Nowadays all the computers are intended to enhance productivity whether you are using them for work or entertainment purposes. You will have the innovative gadgets already inside the computers that are great for listening to music, watching videos, and other daily tasks. Conversely, you can install the best sound card for HTPC to increase the audio quality at another level.
Best of all, you will have a competitive gaming experience after installing an additional sound card on your laptop or pc. You will have incredible features in the sound cards. For instance, they boast the integrated amplifiers, DACs for decoding and encoding. Also, you will have a wide range of connectivity options as well as a range of input and output.
However, it is not a piece of cake to pick a sound card easily among dozens of options. We have reviewed a lot of sound cards but shortlisted the five options that are worth buying and offering incredible specs for the price.
Read on and find which of the internal sound card for pc will be the finest option for you to buy right now.
Contents
Top Picks On The Best Sound Card For Htpc
| Name | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sound Blaster Z PCIE Gaming Sound Card | 4.5 | Check Price |
| Creative Sound Blaster X G6 | 4.5 | Check Price |
| Creative Sound Blaster AE7 | 4.0 | Check Price |
| ASUS XONAR SE 5.1 Channel | 4.5 | Check Price |
| ASUS Sound Card Essence STX II | 4.0 | Check Price |
1. Sound Blaster Z PCIE Gaming Sound Card – Best High-Performance Amp And Mic
This sound card from the sound blaster comes with an incredibly compact shape and features. Moreover, you will have great studio sound technology, and it will take the audio realism to another level.
Best of all, you will have the 3D surround sound effect with this card, and it will be great for enhancing the gaming experience. Additionally, you will have an incredible 116 decibels SNR option, and you will have great audiophile-grade capacitors.
And that’s not all; you will have a gold-plated input and output connectivity option. This sound card will provide the unprocessed bit rate, which is 24 to 192 k hertz.
Sound Quality
This sound card has a core audio processor, and you will have an accelerated audio technology with impressive voice technology.
Audio Processing Technology
The audio processing technology is amazing, and you will also have a high-quality mic with the array standard. This card is compatible with windows 7, 8, and 10.
Other Features
Lastly, this sound blaster control panel comes with the speaker system, and you will have one flip switch. Also, it has wide connectivity options. It is surely one of the best sound cards for music.
2. Creative Sound Blaster X G6 – Best External USB Sound Card
This sound card will be a great upgrade for your gaming consoles, and it has compatibility with the Xbox one, ps4, Nintendo switch, and more.
Best of all, you will have the most incredible audio quality, and they have a sidetone volume controlling option as well. In fact, you will have an easy user interface.
And that’s not all, you will have a discrete headphone amplifier, and it has a custom design. Moreover, you will get a bi-amp design, and it is an authentic, unaltered model. Not only that, you will have ultra-low ohms with great impedance.
In addition, you will have impressive performance due to the 8 w sensitive grade and 600 w technology for the studio headphones.
Sound Quality
This sound card will provide 7.1 surround sound technology. Best of all, you will have Dolby digital decoding and impressive surround sound for gaming. Surely, it is the best sound card for pubg.
Audio Processing Technology
This sound card has industry-leading audio technology, and you will have complete audio customization. As well, you will have an enhanced audio realism. And the good news? You will have 7.1 surround sound and great bass.
Other Features
This card boasts 120 decibels and 32 but advanced multi-bit modulators. In addition, you will have a great mismatch and impressive sound distortion feature.
3. Creative Sound Blaster AE7 HI-Res Internal Pcei – Best Quad-Core Processor
This sound card has pristine audio output, and you will have supreme audio with 127 decibels DNR. You will have great playback support, and it is one of the most impressive audio cards with demanding needs.
Best of all, you will have a theatrical grade discreet sound with virtual surround effects of 5.1 and 71. You will have a great surround sound option with impressive virtualization technology.
Best of all, it comes with the volume control knobs, and you will have the simplest controls, including wide input and output connections.
Sound Quality
It consists of massively powerful audio, and you will have a discrete bi-amp, and it will provide the 1-ohm impedance. Not only that, you will have studio-grade headphone audio quality up to 600 ohms.
Audio Processing Technology
This sound card has true hardware acceleration, and you will have an incredible quad-core processor. Not only that, it has an incredibly pristine and enhanced sound quality. The sound plastic will make the audio processing even more impressive.
