The 30 best pc sound card brands
Creative, Plantronics and ASUS lead our ranking of 30 pc sound card brands. Compare what each brand makes, visit its official site, or shop it online.
Pc Sound Card brands, ranked
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1
Creative
Sound is a significant element in the field of entertainment. Without sound, everything feels dull and incomplete. Creative comes up with solutions to problems like these. The company produces audio accessories for your entertainment systems, PCs, and many more. Established in Singapore, they are famous for their Sound Blaster sound cards, which made them a globally renowned producer of sound systems. Creative offers products ranging from soundbars and speakers to headphones and other accessories.
Website: us.creative.com |Brands like Creative
Popularity 10.0/10
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2
Plantronics
Plantronics is built with the confidence of the future. Plantronics has been in business since 1969. They have made their appearance on the moon too! Don't believe us? The brand developed the headsets that were used by the crew to communicate. They have been dealing with technology and machines for a long time, so they know about the industry. They were so advanced 50 years ago, and now they have grown as a brand even more.
Website: plantronics.com |Brands like Plantronics
Popularity 4.4/10
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3
ASUS
ASUS is a multinational company founded in 1989 and specialized in consumer electronics and hardware. It is considered people's first choice regarding motherboards and gaming products. The brand snatched its claim to fame in 2007 when it refurbished the PC industry with its creation of the Eee PC. Recently, it even created a smart home robot, Zenbo, to make the lives of households more convenient. As of today, it has won multiple accolades.
Website: asus.com |Brands like ASUS
Popularity 2.6/10
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4
StarTech
With the development in the field of electronic devices, another area that undergoes positive change is the accessories section. Technology has several problems, and StarTech was established to cure them and find a solution so that they won't happen again. They develop products that are useful in the daily lives of a person, for example, dock stations for different devices, hard drive accessories, cables, and many more. StarTech is a solution to all the problems.
Website: startech.com |Brands like StarTech
Popularity 2.3/10
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5
Diamond
Discover cabinets that portray your personality at Diamond Cabinets. The company has launched a series of its modular systems, each conveying a different vibe. Choosing the apt door style with the material you think is the pick of the bunch is now simply effortless. Rustic, transitional, contemporary, traditional, and a lot more to pick from! Find your inspiration from their inspiration gallery online. Get a complete renovation with Diamond! Make your dwelling place look stellar.
Website: diamondcabinets.com |Brands like Diamond
Popularity 1.9/10
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6
SIIG
SIIG is a world leader in reasonable signal solutions for consumers, businesses, and industrial industries. KVM switches, USB-to-VGA/DVI adapter cables, HDMI cables, DVI cables and adapters, VGA cables and adapters, HDBaseT extenders and converters, power strips and surge protectors, PC cameras and webcams, computer peripherals such as card readers, external hard drives, and portable storage devices are just a few of their products. SIIG is devoted to delivering outstanding client care and support so that you may feel confident in your purchases.
Website: siig.com |Brands like SIIG
Popularity 1.8/10
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7
Compaq
James Harris and William Murto founded Compaq in 1982 to manufacture high-quality American computers. Its main goal was to build portable computers that could use all software created only for IBM and was, in fact, the first company to succeed at it. This brought it global renown. Thanks to its dedication and quality, it came to be known as one of the best in the trade.
Website: compaq.com |Brands like Compaq
Popularity 1.7/10
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8
TERRATEC
TERRATEC symbolizes dependable, high-quality products. From sound cards to power banks, TV, speakers, audio-video, and accessories. TERRATEC offers a diverse selection of solutions to fulfill the needs of audiophiles. They are the proud manufacturer of DVB-T sticks for TV reception and the Grabster, which helps to digitalize VHS cassettes and enables you to record your gaming sessions. Convenient devices such as ChargeAIR dot!, ChargeAIR All Desk Pro, and TERRATEC GRABBY round out the portfolio.
Website: terratec.de |Brands like TERRATEC
Popularity 1.7/10
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9
C-media
Cmedia is among the leading developers of audio chips and audio technology solutions for various platforms involving PCs. Years from now, they have tie-ups with several multi-national companies like Intel. They keep their keen eyes on the latest market trends...
