10 best external sound cards

US-2x2 is a well-built mid-budget card with two playback channels. The case is made of metal with a matte finish, has an interesting design and, thanks to a good fit of parts, feels like a monolithic block. The main disadvantage is that the buttons for setting the levels are too close. The front panel has a 48-volt power switch, two microphone-instrument inputs for external modules and devices. The main controls are located there. The US-2x2 external sound card sounds decent, but it can't really stand out, except that the built-in preamps are really good and show a low noise level even at high music volume. Plus, the reviews are full of complaints about problems with the installation and behavior of drivers in Windows.

A budget and easy-to-use external sound card that connects to a computer / laptop via a Type A USB connector. The functionality is amateurish and the model is more focused on simple listening to music or gaming, for which surround sound is supported. Recording quality is average, noise is possible, plus extremely high sensitivity to the accuracy of the settings of both the card itself and the system parameters of the OS. The headphone output is connected via an amplifier, but its power is not enough for professional studio models, we also note the absence of an instrument input and MIDI connectors, which once again emphasizes the budget and gaming direction of Creative X-Fi HD.

Key features of this budget sound card: 8-channel sound, support for headphones up to 600 ohms, built-in sound processor, 2 converters and a headphone amplifier. The model is executed in the effective case and differs in high compactness. Compatible with laptops, consoles and phones. The controls and ports for connection are placed on the sides of the device. The scroll wheel is on the front.According to the main technical characteristics, everything is also not bad here: full-fledged 24-bit DAC-ADCs, the maximum noise level is 120 dB. There is a mode for high-impedance microphones. Experts in their reviews note that the device is perfect primarily for gamers.

One of the most budget external sound cards on the market. This is a two-channel model with an aluminum housing and a connection to a PC via USB 2.0. The presence of built-in monitoring allows you to enjoy clear sound without delays and skips through the software on your computer. Supports up to 48 kHz sample rates. There are microphone and instrument inputs, a headphone output, you can arrange for yourself direct monitoring. As amenities, a Midas amplifier is installed here. Any condenser microphone or guitar works fine with it, but the gain level is only enough for amateur recording.Despite the low price of the device, users in the reviews note quite clear sound when listening to music at home.

Inexpensive external sound card with 7.1-channel surround sound options, in-game voice level adjustment and other "chips" that gamers will need. There is no instrumental input here, so the model is not suitable for recording music, although there is one microphone input, but it is more intended for gaming conversations than for recording vocals. On the other hand, there is a 32-bit DAC and support for frequencies up to 384 kHz, and the signal-to-noise ratio is at the level of entry-level studio cards. As for the reviews, in them users praise the model for its high sound quality, but at the same time point out possible heating and compatibility issues with consoles.

This is one of the most expensive mid-budget USB cards, but its price is fully justified by the filling and sound quality. The model offers quiet preamps and 4 balanced TRS outputs, allowing you to configure routing and use it both in broadcasts and in DJ sets. At home, the card will also show its best side thanks to the built-in compressor and limiter, and the built-in Loopback will allow you to manipulate the signal routing from a computer / laptop, which will be very useful for streamers. IPad support, hardware grounding, phantom microphone power - all this additionally justifies the presence of this external sound card in our top.

Budget model with two input and output channels, connected to a computer or laptop via a USB interface. Plays music up to 192kHz, but is limited to 96kHz for audio recording. It is made in a stylish metal case, equipped with the option of phantom power for the microphone and has an instrument input. In terms of sound clarity, it belongs to entry-level models, but is close to average, which is very pleasant, given the affordable price of the gadget. As for the opinions of users, the reviews are mostly positive, and the negative aspects are mostly logical for a budget model: there is no separate headphone volume control, not full adaptation to audio editors, etc.

Budget model with USB connection. It is compact in size, which allows you to comfortably take it with you to work in tandem with a laptop on a trip.It is primarily focused on sound reproduction, so it is ideal for lovers of listening to music, but recording is possible only through an additional connection of a mixer, since there is no microphone input. The headphone output is paired with one of the analog connectors, which many users in the reviews call a clear drawback. In addition, customers often complain about the inconvenient setup interface and possible freezes of the card when working in Windows. A nice bonus is the Cubase LE 4 audio editing software package.

The UAC-2 card connects to a PC/laptop via a USB 3.0 port for high speed data transfer. We note the excellent study of ergonomics: the body is metal and resistant to dust, the back panel is plastic, the edges of the regulators are ribbed and do not slip, and the overall assembly is excellent.The hardware allows you to achieve the sound of studio-quality music, there are two input and output channels, convenient combined XLR / TRS connectors, MIDI input and phantom power for the microphone. In general, we get a balanced device for both home and studio use. Bonus features include the MixEfx software mixer and the Loopback feature. At the same time, the reviews mention the lack of amplifier power for studio headphones and not the most successful implementation of ASIO support.

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3nd Gen is not the cheapest, but almost the top 24-bit card with support for sample rates up to 192 kHz and many unique options, including phantom power. A huge plus will be the presence in the package of Pro Tools First - a professional software package for recording studios based on MacOS and Windows operating systems. Unfortunately, there are no balanced outputs here.The device is focused on use by guitarists, and high-quality converters will reproduce your music clearly and without interference. In reviews, users consider 2i2 3nd Gen to be the best model in the mid-budget segment, able to compete with top-end representatives.