No Matter you’re a gamer or audiophile, a good sound card can definitely give you that extra thrill! Choose from my list of best sound card and boost your audio experience!

Not many people really care about installing a good quality sound card, in fact, most of them are not even aware of the fact that something like that exists. But after reading this post, you’d be surprised to know what difference can a good sound card (be it internal, external or USB) can make to your PC!

Without further ado, here’s the list of best sound cards that you can buy for an amazing audio experience on your PC.

Top 10 Best Sound Cards of 2020

Best Internal Sound Cards in 2019

Below are my recommendations of best internal sound cards which will fit the requirements of gamers as well as audiophiles. Even if you don’t play much games, these will definitely tempt you to play some!

1. Creative Sound Blaster Z – Best PC Sound Card

Creative Labs is not a new name when it comes to sound card. In fact, they were the first to introduce the sound card to the PC market back in the days. Their most popular range is named ‘Sound Blaster’ and the one of their masterpiece from the same series is what we are talking about – Creative Sound Blaster Z.

With stunning looks and powerful technology, Sound Blaster Z is definitely something you can only expect from Creative. It has compact design measuring just below 5 inches in length and can be connected to the PCIe x1 slot of your motherboard.

The standalone software that controls this sound device has a plethora of features including necessary drivers. Though, when using with some odd PCs and OS, there could be some drivers issues.

In my opinion, the Creative Sound Blaster Z is definitely the best PC sound card available in the market.

Highlights

• SBX Pro Studio ^TM: SBX Pro studio offers a great set of audio enhancements like immersive surround sound. It makes the sound performance equally awesome on both speakers as well as headsets. In fact, it is a hot topic of debate that SBX Pro Studio is superior to Dolby as well.
• 116 dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio: The problem with default sound cards is “noise”. Creative Sound Blaster Z offers a 116dB signal-to-ratio which means crystal clear sound with or without speakers too.
• CrystalVoice^TM Focus: What SBX Pro does to audio output, Crystal Voice does the same to the audio input. Crystal Voice Focus is a software technology designed to enhance the performance of your microphone.
• EMI Shield: The Sound Blaster Z comes with a unique EMI shield to protect the internal components of the card from the unwanted interference thus reducing the Radio noise from the audio output.

• Great Design & Build
• Superb Sound Quality
• Realistic Surround Sound Output

• Priced comparatively Higher

2. Asus Strix SOAR Sound Card

[su_button url=”http://geni.us/SH0TKM” target=”blank” rel=”nofollow” style=”flat” background=”#f96e5b” size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

Asus is a tech giant that makes almost everything related to computers and recognized for the quality it delivers. Asus’s Strix SOAR sound card is a solid performer and comes with a lot of features that makes it one of our personal favorite in this list of best sound card in 2020.

Strix SOAR has a sturdy build and a dual-colored black and orange design which makes it a perfect fit for gamers. It is an internal sound card which you can plug into the PCIe x1 port.

You will be surprised to know the frequency range it offers. Asus Strix SOAR has a frequency response range of 10-48,000 making it capable of producing even the lowest bass and the highest pitch sound with perfection.

The only thing that puts it on the second place is that it requires an additional 6-pin power input otherwise it’s a pretty impressive sound card.

Highlights

• High-Definition Sound Processor : This sound card comes with a C-Media USB2.0 6632AX high-definition sound processor. It also has a good bitrate reaching the maximum at 384KHz/24-bit.
• 116 dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio :  Just the like the previous one of the list, Strix SOAR also offers a 116 dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio ensuring a crystal clear noise-free audio output.
• Sonic Radar Pro : This feature enables an overlay on games that allow gamers to actually listen from where the sounds are coming; “positional audio” that’s what they call it. This is pretty handy for war games like COD etc.
• EMI Shield : The Asus Strix SOAR also features an EMI shield similar to Creative Sound Blaster to reduce the unwanted interference thus improving the audio output.

• Sturdy Design
• Multiple I/O Jacks
• Positional Audio Output

• Little Expensive
• Requires Additional Power Connector

3. Asus Essence STX II 7.1 – Best Sound Card for Gaming

[su_button url=”http://geni.us/NDA6″ target=”blank” rel=”nofollow” style=”flat” background=”#f96e5b” size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

The next one of our list of best sound cards is again from Asus but from a different range called Essence series. It completely targets high audio performance.

STX II 7.1 owns an okayish look as far as hardware is concerned. It offers cutting edge hi-fi audio output and a 124db signal-to-noise ratio producing high-quality audio output.

