Looking For A Sound Card

[Angelsong7]

Greetings, Y'all. It's been a while. I am needing to upgrade my sound. Currently, I am using the built-in sound from my motherboard and am needing better sound quality.
Here is what I am running:

Operating System: Debian GNU/Linux 13
KDE Plasma Version: 6.3.6
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.13.0
Qt Version: 6.8.2
Kernel Version: 6.12.63+deb13-amd64 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland
Processors: 16 × AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 8-Core Processor
Memory: 32 GiB of RAM (31.2 GiB usable)
Graphics Processor: AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT
Manufacturer: ASUS

My only experience with sound cards was when I was using "the other guy". What would y'all recommend?

 

[dos2unix]

Depending on what you're doing, you might not get much improvement.
I use a soundblaster AE-5, I like it. But soundblaster on Linux isn't for everyone, it takes some "tweaking".
The speakers are as important and the amp and card itself.

 

[KGIII]

The speakers are as important and the amp and card itself.

I have studio monitors that, as a pair, cost more than some really nice used cars.

Read below, as there's going to be a caveat near the end. I'll also mention that this only applies to me, at least by default.

In reality, I can't hear much of any differences between a dedicated sound card and the onboard sound processing built into the CPU. In fact, all things considered, my hearing is still quite good. (I've been careful to protect my hearing when I could.)

Also, that's one of the good things about the VA. They check my hearing every three years.

While many of my hours and minutes have been dedicated to music, I'm not what you'd call an 'audiophile'. I'm more interested in my own standard of quality. These days, I do not hear any real acoustic benefits to using a sound card.

I should be clear. The above is only a matter of hearing audio. It is different when I'm recording audio.

When recording, I do use an external DAC instead of the inputs on the computer. There's a marked advantage in quality when doing so (at least to my ears). Yes, I've used the inputs on a dedicated sound card and still found them wanting. In this case, there's no reason for me to bother with a dedicated sound card.

To me, they're a relic from a bygone era, much like a math coprocessor.

 

[osprey]

Greetings, Y'all. It's been a while. I am needing to upgrade my sound. Currently, I am using the built-in sound from my motherboard and am needing better sound quality.
Here is what I am running:

My only experience with sound cards was when I was using "the other guy". What would y'all recommend?

What is your audio device, for example:

[~]$ lspci -nnkd ::403
00:1f.3 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation Raptor Lake High Definition Audio Controller [8086:7a50] (rev 11)
        Subsystem: ASRock Incorporation Device [1849:1897]
        Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
        Kernel modules: snd_soc_avs, snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl, snd_hda_intel
01:00.1 Audio device [0403]: NVIDIA Corporation GK208 HDMI/DP Audio Controller [10de:0e0f] (rev a1)
        Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device [1462:8c93]
        Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
        Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel

Knowing that may help readers with experience of devices that may be suggestible.

 

[dos2unix]

To me, they're a relic from a bygone era, much like a math coprocessor.

For play back, yes. For multi channel recording with effects, no way.

 

[theLegionWithin]

I recommend this product - been using it for close to a year and have had zero issues w/ my 5.1 setup --> https://www.amazon.com/Cubilux-Surround-48KHz-384KHz-Headphones-PC-Supports/dp/B0CKPL5HXZ

lsusb identifies it as a realtek cubilux ca7

 

[Angelsong7]

Here is my audio device:

~$ lspci -nnkd ::403
0a:00.1 Audio device [0403]: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Navi 21/23 HDMI/DP Audio Controller [1002:ab28]
        Subsystem: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Navi 21/23 HDMI/DP Audio Controller [1002:ab28]
        Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
        Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel
0c:00.4 Audio device [0403]: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Starship/Matisse HD Audio Controller [1022:1487]
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device [1043:8797]
        Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
        Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel

I also currently use the Logitec X-530 5.1 speaker system.
To use the Cubilux adapter, I would have to get some adapter cables to configure it correctly.
The recording side is already taken care of. Right now I'm just trying to get the best sound output for more accurate recording.

 

[KGIII]

For play back, yes. For multi channel recording with effects, no way.

I forgot to reply to this. My bad...

In my case, I have gone with a multi-channel DAC. Well, I own several of them.

They range in price from fairly inexpensive to absurdly expensive. Focusrite is on the less expensive side while still making good products. As a weird quirk, I've never had a DAC not work with Linux. Granted, I have never tried all of them, but I own (and have owned) DACs from a few different companies.

Then again, I've jumped on all sorts of music tech over the years. I started to get into amp profiling a few years ago. To that end, I've gone with Kemper -- but it means doing some of the tasks via a phone, as their software does not work on Linux -- not even with Wine.

If you need to go 'big', there's the Midas MR18. For what it is, it is not a lot of money. It too can be operated with a phone or tablet. That's one I've never used, but I own a similar, albeit older, example that's dedicated to my drum kit. At the outset, it may look expensive. For what it does, it's not bad at all. You can even take it out to performances. Plus, we've already spent ridiculous money on gear, so it won't hurt your bank account that badly.

I just checked, and you can find knockoffs on Temu. I can't recommend any of them, and I can't trust the reviews. But they exist and may whet your appetite. Maybe I'll spend some time with a few of them to see if there's anything I can recommend. I participate in a regular (online) weeklymusic event. Being able to suggest something that is that inexpensive would be nice.

 

[Thunderpants]

For stereo playback, the USB Topping D10s is a reasonable price for decent sound quality. It's plug an play with Linux. I've used one for several years and it has proved reliable. Here's a tech review with tech measurements.

Topping D10s USB DAC and Bridge Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping D10s USB DAC and S/PDIF plus Toslink bridge. It was kindly sent to me by the company for testing. The D10s has a retail cost of US $99. Let me start by confessing that the original D10 was one of my favorites with its cute orange...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Angelsong7]

I've been a live sound engineer at churches since 1985. Over the last year, I have slowly been designing a small home studio. I have had a SYNCO MC4 that I got off of Amazon about 10 years ago that works ok enough to start off. I'm also building a replica of a Neumann U87 - just waiting on a couple of resistors. As for monitors, I'll upgrade when I can. I am just really wanting to get the best sound out of what I have at this time and maybe start with a good sound card (if possible). Maybe the Soundblaster AE-5 sounds like a possible start. Thank's y'all for all your input.

 

[KGIII]

SYNCO MC4

While it's no longer available, I found it on Amazon and was able to have a look at it.

Neumann U87

They make a modern example, but it is pricey.

 

[Angelsong7]

The SYNCO MC4 is a simple 4-channel little thing. It has done everything that I needed it to do. But it's time to upgrade. The Neumann old or new IS definitely pricey - around $2000. That is why I am building a replica of one. A whole lot cheaper and it is supoosed to sound like one. We shall see about that. LOL

 

[Angelsong7]

Depending on what you're doing, you might not get much improvement.
I use a soundblaster AE-5, I like it. But soundblaster on Linux isn't for everyone, it takes some "tweaking".
The speakers are as important and the amp and card itself.

What "tweaking" did you have to do to get the SoundBlaster AE-5 working right?

 

[dos2unix]

Post in thread 'Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus'

Jan 18, 2026

Sorry, didnt see this message until just now. (Sometimes I get sidetracked).

But I'm not sure what you are asking by saving the state. There isn't "save" button, it just remembers your settings.
I don't use headpjpnes thru the soundblaster (I rarely use them at all). I use pipewire, not alsa, so I don't have to deal
with alsactl.

• dos2unix