip support digital decoding, which can allow various functional formats to play and protects against electromagnetic interference. You can hear an improved bass performance, greater detail across the frequency spectrum, better attack speed, stereo, expanded soundstage and enjoy the best sound quality.
  • 🎧【Wide Compatibility】The External USB Sound Card for Windows, Linux, Mac, Raspberry pi, PlayStation PS5, PS4, PC, Laptop, Speaker, external TRS Microphone, headphone, earphone, and more. ❌❌Please note it only supports mono microphone TRS, it does not support TS, TRRS. Not compatible with PS3 and car.❌❌
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Buying Guides For Efficiently Picking The best usb soundcard

Experts advise that it is necessary to take a close look at the style, functionality, and value of the items you love. The most highly recommended way to know if a product is the best is by its quality checking.

The quality of the best usb soundcard will be a vital factor, which plays a decisive role in your experience of this product. Moreover, you guys always wanna products with high-quality standards and valuable characteristics, which best suits your desired needs.

So, how can you know if your selected best usb soundcard is of the best quality? The buying guide section below will present to you some tips for the most efficient purchase. Take a close look at the following guides!

DAC Quality

The first thing to look for in a sound card is the quality of the Digital-to-Analog-Converter. The DAC module is responsible for audio playback. A better DAC will result in a more natural sounding track.
How can you determine the quality of a DAC's DAC? The SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) is a common indicator of the DAC's quality. It simply refers to the volume of the intended useful sound compared with the noise that is not being used.

High-end sound cards can provide a SNR of up to 124 dB. The majority of motherboards that have onboard audio solutions offer an SNR between 80 and 90 dB. This is quite a difference considering decibels can be logarithmic.

Moreover, in addition to the SNR, the DAC also controls bit depth and audio sampling rates.

The latest high-end sound card can provide 24-bit, 32-bit and even 32-bit audio at a sampling rate of 192-kHz to 384-kHz. These specifications roughly define the audio quality of the sound card, although there are other factors included such as gold-plated connectors, Electromagnetic-Interference shielding, etc.

Additional Power And Connectors

Some sound cards, in addition to the minimum requirement for the motherboard's PCI/PCI Express slot, require extra power to run the components. This connector is typically a Molex connector.

Channel Support

For a fantastic home theatre, 5.1 channels are essential. Many of the latest sound systems feature the 7.1 and 7.2 surround sound. These audio systems give the illusion of 3D sound and provide incredible immersion.

Only the sound card can provide separate channels to the system. Many sound cards can provide virtual 7.1 sound through audio processing, but only a handful of cards offer true surround sound support. If you have a high-end, 7.1 home theatre system you may be using costly external audio solutions. However, if this is the case, then you should consider upgrading to the most recent 7.1-channel sound card.

For headphone users, the majority of high-end headphones can be used as stereo headphones. You will only get surround sound via the sound card's Digital Signal Processing.

Dolby Atmos' latest format provides 3D sound, but comes with a lot of requirements. Although there are some 7.1 surround headphones on the market with as many as ten drivers, their audio latency makes them less appealing than high-end stereo headphones.

Interface

There are two kinds of interfaces when we talk about the computer. The first is an interface between the soundcard and the computer. The second is an interface between audio devices and the soundcard. The latest sound cards require a PCI-Express slot. Make sure to have another, free slot.

The audio interface must be inspected at the ports of the sound card. Some sound cards support multichannels via RCA jacks, while others utilize 3.5mm jacks. Some sound cards have 3.5mm headphones whereas others provide 1/4-inch or 6.3mm headphones.

Swappable OpAmp

High-end sound cards offer the option of swapping out their OpAmps. Different OpAmps can provide different audio characteristics. Audiophiles love the ability to personalize their sound card's sounds.

Headphone Amplifier

An essential component in sound cards is the Headphone amplifier. It is required if you have studio-quality headphones. These headphones have higher impedances, so they are not compatible with low-end sound card that don't include a headphone amp.

Studio-grade headphones that have poor audio solutions will result in low volume. If you wish to purchase studio-grade headphones with poor audio solutions, ensure that you get a sound card that has a dedicated amplifier for your headphone. The supported impedance should be greater than the rating of the headphones.

Software Features

Because everyone has their own preferences, the software capabilities of a sound card are essential. It is actually one of the most important reasons you should get a soundcard.

Virtual Surround Sound is the most prominent feature. It's often used with headsets to improve spatial awareness in games, particularly in esports. These software solutions can also provide advanced audio features like customizable frequency response, equalizer settings and other options.

FAQs

Which Is The Best Audio Card?

It can be difficult to find the right audio card. The right card will improve surround sound capabilities and provide great results.

What Makes A Good Sound Card?

High signal-to noise ratios and low distortion are the hallmarks of a sound card. Your soundcard's SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) will have a greater ability to reproduce audio signals and not introduce unwanted artifacts.

Are USB Audio Cards Good?

If you're a filmmaker or video editor, USB cards may be your best choice. An external chipet can be used to connect it to other consoles, whether it's a computer or laptop. If you are looking to enhance your audiophile level, USB audio cards can be very useful.

What Alternatives To Sound Card Do Exist?

A comparison of sound cards and alternatives to them. The most popular alternative is the USB headset. It can play both music and voice. The downside is that USB headsets are limited in audio quality, typically 16-bit 48kHz. They cannot produce high frequency frequencies sufficiently well to reproduce music and speech. There may also be latency problems with USB headsets for playing digital audio streams from computers.

What Is The V8 Soundcard?

The version number V8 indicates the type of audio card that you'll be using. Multi-function models are the basis of this audio card. This is currently the only chip that allows dual-mobile use. Both iOS and Android smartphones can use the sound card to play games.

How Long Does The Soundcard Battery Last?

These chipsets are available in two versions. The one you see will likely be an internal PCIe card, while the other might be an exterior card. The power source for your motherboard will supply the internal cards with the power. They do not need a battery. To get power, some external devices can be connected to the computer via a USB connector.

Do Audio Cards Really Make A Difference?

An audio card's main purpose is to enhance sound quality when playing video games or listening to the in-game sounds. Even with a high-end headset, the inbuilt sound card on a PC or gaming console may be dull. You need a sound card with balanced sound to balance the sound.

Conclusion

In short, we’ve included all the most outstanding best usb soundcard found on the market during this time. Simultaneously, the detailed description and useful tips for best usb soundcard selection are shown with clarity. In case you cannot afford these options, then the 1Mii USB Soundcard USB to 3.5mm Jack Audio Adapter will be your new buddy. If you want more information about the best usb soundcard, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team is always here to support you guys!

 


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About Nicolas Ward

Nicolas Ward

Nicolas Ward is an elite author with many years of experience in the music field and the owner of many engaging articles at TheAudioInsights. He studies music production and has many years of passionate research into sound systems. Appearing in many popular newspapers, Nicolas Ward provides useful knowledge and the latest information on music and sound.