Best Gaming Sound Cards You can Buy Right Now

“Everything becomes a little different as soon as it is spoken out loud”

Have you ever thought how would this world sound if there was no sound? Doesn’t it sound dumb?

This sounds so meaningless. The sound gives a lot of life to our living. From hmm to aaahh everything provides sense to our actions, feel to our words, turn moments into memories, gives experience and enjoyment.

Days have changed a lot, life has turned upside-down and technologies revolve around us. Wherever you see gadgets fly around you and usage of these gadgets has become ever more fun with the addition of games.

Games have turned everyone’s imagination power to the next level. Gadgets are being made especially for gamers.

“Sound + Games” doesn’t it make a formidable pair. A good sound environment increases your gaming sense and makes it more lively.

So are you ready to explore the best sound cards for gamers?

Common let’s increase our gaming experience! For gamers, for experience, for enjoyment lets start.

Guys who need to look at the product details, feel free to scroll down to your zone.

Why do we need gaming sound cards?

A sound card is a device plugged in the motherboard to improve the quality of sound to the user. It converts digital data into analog form to hardware. It helps the gamers in communicating with other players and gives a superior experience for the gamers with its music and sound effects used in games.

It’s better to understand how a sound card works?

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The sounds around us which we hear are generally analog. The most primary function of a sound card is to convert the digital sound waves into analog.

There are four different components of a sound card:

• • DAC
  • ADC
  • PCI

• • Audio devices

DAC

Digital to Analog Converter stands as a major component and allows all the data that needs to be converted.

ADC

Analog to Digital Converter to convert all the analog inputs given by the user to make digital recordings.

PCI or PCIe

Peripheral Component Interconnect is an interface that allows the card to connect to the motherboard.

Audio Devices

Headphones and speakers can be directly connected to the sound cards.

After knowing all this, you might or should get this question: How do I Choose a Gaming sound Card?

There exist some key features which you should look at before buying one:

• Compatibility
• Sample Rate
• Channels

Compatibility

Any sound card you look to buy must be compatible with your Desktop. If it doesn’t support you’ll just have to waste your money for nothing. So select a sound card that is compatible with your device.

Sample Rate

This stands as one of the important components which enhances the audio quality. It is measured in kHz and is defined as the rate at which the sound stream sends the data to the computer over a while. The higher the kHz goes, the better the quality of audio will be. Most of the sound cards available in the market are 96 kHz and above.

Channels

Another key feature to look at before buying one for you. The available choices are 5.1 and 7.1 sound cards. Make sure that it is compatible with your 7.1 speaker systems, to get the supreme premium experience of the sound.

Here’s for you!

The best sound cards from gamers

1. ASUS Essence STX II
2. ASUS Xonar DX
3. Creative Sound Blaster ZxR
4. ASUS Strix RAID PRO
5. Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX PCIe 5.1

ASUS Essence STX II

It is recognized as the best Audiophile 7.1 sound card for music listeners.

Playback SNR: 124dB

Sample Rate: 192-kHz

Max Resolution: 24-Bit

Output: 7.1 Channel

It is one of the most powerful 7.1 channel internal sound cards of all time. It is a branded product with a hefty price tag. It has mainly two components: the main board and the daughter board.

The main board provides outputs for Front, Headphone-out, S/PDIF, and Line-in. Daughter board, which provides six RCA jacks for multi-channel surround sound devices.

The 4 pin Molex connector of the sound card is used for the extra power. The DAC used are high-quality components with it’s SNR over 122dB and provide high-quality audio of 192-kHz. The software is featured with output selection, mixer, effects, and some predefined DSP modes.

Channels can be modified into either 5.1 or 7.1, well 7.1 mode provides a great customization experience. There exist four ranges for headphone amplification.

To conclude, this audiophile sound card provides an extravagant audio quality. The best sound cards for gaming as per the current theme but a little costly. You can even buy it with a pair of headphones that maximize the quality of sound and improve the gaming experience.

