Features
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Ordinary. This category includes all sound cards that do not have a pronounced specialization and do not belong to any of the types described below. Usually, they have a set of characteristics of an entry-level or intermediate level and are designed for simple everyday tasks: listening to music and game sound through ordinary speakers or headphones, communicating on the Web through a microphone, etc. Conventional sound cards are equipped with both digital-to-analogue and analogue-to-digital converters, they can be either internal or external.
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Audiophile (Hi-Fi). Sound cards designed for lovers of high-quality sound; they can also be useful for professionals who are engaged in professional audio processing and need the most accurate reproduction of the received signal. Accordingly, models of this type are distinguished by high build quality, advanced components, as well as the presence of additional equipment, an abundance of interfaces and advanced customization options (both software and hardware, including even the ability to replace individual circuit components). However, these cards cost accordingly.
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Gamer's. Sound cards originally designed as components for advanced gaming systems. Accordingly, the main purpose of such models is high-quality transmission of game sound, including three-dimensional and multichannel. Typically, gaming
...audio cards are equipped with advanced DACs and support various special standards (see below); in addition, they may have additional equipment such as remote control modules (see below). The vast majority of models of this type are made internal, but they often have a rather original design (which is useful for modding enthusiasts who use transparent cases).
— CAP. Abbreviation for "Digital to Analogue Converter". Usually, this term refers to the constituent element of a sound card, but in this case it refers to a separate type of audio cards, the distinguishing feature of which is the absence of an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC). Accordingly, DACs are only capable of transmitting sound from a computer to headphones, speakers, etc., and cannot be used to digitize sound from a microphone or other external signal source. Note that this category includes a variety of models — from the simplest USB-headphone adapters, the size of a flash drive, to advanced audiophile-class solutions.
— Audio interface. A kind of opposite to the DAC described above: audio interfaces are designed primarily to digitize the sound coming to the input (for example, from a microphone or an electric guitar). Accordingly, they are not only necessarily equipped with analogue-to-digital converters — usually, these ADCs have very advanced characteristics and extensive sound tuning capabilities (and in some models even hardware switches are provided for this). At the same time, audio interfaces can also work in the digital-to-analogue audio conversion mode (in other words, to output sound to headphones/speakers). The cost of such devices is usually quite high, so it makes sense to purchase them only for those who plan to work a lot with sound recording.Interface
The main interface used to connect a sound card to a computer or other device.
Like the sound cards themselves, the interfaces used in them are divided into internal (
PCI,
PCI-E USB,
USB C,
FireWire, Thunderbolt, 3.5 mm mini-jack, Bluetooth). Here is a more detailed description of each of these options:
— PCI-E. The main modern interface for connecting internal peripherals (including sound cards) to computer motherboards. Used in most internal type models (see above). The main advantage of solutions with PCI-E is that connectors for their connection can be found on almost any modern motherboard. True, these connectors may be needed for other components - a video card, a TV tuner, or even an SSD drive; however, even on the simplest motherboards, there are usually several PCI-E slots, so this point cannot be called a serious drawback.
— PCI. Interface for connecting expansion boards to the PC motherboard. It is the forerunner of PCI-E, has significantly lower bandwidth and more limited features, so is generally obsolete. Nevertheless, in our time, motherboards with such connectors and sound cards for the PCI interface (including quite advanced ones) continue to be produced. This is due to the fact that a relativ
...ely low bandwidth is sufficient to work with sound; and installing an audio card in the PCI slot leaves PCI-E slots free, which may be required for components that are more demanding on connection speed. In any case, before buying such a sound card, it does not hurt to make sure that the "motherboard" has a connector for connecting it.
— USB. Connection via standard USB port. Until recently, this was the most popular interface for external peripherals, found in almost all PCs and laptops. It was under USB that most external sound cards were made. The disadvantage of this connection method is that USB connectors may be required for other devices, which creates problems with a small number of ports and an abundance of peripherals. On the other hand, such situations do not occur so often, and to solve them, it is enough to have a USB splitter (hub) on hand.
Separately, we note that the full-sized USB sockets in modern PCs and laptops have been replaced by more compact USB C (see below).