Also, this sound card has its own heat sink so forget about the excessive heating while playing games that hog heaps of resources. It also includes a daughterboard that enables 7.1 channel output.

Talking about the downsides, the price is a little higher but again if you want good quality, you need to have deep pockets, you know.

Highlights

• High Fidelity Audio : Asus Essence STX II is the king when it comes to hi-fi audio because of it high SNR. Most sound card available in the market have signal-to-noise ratio ranging from 96 – 120 dB, but STX II 7.1 has a whopping 124 dB SNR.
• Interchangeable OP-Amp ports : For the gamers and audiophiles who love customization the hardware on their own, this feature is a bliss. With three swappable op-amp sockets, it makes you the in-charge instead of a mere software.
• Daughterboard : To make a real 7.1 channel output, STX II sports 6 additional 3.5mm connectors and compact enough to connect easily in any PCIe slot along with the sound card itself.
• Dolby Surround : Dolby’s technology is common in most sound cards but STX II creates a perfect surround experience for immersive gaming.

• Unmatched Audio Quality
• True 7.1 Surround Output

• Higher Price Band

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column][/su_row]

4. HT Omega Claro II 7.1 Sound Card

[su_button url=”http://geni.us/BuS1pLx” target=”blank” rel=”nofollow” style=”flat” background=”#f96e5b” size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

If you are looking for a sound card for an awesome surround sound experience, we bet not many on this list will give you that better than HT Omega Clare II 7.1.

HT Omega is comparatively a new entrant in the audio components market (founded in 2006), but they are making some great quality products. And, HT Omega Claro II 7.1 sound card is one of them.

Claro II provides a crystal clear audio with 7.1 channel surround sound output. An additional AD8620BR op-amp is also integrated to provide enhanced audio playback.

Though it is advertised by the company that it supports all major operating systems and motherboards, you may face some implication if you are Linux user.

Highlights

• Best 7.1 Channel Output : Claro II comes with 7.1 surround sound allowing multiple speakers and enhanced playback with an impressive audio resolution of 192kHz/24-bit.
• Dolby Pro Logic IIx : Another feature that differentiates this sound card from others on this list is the use of Dolby Pro Logic IIx technology. This means this HT Omega Claro II can convert a normal 5.1 signal in to 7.1 channel output. Isn’t that awesome!
• 120 dB Signal-to-noise Ratio : HT Omega Claro II boasts a 120 db SnR that means an almost noise free audio output and better sound clarity.

• Unmatched 7.1 Surround Sound
• High Signal-to-Noise Ratio
• High Quality DACs

• Compatibility Issues with Linux
• Expensive

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column][/su_row]

5. Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Fx Sound Card

To compete with Asus’s low budget sound card, Creative introduced Sound Blaster Audigy Fx which offers amazing features and sound quality; still not being too harsh on your pockets.

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX is a budget sound card (for those almost who are broke, lol :P). It has a 5.1 channel sound output but supports EAX in Windows PCs. Another plus point with this is that Audigy FX uses the same SBX Pro Studio technology used in Sound Blaster Z.

Talking about specifications, it has a standard 192kHz/24-bit stereo direct audio fidelity along with a signal-to-noise ratio of 106dB and a powerful headphone jack, especially for gamers.

A slight downside of being a budget sound card, there is no EMI shield available with this one.

If this is your first time with discrete sound cards, then you must go with Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX. Great Audio experience in an inexpensive package is guaranteed.

Highlights

• Good 5.1 Channel Audio : A good set of 5.1 analog gaming speakers will fulfill your audio experience with the powerful Audigy FX. Even if you use headphones, you are going to be blown away with the audio quality.
• 600 Ohm Headphone Jack : With the dedicated 600-ohm headphone jack, this sound card can feed any type of headphone to the fullest. So, you don’t need to worry about the high impedance headsets.
• SBX Pro Studio : SBX Pro Studio driver software gives you plenty of options to tweak and tune so that you get an optimal audio performance the way you want it.

• 5.1 Surround Sound
• EAX Support
• SBX Pro Studio
• Inexpensive

• Lacks 7.1 Channel Output
• No EMI shield

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column][/su_row]

6. Asus Xonar DGX Sound Card

[su_button url=”http://geni.us/HgLn1″ target=”blank” rel=”nofollow” style=”flat” background=”#f96e5b” size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

Well, if you are really low on budget and cannot afford the above three gaming sound cards, then Asus Xonar DGX is totally a great choice for you. Priced below $50 and producing a satisfying audio output, this is the best budget sound card you can buy for your PC.

