What's the Best USB Sound Card / Audio Adapter?

WARNING: I no longer recommend using a USB soundcard to connect a microphone to your computer. It has become too unreliable due to manufacturers altering the components used in their products as well as alterations to operating systems causing additional problems. The only method of connecting a microphone to your computer that I recommend is with a USB AUDIO INTERFACE that is designed specifically for that use case.

Here's my Ranking of the Soundcards:

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[MrZmgeliS]

Sabrent Stereo - 2% - 4.59v
Sabrent Suround 7.1 - 1% - 4.50v
HDE 7.1 - 75% - 2.43v
Virtual 5.1 (lBlue) - 75% - 2.44v
Geno Stereo (White) - 75% - 2.43v
Geno 7.1 (H5) - 1% - 4.49v
ATR2USB - 85% - 2.25v
Plugable Stereo - 85% - 2.97v
Syba Stereo - 1% - 4.51v
Trond Stereo - 85% - 2.96v
Optical Shop 5.1 - 75% - 2.23v

[ismailelasbihani]

u r a legend u r almost the only one who made such this videos

[davelogan]

I've come back 3 years later, what a great video.

[SentientAnomaly]

Just wondering why these are called "sound cards"? Aren't they just usb to 3.5mm audio jack adapters? Isn't a sound card a bigger and more sophisticated piece of hardware?

[jondwyer]

I love this channel. Not only are your videos fleshed out and very detailed, but you also update your descriptions to be as helpful as possible. You deserve tons of subs.

[chaoticsoap]

Had Virtual 5.1, just received Gino Stereo and it's definitely better.

[ditoarch]

i'm facing latency issue using this kind (min 2:03) of USB sound card. I recorded acoustic guitar using this soundcard to the Garageband. it was fine for the first 2 minutes, then the latency started to happend and getting worse, so i had to reconnect the USB soundcard, and that the same thing happened.


is there any kind of ASIO driver for macintosh to control the latency?

[muntjac]

You're doing gods work, guy. Thank you for making a very informative video. Much appreciated.

[stanman]

Dude you are a huge help. I've watch hundreds of videos on audio, and yours are best to understand and the quality of your YouTube tells me that you know what you're doing. Thanks

[Eric-tylw]

I have the MXL 990 and I have the same problem at 4:56 - 5:05 I was thinking it was the onboard soundcard from my asus z170-a. I get the same problem when I plug the 1/4" plug into the frontal ports of the case. I was thinking it was just interference from the case so I thought of getting an external soundcard. Not sure which is best..

[sohappywhenxyousmile]

I bought the Syba cause he recommended it but it honestly has a horrible background noise when using the mic. You can hear it here 5:45, but I kind of ignored it since he said it was the best option. DON'T BUY IT. You will hear that ringing noise throughout all your recordings.

[Drawyah]

5:37 - Gino 7.1, hear all the ringtones on everyone down your street! 😂

[silverkx]

Dude, I just wanna say Thank You!!! You've helped me find a cheap but decent microphone along with the USB audio interface to go along with it. I watched your first video on the neewer nw700 and picked it right from the get go for my twitch streams. my lady ended up buying it for me for x-mas and ill get to use it tomorrow! Thanks again dude! you rock!

[menteausenteprops]

wow, in the gino 7.1 silence test I thought it was the sound of your phone ringing or something like that...

[igglywompus]

I really hoped the TROND one would be good so I could get something with my name on it :D

[benjiang]

Thank you so much! I followed your advice when buying a mic and now I am buying Syba.

[jordangordon]

I’m aware your description, but I have a setup of a headset with only audio and I’m using a splitter straight into the pc to get audio and mic, and I’m getting static from the microphone when recording. I was wondering if you think plugging the splitter into a usb sound card and plugging that into the computers USB port would help this issue?

Thanks!

[Hengary]

Hi please i need your help with this: I bought the Mxl 770 mic and a micropower ps400 for the phantom power, i conected to my mic with a xlr to xlr to the ps400 and a xlr to jack 3.5 to my pc and its dont make any sound when i speak in it, idk why... i need to conect the jack 3.5 to the sound card usb? ik about the warning of the sabrent i was thinking in use the HDE 7.1 o the virtual 5.1 this will help me with my problem?

[ahtzazahmed]

PLEASE, I wanna know how does the Optical Shop 5.1 sounds when supplied with 48V Neewer Phantom

[hj-mrgg]

You're growing so fast! I remember I was your 80th sub :)