- USB C. Peripheral connector with a symmetrical contact group, which is often replaced by full-size USB ports on board modern PCs and laptops. Many new models of external sound cards are made for this interface. The exception to the rule are only individual instances for Thunderbolt (see below) - for them, it is Thunderbolt, and not USB C, that is indicated as a peripheral connection connector.
— Thunderbolt. A universal peripheral connector used primarily in Apple computers and laptops. It should be borne in mind that different generations of Thunderbolt differ in the type of physical connector: versions v1 and v2 use a miniDisplayPort socket, version v3 uses a USB C socket. So, when choosing a sound card with such a connection, you must definitely clarify this point. On the other hand, versions of Thunderbolt with different connectors are quite mutually compatible through the appropriate adapters.
— FireWire. It is also IEEE 1394. An interface for external devices, which some time ago enjoyed a certain popularity, but today it is practically obsolete.
- 3.5 mm (mini-jack). Mini-jack is one of the most common audio connectors. However, it is usually provided as one of the audio inputs (see below) and is rarely used as the main interface for connecting a sound card to an external device. Such a connection is found mainly in specialized gaming models, including those designed for use with consoles. At the same time, in such models, the mini-jack connector can be made combined, with the ability to connect both a linear (analog) signal via a conventional electrical wire, and an optical (digital) signal via a TOSLINK cable. Recall that the optical interface is notable for its complete insensitivity to external interference, it allows you to transmit multi-channel sound, however, cables for such a connection require care in handling.
— Bluetooth. Wireless connection according to the Bluetooth standard. It is found mainly in models designed for use with smartphones and tablets - there are few wired connectors in such gadgets, but Bluetooth modules are almost guaranteed. True, initially, with such a transmission, the sound is greatly compressed, which noticeably affects its quality; however, modern Bluetooth audio cards usually include support for aptX to remedy this shortcoming. Of course, the signal source must also support this technology - you should make sure of this before buying.Channels
The most advanced multi-channel audio format that a sound card is capable of outputting.
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2. Standard stereo sound on two channels — left and right. This format allows you to provide a sense of surround sound (especially when using headphones), which is quite enough for most simple tasks. However, it noticeably loses to multi-channel sound in terms of the "immersion effect", which can be critical for demanding gamers and audiophiles.
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5.1. The classic and most popular multi-channel surround sound format today: a centre channel, two front and two rear channels allow you to achieve a full-fledged “surround effect”, and a separate subwoofer channel provides rich bass sound.
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7.1. The 7.1 format differs from 5.1 by the presence of two additional channels. There are several options for localizing these channels — for example, a pair of side speakers, a pair of additional speakers above the front ones, etc. Anyway, the 7.1 format provides a more reliable surround sound transmission than 5.1, but such cards are more expensive, and there is less specialized content for 7.1.
When choosing a sound card by the number of channels, it is worth considering such moments. Firstly, multi-channel options are capable of producing sound in simpler formats (for example, a 7.1 card can be used for 5.1 acoustics), and stereo sound output i
...s supported by all models in general. Secondly, modern multimedia software (in particular, codecs) allows you to output multi-channel audio through a card with fewer channels — for example, play 5.1 sound through a two-channel card with stereo speakers without quality loss. Thirdly, for the full-fledged operation of multi-channel sound, you will need not only a card, but also appropriate acoustics; therefore, it makes no sense to specifically look for a multi-channel model if you plan to use exclusively stereo speakers.Audiochip
Brand of the audio chip installed in the sound card.
The audio chip is one of the most important parts of a sound card, a kind of "heart" of the whole circuit, and it is on its characteristics that the sound quality and other capabilities of a particular model largely depend. Knowing the brand of the chip, you can easily find various information on it — official specifications, test results, reviews, etc. — and based on this, draw a conclusion to what extent this sound card is able to meet your requirements. Of course, for ordinary video cards (see "View") there is no need to delve into such details, but when choosing a gaming or audiophile model, they can be very useful.
Mac compatibility
Ability to work sound card with Mac computers.