Don’t think that because of the low cost it lacks features. Xonar DGX sound card has 105dB SnR and a C-Media CMI8786 audio processor. A good range of frequency response (10-48,000) along with three analog audio jacks and a microphone jack makes is a complete solid sound solution for PC gamers!

But again when the budget is low, there are some definite compromises. This sound card lacks EMI shielding which makes it a little vulnerable to noise.

Highlights

• Dolby Digital + GX 2.5 : Asus has used Dolby Digital Technology along with their trademark GX 2.5 feature, both of these technologies in unison produce high fidelity audio.
• Dual Output modes : Xonar DGX Audio center, the driver software of this sound card, allows two output modes – DSP mode and GX mode. DSP mode favors high fidelity neutral audio output while GX mode adds different effects to the sound output.
• High Frequency Response : In this budget range, a frequency response range of 10-48,000 is definitely worth the mention. It enables this sound card to produce both low bass and high pitch sounds to perfection.

• Inexpensive
• Good Audio Output
• Compact

• No EMI Shield

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column][/su_row]

7. Creative Sound Blaster Audigy RX Sound Card

[su_button url=”http://geni.us/y2xtv” target=”blank” rel=”nofollow” style=”flat” background=”#f96e5b” size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

Creative’s Sound Blaster Audigy Rx is one of the most popular sound cards for gaming. Don’t be fooled by its old fashioned basic design, this internal sound card has a lot of impressive features to offer.

With the premium Sound Blaster quality at 192kHz/24-bit, true 7.1 channel Surround Sound and a dedicated 600-ohm amp for headphones, Audigy Rx is the best sound card in its class when it comes to gaming.

To our surprise, this sound card gives optimal performance with EAX technologies too.

The only word of caution for this sound card is the driver support.  Though, the company promises it’s compatibility with all the recent Windows versions but a few issues are reported in some cases.

Highlights

• E-Mu Chipset : To get an edge over the common surround sound capabilities, Audigy Rx is equipped with a dedicated E-Mu chipset that ensures high-quality audio performance with EAX technologies.
• Authentic 7.1 Surround Sound : When we say authentic, we really mean it. Audigy Rx boasts 7 connectors including an optical output and 6 regular 3.5 mm jacks allowing a complete 7.1 surround sound output for an unmatched audio experience.
• Dedicated Headphones Op-Amp : This is really a differentiator for Audigy Rx as it offers a dedicated 600-ohm op-amp just to boost the quality of sound output for the headphones.
• Special Audigy Rx Control Panel : Creative has developed an all new Control Panel with plenty of features specifically for this sound card. Imagine the amount of dedication to provide the highest quality audio output.

• 7.1 Surround Support 
• Compact
• EAX Support

• Drivers Issues

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column][/su_row]

Best External Sound Card in 2019

Unlike, the internal sound cards, an external sound card is basically a plug and play hardware. It substantially improves the audio output and provides better audio experience.

You have already read that all the Internal sound cards work with a PCIe x1 port. In case, your motherboard does not have a PCIe port, then only an external sound card can help you improve your game.

Check out list of best external sound cards for gaming that you can buy in 2019.

1. Creative Sound Blaster Omni  5.1

[su_button url=”http://geni.us/BAdVXq4″ target=”blank” rel=”nofollow” style=”flat” background=”#f96e5b” size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

Creative leads when it comes to sound cards whether it is internal or external. The Sound Blaster Omni 5.1 is an aesthetically pleasing external sound card that offers impressive sound quality.

Being a sound card under $100, Omni 5.1 is slightly more expensive than others but comes with all the necessary accessories you will need to start things up.

Omni 5.1 runs on the same software suite used in the internal Creative sound card mentioned in the section above. The plus points are the EAX support and Scout Mode which combine to give a great in-game audio performance.

Highlights

• EAX Support : You can expect a nice 5.1 channel output coupled with EAX support that will certainly improve the audio performance as compared to the default onboard Realtek sound card.
• Scout Mode : For an immersive gaming experience, you simply switch to the Scout Mode in the Creative Control panel and never miss any audio communications with your fellow players along with the in-game sounds.
• Multiple Ports : Being an external sound card, Sound Blaster Omni 5.1 has all the ports you will ever need. It has one 3.5 mm headphone jack, two RCA Jacks, one Line-in port, one microphone jack and one TOSLINK.

• Great Audio Output
• Trendy Look & Compact Design
• EAX Support

• Priced a little higher

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column][/su_row]

2. HyperX AMP – Best USB Sound Card

If you use a gaming headset more often and want to get fuller audio experience out of it, go for the HyperX AMP – a simple plug-and-play usb sound card that you can use with your laptop as well.

