Rating of the best external sound cards for 2020

Thanks to an external sound card, owners of laptops and ultrabooks will have the opportunity to improve sound quality and volume. Sound cards installed by the manufacturer do not allow you to enjoy sound effects in games or when watching a movie in full.

How not to make the wrong choice?

First of all, you need to decide on the purpose of purchasing a sound card. If it is necessary for home use, then the option with one input and output will be most suitable. For professional use, you need 4 or more outputs.

There are two types of power supply for external sound cards: via USB and via a network. USB-powered cards have lower sound quality, but they do not need an additional power outlet to use them.

The presence of the ASIO protocol allows you to reproduce sound without distortion. By installing the free ASIO4ALL driver, it will be possible to add the ASIO protocol to any sound card. ASIO has an alternative, WASAPI, but it is supported by fewer sound cards.

Support for sound standards will play a positive role in watching movies, listening to and editing music.

Popular models of external sound cards

External sound card BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC22

BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC22 is one of the popular models of external sound cards for high-quality sound reproduction and recording. It has a USB interface and does not require additional power. This model has one combo mic / line input and another instrument input. There is support for ASIO drivers. The sampling rate is high enough to allow the BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC22 to be used in a recording studio.

This external sound card has a robust metal casing so you don't have to worry about physical damage. On the rear there is a switch for a mic preamp with + 48V phantom power. Next to it is a connector for connecting to a computer. The front panel has a headphone jack. Each input has its own control knob and its own operating indicator.

To work with the audio interface, you can download more than 150 instrument plug-ins and various effects from the manufacturer's website.

Supports Windows and Mac OS operating systems.

The average price is 3,500 rubles.

• Compact size;
• Strong yet lightweight body;
• Affordable price;
• ASIO driver support;
• The presence of a connector for the tool;
• The interface will be understandable even for a beginner;

• Noises appear when recording the instrument;
• The sound starts to stutter when playing some audio files.

External sound card Focusrite Scarlett Solo

This sound card model has a simple and compact interface.Power is supplied from USB, no need to search for additional outlets. The audio interface operates at sampling rates up to 192 kHz, which is one of the highest rates today.

There is a microphone input with a preamplifier and phantom power up to 48 V. There is a line input for connecting instruments. There is a three-color indication for each input, which will indicate an overload. The front panel has a volume control and a monitor activation button. The headphone output is equipped with its own volume control. It is connected to a computer via a USB cable; it can work with Windows and MAC OS operating systems.

The Genuine Recording System lets you record sound when you plug in a microphone and guitar to sound the way you intended. The functionality of the card allows you to record simultaneously voice and instrument. You can also add various effects to both vocals and music. Effects can be applied in real time due to zero latency.

After recording, you can edit and share your works with music software. You will also get 12 plugins and a musical synthesizer. The interface of these programs is quite understandable for novice users.

The updated music input will allow you not to worry about the sound and the presence of distortion. The new converters allow you to record great sound, even with quiet sound, which can be amplified in the future without additional noise.

The average cost is 8,000 rubles.

• High frequency of discrediting;
• Dynamic range up to 100 dB;
• It is possible to purchase a set with headphones and a microphone;
• Color indication;
• Overlay effects in real time.

• High price;
• Drivers crash periodically.

External sound card Steinberg UR12

The metal coating of the Steinberg UR12 sound card is anti-corrosion and resistant to external factors. The Chinese company Steinberg has established itself in the market as a manufacturer working with quality materials and performing flawless assembly.

The front panel of the sound card has inputs for a microphone, headphones and an instrument. Each of these inputs has indicators that can detect overload. The microphone input has a preamplifier and 48V phantom power.

Steinberg UR12 supports modern ASIO 2.2 standard. The playback mode can go up to 192 kHz.

Works with operating systems Windows 7 and higher, MacOS. Has a mode with which it can connect to iPad and work with music applications. Also, the functionality of the card provides access to Internet broadcasts from a computer.

The Steinberg UR12 sound card is suitable for concerts, mobile DJs and small studios.

The average price is 8300 rubles.

• ASIO 2.2 support;
• Zero latency;
• IPad compatible;
• Playback up to 192 kHz;
• Indicators for each input;
• High quality case.

• Noise appears at a high level;
• There may be driver problems;

External sound card Creative Sound BlasterX G6

This model from Creative combines an external sound card and digital to analogue converter for gaming with headphone amplifier for PC, PS4 and Xbox.

With the Creative Sound BlasterX G6, you'll notice an improvement in sound quality from the first second. Thanks to this sound quality, you can easily plunge into the whole process of playing and feel everything to the smallest detail. It has the ability to reproduce discredited sound up to 384 kHz combined with a dynamic range of up to 130 dB. The headphone amplifier works with Xamp and Dolby Digital technology to create surround sound. Also, it is worth noting that the headphone amplifier works simultaneously with two channel directions separately. It is possible to adjust the volume of the sound, both incoming and outgoing. The presence of modulators will ensure the absence of sound distortion, removing all interference and noise.