Mac (Macintosh) in this case can be attributed to both the eponymous line of desktop computers manufactured by Apple and MacBook laptops. Both of them have certain hardware differences from "regular" PCs and
laptops, in addition, they were originally created for Apple's own MacOS operating system. All this led to specific requirements for peripheral devices, including and sound cards — not all models are able to work normally with a Mac. Therefore, if you purchase a sound card for such a computer or laptop, you should make sure that
Mac support is directly claimed for the selected model.
Note that Apple products have very limited possibilities for replacing internal peripherals by the user, and sound cards are not included in the list of replaceable components at all. Therefore, Mac-enabled models are usually referred to as external (see "Type").
Signal-to-noise ratio
This parameter determines the ratio of the "clean" sound produced by the DAC at the output to all extraneous noise. As such, it is a pretty strong indicator of sound purity. According to the signal-to-noise ratio, DACs in modern sound cards can be divided as follows:
up to 90 dB — initial level;
90-100 dB — average level, advanced "home" models;
more than 100 dB — professional level.
More features
— Headphone Amplifier. The presence of a separate
headphone amplifier in the design of the sound card. Such equipment allows at least to improve the overall sound of the “ears”, as well as to implement various additional settings for such sound (for example, a separate volume control). And some headphones — primarily high-impedance Hi-Fi models — in principle cannot be used without special amplifiers.
— External control module. The presence
of an external control module in the design of the sound card. Such a module is actually a control panel with a wired connection; it doesn't give you the freedom of movement that a wireless remote control does (see below), but it's cheaper and often more convenient. So, the control module does not have to be in direct line of sight with respect to the audio card, and the length of the wire is often enough to place the device at the user's hand. However the set of adjustments placed on the external unit is usually limited to the most basic settings; however, even this, usually, is quite enough for comfortable use. In addition, the control unit often provides additional connectors for connecting headphones and a microphone. Among other things, this feature is especially convenient in games — it allows you to adjust the sound without distracting from the game itself. However, other types of sound cards can also be equipped with external modules (see "View").
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— Remote control. A remote control is included with the sound card. Do not confuse this function with the external control module described above: in this case, we mean a classic wireless IR remote control, like those used in TVs. Such a device does not necessarily cover all the capabilities of the audio adapter, however, the range of functions of the remote control can be quite extensive. On the other hand, the need to control a sound card from a distance is extremely rare, and in most cases, the mentioned external module is enough for this. So models with a remote control are not widely used.
— Exit to the front panel. Ability to connect an internal sound card (see "Type") to the connectors on the front panel of the PC. To do this, a special connector (or several connectors) is provided on the board, which is connected to the corresponding connector (s) using a wire. The convenience of this feature is obvious: in desktop computers, the front panel is located closest to the user, and it is to it that it is easiest to connect peripherals that involve frequent plugging and unplugging, such as headphones and microphones. Actually, connectors for such devices are most often displayed on the front panel.mini-Jack (3.5 mm)
The number of inputs in the design of the sound card using 3.5 mm mini-Jack connectors. This connector, usually used to transmit an analogue signal, is one of the most popular in modern audio technology. Speaking of inputs, it's worth noting that most computer microphones are designed to plug into the 3.5mm jack; this also applies to separate microphone plugs on headsets. At the same time, the specific purpose of the mini-jack sockets in different sound cards may be different; Moreover, in some models, the same socket can be reconfigured and even change its purpose (from input to output and vice versa). These points, usually, are specified in the characteristics.
Using a simple adapter, you can also connect a 6.35 mm plug (Jack) to the 3.5 mm jack.
RCA
The number of inputs with RCA connectors in the design of the sound card.
The RCA connector itself can be used for different types of signal, however, in this case, the simplest linear interface for analogue audio transmission is meant. In such an interface, one connector allows you to transmit only one channel of sound. Therefore, the minimum and, in fact, the standard number of RCA inputs in modern sound cards is two, for the left and right stereo channels. A larger number is extremely rare, in separate high-end audio interfaces (see "Type"), but in such models the number of connectors is also a pair.
Separately, we note that this input should not be confused with coaxial S / P-DIF (see below): although the latter also uses an RCA jack, however, it is fundamentally different in signal format and has specific cable requirements.