PROS:

• True 7.1 sound experience
• additional OpAmp for swapping

CONS:

• comes with a high price tag

ASUS Xonar DX

Audio Channels: 7.1

Signal of Noise Ratio: 116

Sample rate: 192KHz

PCIe type: Internal

Another ASUS product in a row. Looks like ASUS dominates the whole gaming product industry.

Let’s focus on ASUS Xonar DX. The sound card is small, compact with high-definition 5.1 surround sound and is packed with an onboard headphone amplifier. The sound is well-balanced across the device and possesses brilliant sound clarity and bass.

It’s also packed with  GX 2.5 engine for 3D gaming sound.

This model is only for die-hard gamers because it provides high quality and realistic 3D sound on the speakers and headphones. Gamers prefer gaming with headphones since it has an onboard amp of up to 150 ohms.

PROS:

• Dolby’s support for headphones
• Cheaper in Price
• Excellent quality and use for money
• Clear sound and bass
• Supported in Headphones over 150 amps

CONS :

• It’s a little tough to install
• PCIe slot is not available with the package
• The sample rate is 96 kHz at maximum

Creative sound blaster ZxR

Playback SNR: 124dB

Sample Rate: 192-kHz

Max Resolution: 24-Bit

Output: 5.1 Channel

Creative is a well-known PC sound card brand and is also one of the oldest companies producing PCIe audio cards. This sound card provides an Audio Control Module (ACM).

The audio giant uses the SoundCore 3d chip which enhances its sound quality. IT also provides swappable OpAmps.

It is provided with two headphone amplification settings, a normal 32-300 Ohm setting and another, a high-gain gaming setting for 600-ohm headphones.

It doesn’t have 7.1 Surround sound support

PROS:

• A lot of audio-processing capabilities
• Audio Control Module highlighting the product

CONS:

• No 7.1 surround sound

ASUS Strix RAID PRO

Playback SNR: 116 dB

Sample Rate: 192-kHz

Max Resolution: 24-Bit

Output: 7.1 Channel

It contains two components, the sound card, and the additional volume control box. It is featured with S/PDIF-out, line-in, mic-in, 7.1 – Channel and seven 3.5 mm jacks.

ESS Sabr9006A DAC is used in this sound card which supports up to 24bit 192Khz playback. It supports headphones with an Impedance range of 16-600 Ohms.

The Strix Sonic studio software provides several options to customize the audio as per the needs of gamers such as Compressor, Perfect Voice, Noise Gate, and Voice Clarity.

The best thing is the sound card supports the virtual 7.1 surround sound. It is a good option with 7.1 surround sounds for the gamers.

PROS:

• Highlighting component being Volume control box
• 7.1 channel surround sound at a cheaper price

CONS:

• Possesses lower SNR than similarly priced sound cards

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX PCIe 5.1

The sound card provides a high-quality sound experience with crystal clarity. This sound card easily converts your PC into a great cinematic experience by providing 5.1 surround sounds and extensive 7.1 surround sounds enhancing your lively gaming.

It comes with advanced audio processing with SBX Pro Studio and a suite Blaster audio processing technologies which bring out the best audio to the gamers.

This series includes the Sound Blaster Audigy Fx Control Panel, PC Software which gives you full control of the SBX.

It comes with a 600-ohm headphone amp for high performance and great studio-grade monitoring. 106 SNR and 24-bit 192 kHz DAC for playback and 96 kHz ADC for recording.

This sound card becomes the perfect solution for all the dumping noise of your current sound card. It is preferred by most of the gamers and it would never disappoint you.

PROS:

• Compatible with 5.1 speaker setups
• Easy to fit in HTPC computer setup
• Improves the headphone output

CONS:

• Some latency issues for users
• Line and mic inputs unavailable

Life has always been tough when it comes to choices, We try to choose the best one but choosing the right one would be even more efficient.

If you are a die-hard gamer then I strongly suggest you choose one among the sound cards which suits your needs. Each one of them would give you the best experience as they are unique. Sound, experience, liveliness rock your game.

Play it, live it, move on. Make sure you evolve your gaming with these sound cards.