The Sound BlasterX G6 has a matte plastic casing that will be less noticeable for dirt. It does not have rubber feet, the lower part is completely made of rubber pad. This feature of the product does not provide any particular stability on the table, and may collect dust. There is no battery in this model, so you won't be able to use it mobile. There are two inputs on the front panel. One of them is for headphones, the other for a microphone. There are buttons on the side panel to switch profiles and activate the Scout Mode function. With this function, you can further improve the quality of sound effects. Now in the game you can notice every change in the action of the enemy

The average price is 14,000 rubles.

• The sound quality is perfect for watching a movie, listening to music and playing games;
• Suitable for computer and game consoles;
• Headphone amplifier gives you surround sound;
• No sound distortion;
• The ability to configure or disable the backlight;
• Improved hull model.

• Not mobile;
• Combined optical and analog input;
• High price.

External Sound Card Creative Sound Blaster Play! 3

Sound Blaster Play! 3 is a USB digital to analog converter and headphone amplifier. It is a USB connector with a cable no more than 6 cm and a plastic case the size of a flash card. Its weight is 10-15 grams. On the front there are two connectors for a microphone and a headphone. The cable has seals that provide break protection.

It updates sound quality without delay by converting sound from the motherboard. It converts normal audio to 24-bit 96 kHz high quality audio. The amplifier works both with the simplest headphones from a cell phone and with professional gaming models. With better quality headphones, the maximum sound effects will be achieved. After downloading the software, optimized profiles appear for certain headphones.

When recording audio with Creative Sound Blaster Play! 3 the recording quality becomes many times better, noise and interference disappear even with modern motherboards. Voice recording can be improved on tablets and smartphones using such a sound card. But this requires USB-OTG support. But the recording will not be perfect, but the quality will still be much better.

The software of this card has a simple and accessible interface. It is an equalizer with 11 bands of sound adjustment, a set that can be adjusted as you wish, and apply one of the 10 available settings.

To use Creative Sound Blaster Play! 3 no driver installation required, just plug into the USB port.

The average price is 1,700 rubles.

• No driver installation required;
• It can be used both with a PC and with a smartphone or tablet;
• Sound and voice recording quality is greatly improved;
• Affordable price;
• Small size;
• Clear software.

• Poor functionality;
• Not most users complain about the appearance of white noise.

External sound card Steinberg UR22mkII

Steinberg UR22mkII is a sound card that allows you to record sound that does not differ in quality from studio. It supports Cubase AL system sound card and Cubase LE mobile app. This makes it a mobile recording studio. This model of the sound card fully functions with computers operating system Windows and MacOS, and also has a mode of operation suitable for iPad.

The sound card has a durable metal case that reliably protects against any type of physical impact. There are 2 microphone preamps with phantom power. The phantom power switch is located on the back of the card. Also on the rear panel you can find MIDI input and output, line-out and input for connection. There are indications of power supply and overload control. The front panel has a combo line-level input for connecting a microphone, guitar or bass.The headphone input has its own volume control. An external power supply input is provided, making the UR22mkII an independent and mobile sound card.

The average price is 11,000 rubles.

• High quality sound;
• Operating mode 24bit / 192kHz;
• Support for ASIO, Core Audio, WDM standards;
• Works with PC and iPad;
• Everything you need to work is located on the front panel of the card;
• Durable body;
• Compact size;
• Easy to use, suitable for beginners and advanced users.

• Minor issues may occur when working on Windows 10;
• No dimming of indicator lights;
• Weak headphone amplifiers

External Sound Card Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD

The Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD sound card reproduces and records good sound quality thanks to THX TruStudio Pro technology. This card model has a range of 24bit / 96kHz and a front signal output of 114dB. The amplifier supports professional headphones. The software allows you to record and play audio files, and can also remove noise.

On the front panel of the sound card there is a jack for high quality sound recording and a convenient volume control. There is also a headphone output. The rear panel of the Sound Blaster X-Fi HD contains optical I / O, a stereo RCA I / O jack, and a phono stage for recording vinyl from a turntable.

By installing the control panel, the user will have access to various EAX effects and an equalizer. It has an intuitive interface that even a beginner can handle. Due to the lack of ASIO, recording and playback of sound occurs with a slight delay. And for this reason, in some cases, interference occurs when tracks are overlaid.

The average price is 6,500 rubles.

• The presence of a phono stage;
• Convenient volume control;
• The convenience of use;
• Does not require additional power supply;
• Excellent recording and sound quality;
• Amplifier for high impedance headphones.

• Lack of ASIO;
• Not stable due to low weight.

External sound cards from Aliexpress

On the Aliexpress site, there is a large selection of external sound cards. They all have similar parameters, and most of them are in the same price range. Significant differences are present only in design and color solutions. A distinctive feature of these models is a lower price and, accordingly, a lower sampling rate up to 48 kHz. They support Windows and MacOS operating systems. According to the recommendation of buyers, sound cards from Aliexpress are perfect for improving the sound when watching movies and listening to music.

The average price is 500 rubles.

Which model should you choose?

It is very difficult to give an exact answer to this question. It all depends on your listening preference. In this case, some users are delighted with the sound quality of an inexpensive model, while others are not satisfied with an expensive model due to the presence of noise and distortion. You should also take into account the fact for what purpose you are purchasing it. If it is necessary to improve the sounds of music or a movie, you should not take an expensive and professional model that has rich functionality. But for game lovers and musicians, budget models will not work, with them they will not be able to fill all their needs, for which they need a sound card.