It offers custom tuned virtual 7.1 surround sound even if you are using stereo headsets. I personally liked the separate controls for headphone and mic volumes.

The Hypex AMP is small, portable and you can even choose to clip it your T-shirt to keep the controls handy while gaming.

Another great feature is the enhanced noise cancellation because it uses a digital signal processing card.

You can connect it via USB to your PC / laptop and just plug your headset directly into it. Considering the single audio out jack, I would recommend this only if you always use headsets.

With a price just under $30, HyperX AMP is the best USB sound card available in the market.

Highlights

• 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound : HyperX has incorporated some futuristic custom-tuned 7.1 virtual surround sound technology inside this tiny usb sound card. The output is satisfactory enough unless you need something extraordinary.
• Plug & Play : Among all the sound cards I’ve listed, HyperX is the most convenient plug-and-play usb sound card. It is light-weight, portable and very easy to use.

• Great Audio for Headset
• Lightweight & Easy to Use
• Inexpensive

• Not meant for Speakers

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column][/su_row]

3. Asus Xonar U7 Sound Card

Asus is not very far behind in the game of external sound cards. The Asus Xonar U7 is probably the best external sound card that offers 7.1 channel audio output.

Xonar U7 has all the specifications that you can find in the most high-end sound cards available. From 7.1 surround support, 114 dB SnR, Dolby Home Theatre V4 and C-media 6632A audio processor to a nice curvy look, Asus has bundled everything in this one.

Also, the headphones jack is equipped with a dedicated Cirrus Logic CS4398 2-channel DAC to further improve the audio quality while using headsets or earbuds.

Downside? Well, you won’t get any better performing sound card under $100. The only thing to know about this, you have to deal with a lot of drivers to have all the features of Asus Xonar U7 working for you.

Highlights

• Supports 7.1 Surround Sound : No external sound card can beat Asus Xonar U7 when it comes to 7.1 channel surround sound output with a frequency response of 10-46,000 Hz. Trust us, it’s mind blowing.
• Dolby Home Theater V4 : There’s no doubt Dolby Home Theater technology gives a significant push to the quality of sound output. Asus Xonar U7 uses the latest Dolby Home theater V4 coupled with DTS to create the best in-game audio experience.
• C-Media 6632A Audio Processor : Xonar U7 does not have any ordinary sound chip. It use the best in class C-Media 6632A audio processor so that you experience a true 7.1 surround sound with speakers and headphones alike.

• Impressive 7.1 Audio Output
• Trendy Look & Compact Design
• Dolby Home Theater V4
• C-Media Audio Processor

• Too Many drivers

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column][/su_row]

4. Sewell Direct Sound Box

[su_button url=”http://geni.us/KjQdbV” target=”blank” rel=”nofollow” style=”flat” background=”#f96e5b” size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

Well, this one is the last entry on our list of best sound cards in 2019. And, if you are not willing to spend anything more than $50 on an external sound card than we recommend you to try Sewell Direct Sound Box.

Yeah, we know Sewell is not an established sound cards brand but there is a reason why we have included this sound card on our list. Actually, Sewell Direct Soundbox has satisfied a major share of users whoever bought this.

A very simple driver software will help you to tweak around with 7.1 channel output, though it’s quite a task to fire it up.

Highlights

• 7.1 Analog Output : With 6 3.5mm jacks, one line-in, one front and subwoofer ports, Sewell Soundbox can produce pretty fine 7.1 channel analog audio output.
• Dual Mic-In : None of the sound cards on this list have this feature. With twin mics support, two persons can play multiplayer games with dedicated mic for each other.
• Value for Money : For a price of $30-40, this sound card essentially delivers a great value for money.

• Impressive 7.1 Analog Audio
• Trendy Look & Compact Design
• Dedicated Volume control switch

• No system tray icon

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column][/su_row]

Sound Card Buyer’s Guide 2019

Now that know all about the most popular sound cards and their features, you need to understand which gaming sound card is going to be the best fit for you.

Before buying any of the sound cards, you must understand the things to look for when buying a sound card.

Compatibility: The most common issue with the discrete sound card users is the compatibility. Before investing money in this hardware, do have a check that the sound card you are buying is totally compatible with your system.

Normally, Internal Sound Cards requires a PCI or PCI express port to be connected to the motherboard. So, you need to make sure your motherboard has PCI / PCIe slot for the same. While things are little simpler for external sound cards as they generally require a USB 2.0 port that is common on almost all the motherboards.