Website: cmedia.com.tw |Brands like C-media
Popularity 1.4/10
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10
Guillemot
The Guillemot Corporation has a present and a future as bright as the video game industry itself: it is ideally positioned for expansion in this area with its new brand Thrustmaster. The Group is strengthening its existing strong position in...
Website: guillemot.com |Brands like Guillemot
Popularity 1.4/10
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11
Rocketfish
Rocketfish manufactures cutting-edge products that make home entertainment better than it had ever been before. The company believes in nurturing and growing the feeling of having a home theatre and enjoying good movies with friends or family. You can find...
Website: rocketfishproducts.com |Brands like Rocketfish
Popularity 1.3/10
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12
Turtle Beach
Turtle Beach is a gaming audio leader, offering outstanding sound quality and innovative technologies that increase performance and give gamers the edge they need to win. They provide a wide range of fantastic products to boost your gaming experience. Their...
Website: turtlebeach.com |Brands like Turtle Beach
Popularity 1.3/10
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13
Creative Technology
Product developer and award-winning manufacturer Creative Technology create items that let sound's enormous potential shine. Best-end wireless speakers, PC soundbars, Bluetooth earbuds, Sound Blaster sound cards, gaming headsets, MP3 players, and other audio equipment are available. From its beginnings in...
Website: us.creative.com |Brands like Creative Technology
Popularity 1.2/10
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14
SPEED LINK
SPEED LINK has a large assortment of gaming and PC accessories. Whether you are an eSports enthusiast or want to give your desktop or laptop computer a new appearance, they have the appropriate product for you. They provide items not...
Website: speedlink.com |Brands like SPEED LINK
Popularity 1.2/10
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15
inland
Inland goods, Inc. is a computer accessory company. For almost 20 years, inland goods have been in the computer accessory market. Their items are made both in the United States and in other countries. Detail to absolute quality begins on...
Website: inlandproduct.com |Brands like inland
Popularity 1.1/10
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16
AOPEN
AOPEN is a prominent Taiwanese electronics manufacturer that has made significant progress with their solutions for healthcare, education, and EV charging technology, with the epicentre on digital signage players and panel PC peripherals. The company is proactively developing solutions to...
Website: aopen.com |Brands like AOPEN
Popularity 1.0/10
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17
Digigram
Founded in Monthbonnot, Rhone-Alpes, France, Digigram gives the best hardware for sharing excellent video and sound. The organization is one of the primary providers of computerized sound organization answers for the radio station, and sound conveyance openly puts. The organization...
Website: digigram.com |Brands like Digigram
Popularity 1.0/10
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18
Dynex
Are you looking for the best consumer electronics deals? Electronic accessories such as cables, chargers, and home entertainment items are available at excellent prices on Dynex. They have everything you need to connect your smartphone or tablet to your TV...
Website: dynexproducts.com |Brands like Dynex
Popularity 0.9/10
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19
Trust
Long an office-like set-up to turn your room into a workplace during the pandemic? Trust is an ideal brand for all digital accessories required while working from home. The electronic brand focuses on customer satisfaction and simplifies day-to-day chores with...
Website: trust.com |Brands like Trust
Popularity 0.7/10
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20
ATI
ATI Systems is a group that is made up of five divisions. The company helps in manufacturing and supplying essential tools to the market. ATI Systems are the leading supplier of motion and linear displacement sensors. They believe that quality...
Website: atisystems.co.za |Brands like ATI
Popularity 0.7/10
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21
Onkyo
Onkyo Corporation is a leading producer of great-end home entertainment devices and technologies, including surround sound systems and AV receivers. To bring listeners closer to the artist's original sound, experts created the company's innovative audio technologies through a passion for...
Website: intl.onkyo.com |Brands like Onkyo
Popularity 0.7/10
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22
AUDIOTRAK
A medium of versatility, MAYA66 eXpress is a state-of-the-art audio interface-card for musical entertainment. Since it is built on PCI Express Generation 2 technology, there are no compatibility issues when installing it on any PC. One Mic PreAmp (with +48V...