Other Features
You will have the most improved audio software with this sound card, and it has the hardware with the latest technology. In addition, you will have the customized audio experience and most clear vocals as well as accurate bass.
4. ASUS XONAR SE 5.1 Channel – Best High Gaming Sound Card
Those who need to give a high boost in the sound quality while gaming or for watching movies, then you should consider this sound card. This card consists of several incredible features. You will get industry-leading sound quality with an incredible noise ratio.
This card has an SNR of 124 decibels. Besides, you will have a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator. Also, you will have a built-in 600-ohm amplifier and great additional control gain.
It is ideally designed for internal sound card fixing technology. And that’s not all, you will have incredibly hi-fi sound, and it has a multi-channel daughterboard.
Sound Quality
This sound card has a 5.1 surround sound channel and hi-res audio, and you will have 300 ohms impedance. Besides, you will have an immersive rich bass. Also, it consists of 116 decibels and a great signal-to-noise ratio.
Audio Processing Technology
This ASUS sound card has hyper grounding technology and minimal distortion. In fact, you will have great audio interference, and it consists of the simplest intuitive controls. Besides, you will have a low profile bracelet and impressive fitting and compatibility with most of the systems.
Other Features
This sound card has input and output connectivity options, and you will have 6.3 audio ports. You will also get a coaxial port and a four-pin Molex power connection. Plus, it has an LDO regulator with the PCIe sound card to get an electrical power supply.
5. ASUS Sound Card Essence STX II – Best Celebrated Muses Op-Amps
This ASUS sound card comes with incredible top-tier computing, and you will have the best features to enhance the gaming or music listening experience.
And the good news? You will have hyper grounding technology and great signal insulation.
Not only that, it has legendary audio quality. In fact, you will have an industry-leading SNR 124 decibels technology.
Sound Quality
This sound card comes with a noise ratio of 116 decibels, and you will have a high-resolution audio playback. As well, you will have high-resolution audio quality with the 5.1 channel and impressively well-defined bass.
Audio Processing Technology
This sound card comes with the Cmedia audio processor, and you will also have a low-profile bracket. In fact, you will have a sound card which is great for the audio parameters. For instance, you will have an equalizer profile and great level balancing with software for convenient sound customization options.
Other Features
This sound card comes with wide connectivity options, and you will have 3.5 mm audio ports. Best of all, you will have a PDIF port and a great front audio heater.
Frequently Asked Question’s
Should I Prefer The External Or Internal Sound Card?
We recommend you to go with the internal sound cards because they are quite innovative. Moreover, you will have the option of inserting the sound cards directly into the motherboard. Also, you will have switchable on-amp chips and several connectivity options. Or go with an external card for a gaming console.
How To Install The Sound Card?
You can install the sound cards easily. These are the expansions, and you will have a shape like motherboards. Also, you will have an option to install them through the USB ports.
What Is The Ideal Audio Quality Of A Sound Card For Htpc?
You will find sound cards with several kinds of audio technology. However, mostly you will have the wide frequency response, total harmonic distortion, and the signal-to-noise ratio. Generally, most of the sound cards have a noise ratio of more than 100 decibels. The best audio quality range of sound cards is 124 decibels.
What Is The Accurate Channel That Enhances The Sound Quality Of A Sound Card?
There are several kinds of channels that you will find in the sound cards. You will have the 7.1 or 5.1 surround sound channel. Also, you will have the option of mixing the 5.1 and 7.1 sound. Sometimes if the headphone doesn’t support the 7.1 surround sound that you can only use the 5.1 channels.
What Connectivity Options You Will Get With The Sound Cards?
The connectivity of the sound card will vary from one brand to another. You will have 3.5mm jacks with most of the sound cards. Other than that, you will have the RCA jacks with some of the sound cards. Rarely, you will find the TOSLINK optical connection to attach the other audio equipment easily.
To Sum Up
You have seen some of the most amazing options of sound cards for HTPC that is providing reliable audio technology. Moreover, you will have an affordable price with sound cards. Also, you will have the hi-res audio output and most impressive features.
Not only that, you will have a dedicated processing chip, and you can easily install it. Best of all, the cards we chose are simple to use, and you will have the support of ASIO.
However, if you want to install something simpler and with power-boosting technology, then go with the Creative Sound Blaster X G6. This sound card has wide compatibility, and you can use it with gaming consoles, desktops, laptops, as well as computers. Until next time!
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