Sound to Noise Ratio (SNR): Sound To Noise Ration actually defines the quality of the audio. Basically, it is the ratio of the desired signals to the power of the unwanted noise that exists in the audio output. SNR is measured in dB and more the value of SNR, the better will be the quality of the sound card. Make sure when you buy any internal or external sound card for gaming, the SNR should be at least 105-110 dB.

Frequency Response: This is one of the most important parameters to consider while buying a new sound card. You must have read about the frequency response while searching for a sound card. Actually, it defines how sharp and clear will be audio output from the sound card. The frequency range audible to the human ear is 20Hz to 20KHz, so the sound card you choose must have a frequency response higher than this range.

Software: Also, the software that controls the sound card is one of the most important things to look for. The software helps you to configure and tweak the performance of your sound card according to your personal needs. You can manage the sound output, frequency response, surround sound etc. using the software interface on your system.

Some software also allows the users to analyze the performance of the components for a better output. Though almost all sound cards are accompanied with companion software you must make you have an easy and functional software suite.

Environment Audio Extensions (EAX): If you are a hardcore gamer and want a sound card that enhances your overall gaming experience, you should only choose a sound card that supports EAX engines. Most of the modern games use the EAX engine to simulate real-like sound effects for more immersive experience while you are playing. Popular games like Mass Effect, Bioshock etc use EAX engine technology for their high-quality sound output. Therefore, as a gamer, you must get a sound card with EAX engine.

Technical Attention: Some sound cards really require a lot of attention to make sure all the components are working properly. This situation mostly comes while using internal sound cards. The reason can be the size, driver issues, software issues etc. So, while buying making sure there are no such technical hardships involved.

Positional Audio : Being a gamer, positional audio effects are a must. Various software technologies mimic the real-like sound output that will make you feel that you are actually inside the game rather than just seeing it through a monitor. Different manufacturers use such technologies like Creative uses EAX while Asus uses GX technology to render the positional audio. Make sure any sound card that you buy is capable of rending positional audio for a better audio output.

5.1 or 7.1 Channel Output : Now this is the hard choice. Choosing between a 5.1 sound card or a 7.1 sound card totally depends on your requirements and usage. If you generally use headphones for gaming, then a 5.1 channel output is enough. It will provide very good quality sound output for in-ear headphones. But if you have a 7.1 surround system that you wish to use for gaming, then make sure the sound card you are buying supports the 7.1 channel system.

What is the benefit of a Sound card?

That’s a pretty obvious question because it’s not very common to have a separate sound card installed. To understand the benefits of a sound card, you need to know what does a sound card do.

Basically, the motherboard and CPU processes everything. From the graphics, RAM, Hard drive and all other important components and the SOUND too. Don’t you think that’s too much to handle? Especially, when you are playing heavy duty games.

Another point to notice is that the onboard sound solutions can be quite noisy because of the “Radio Frequency Interference”.

While sound card gives you great audio experience, the following are other benefits of a sound card.

Improved Performance: A sound card works as a companion to your motherboard and reduces the amount of processing that your motherboard does. A sound card manages all the audio output/input and frees the CPU so that it can do other processing. You know this extra CPU power gonna improve your gaming performance too!

Reduced RFI: A separate sound card also reduces the RFI and produces powerful and noise-free audio. Not only that, you will get more slots for multiple speakers and microphone too.

Software-based Tuning: Most of the sound cards for gaming comes with standalone software where you can tune the performance even further for the best audio experience while you slay some dragons or destroy heavy tanks.

Installing a Sound Card

Found the best sound card for you? Great! Now, let’s put it to work.

If you’re building a PC for the first time, installing a sound card may get a little tricky. Even if you are a pro, sometimes the manuals are so confusing that you end up breaking the whole rig.

But don’t worry, your friend Philip (that’s me! 😛 ) has got your back! Here is a great step by step video from Butterscotch that I referred while installing my first sound card.

Conclusion

So, after all the research and reading our buyer’s guide, we are sure that you must have chosen the best sound card for gaming.

Though some of the sound cards are expensive, they will surely improve your gaming performance as well as audio quality. You already know that if you really want to make a difference in your PC gaming experience, a discrete sound card is a must. HT Omega Claro II and Creative Sound Blaster Z are definitely the best gaming sound card in this category.

For those people who are on a budget, this list has great inexpensive options to choose especially Asus Xonar DGX and Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX.

So go on and buy the best sound card for gaming and see the difference. And Good luck for the games you play!! Don’t forget to tell us your favorite sound cards in comments below!