Website: audiotrak.jimdofree.com |Brands like AUDIOTRAK
Popularity 0.7/10
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23
Sabrent
Sabrent designs and produces various products that help make life easier. The Sabrent product line includes a full range of add-ons, including cables, chargers, and more. They also offer computer components such as hubs, card readers, and internal hard drives...
Website: sabrent.com |Brands like Sabrent
Popularity 0.7/10
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24
Manhattan
Manhattan is a German beauty brand making high-quality, fun makeup products to help people enhance their natural features. They have a diverse catalog of products to help people create new looks and showcase their personalities. The company has been in...
Website: manhattan.de |Brands like Manhattan
Popularity 0.5/10
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25
RME
RME is a technical product design company. It offers reliable, robust, sustainable, and durable specialized products like convertors, mics, audio interfaces, hardware accessories like cables, adaptors, USB, etc., and many other solutions to its customer’s problems. It also provides connectivity...
Website: rme-audio.de |Brands like RME
Popularity 0.5/10
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26
AudioScience
AudioScience has chosen a pretty revealing name for the company. You can deduce that they deal with audio products and accessories. Richard Gross and Stephen Turner founded the company together in 1996. They wanted to design and manufacture audio solutions....
Website: audioscience.com |Brands like AudioScience
Popularity 0.5/10
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27
Aztech
Aztech Technologies Pte Ltd is a leading brand located in Singapore. It is one of the top brands to rely on for electronics. Their collections include various categories of different designs, along with originally manufactured products. All products are artistically...
Website: aztechshirts.com |Brands like Aztech
Popularity 0.5/10
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28
EVGA
EVGA is a leading NVIDIA-approved partner in channel sales across North America. As part of this collaboration, EVGA has worked closely with NVIDIA to guarantee that all EVGA gaming motherboards, including the newest NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards, are customized with...
Website: evga.com |Brands like EVGA
Popularity 0.5/10
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29
HT Omega
HT OMEGA - HT Omega Hifi Audio Sound Cards Home Page
Website: htomega.com |Brands like HT Omega
Popularity 0.5/10
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30
I/OMagic
In today's day and age, we are surrounded by intelligent gadgets and devices that help and accompany us in multiple ways. I/O Magic is an online store specializing in electronic accessories and tools that help real-life problems without a hitch....
Website: iomagic.com |Brands like I/OMagic
Popularity 0.5/10
Official websites and social accounts
| Brand | Website | X / Twitter | YouTube | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creative | us.creative.com | /CreativeLabs | creativelabs | @creativelabs | – |
| Plantronics | plantronics.com | /polycompany | polycompany | @polycompany | – |
| ASUS | asus.com | /AsusIndia | asusindia | @ASUSindia | – |
| StarTech | startech.com | /Startechdotcom | – | @STARTECHdotCOM | StarTech.com |
| Diamond | diamondcabinets.com | – | – | – | DiamondCabinetry |
| SIIG | siig.com | /siiginc | – | @SIIGInc | SIIG Inc. |
| Compaq | compaq.com | – | – | – | – |
| TERRATEC | terratec.de | – | – | – | – |
| C-media | cmedia.com.tw | – | – | – | – |
| Guillemot | guillemot.com | – | – | – | – |
PC Sound Cards Buying Guide
Sound quality is an integral component of a PC's overall performance, especially if you're using your PC for gaming or music production. If you're not satisfied with the onboard sound card that came with your PC or laptop, the solution is to upgrade to a dedicated sound card. But with so many options available on the market, choosing the right sound card for your needs can be overwhelming. In this guide, we'll discuss the key factors you should consider when shopping for a PC sound card.
Audio Quality
The primary reason for upgrading to a dedicated sound card is to achieve better audio quality than what comes with integrated audio. The quality of the audio output is determined by the sound card's Digital-Analog Converter (DAC), which converts digital audio into analog audio signals that can be output through headphones or speakers.
The higher the DAC's bit-depth and sample rate, the better the sound quality. Bit-depth refers to the number of bits used to encode each sample of audio data, while sample rate indicates how many times per second the audio data is sampled. Most sound cards on the market today have a bit depth of 16 bits or higher, and a sample rate of 44.1 kHz or higher.
Compatibility
The compatibility of a sound card with your PC or laptop is another crucial factor to consider. Sound cards come in different form factors, so it's essential to ensure that you choose a sound card that's compatible with your system's PCIe or PCI slot or USB port.
It's also crucial to check the operating system (OS) compatibility. Most sound cards are compatible with Windows-based systems, but if you're running a Linux or MacOS system, you should ensure that the sound card you're buying comes with the necessary drivers and software for your OS.
Connection Options
Sound cards offer various connection options for outputting audio, including headphone jacks, RCA jacks, 3.5mm jacks, and optical and coaxial digital outputs. The connectivity options you require depend on the type of audio equipment you want to connect to your sound card.
For instance, if you're using a studio-grade audio mixer, you may need a sound card with multiple RCA jacks, whereas if you're using a set of high-end headphones or speakers, a sound card with a 3.5mm jack may suffice. If you're using a home theater or audio system that has a digital optical input, a sound card with an optical output may be your best bet.
Channels
The number of audio channels supported by a sound card determines the quality of surround sound it can produce. Most sound cards offer 2 to 8 audio channels. The general rule is, the more channels, the better the audio quality.
For instance, a sound card that supports 5.1 audio channels can produce audio in six different directions, while a sound card that supports 7.1 audio channels can produce audio in eight different directions. However, it's worth noting that the quality of the audio produced will depend on the quality of the speakers or headphones used, and not the quantity of audio channels supported by the sound card.
Brand and Price
The price of a sound card depends on its features, audio quality, and brand. You'll find sound cards from different brands at different price points, ranging from budget-priced to high-end models.
When choosing a sound card, it's essential to buy from well-known brands with a track record of producing high-quality audio equipment. Some of the popular brands that manufacture sound cards include Creative Labs, ASUS, and EVGA. While buying from a reputable brand may come at a higher cost, the quality of the audio produced will be worth the investment.
Conclusion
Investing in a dedicated sound card is an excellent way of improving your PC's sound quality. When shopping for a sound card, prioritized audio quality, compatibility, connectivity options, and the number of audio channels supported. Additionally, buy from reputable brands that produce reliable and high-quality audio equipment. With this guide, you're now better equipped to choose the right sound card for your needs.
Additional Considerations
In addition to the factors mentioned above, there are a few other considerations that you should keep in mind when shopping for a sound card.
Latency
Latency refers to the time it takes for a sound card to process the audio data it receives before outputting it through the speakers or headphones. The lower the latency, the more responsive the audio output will be. If you're using your sound card for gaming or music production, low latency is essential.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)
The SNR is a measure of the sound card's ability to distinguish between the desired audio signal and background noise. A higher SNR means that the sound card can produce cleaner sound with less noise.
DSP Effects
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) effects allow you to adjust various audio parameters, such as reverb, equalization, and bass, to customize the sound output to your liking. Some sound cards come with built-in DSP effects, while others require you to install third-party software for DSP functionality.
External vs. Internal Sound Cards
When choosing a sound card, you'll also need to decide whether you want an internal or external sound card. Internal sound cards are installed inside your PC's case and connect directly to the motherboard. They're ideal if you're looking for a permanent installation and don't mind opening up your PC's case.
On the other hand, external sound cards connect to your PC or laptop via USB, and relatively easy to install and remove. They're ideal if you're looking for a portable solution and don't want to open up your PC's case.
Final Thoughts
Investing in a dedicated sound card is an excellent way of improving your PC's audio quality, whether you're a gamer, music producer, or simply enjoy listening to high-quality music. By considering the factors mentioned above, such as audio quality, compatibility, connectivity options, and number of channels, you can choose the right sound card for your needs.
Remember to also consider additional factors such as latency, SNR, DSP effects, and whether to buy an internal or external sound card. By doing your research and choosing a reputable brand, you'll be sure to have an audio experience that matches your audio needs.
