External Sound Card to go With Corsair SP2500

[zed77ultra]

I am planning on buying Corsair SP2500 speakers, but after doing some research realized that to reach their full potential they need a high quality sound card. I have a laptop so I cannot replace my sound card, so could someone suggest a good external one under £100?

 

[mickypheonix]

Hi zed77ultra
This is a good external sound card
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-70SB109500002-Sound-Blaster-Surround/dp/B0042RUEQW/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1399712875&sr=8-17&keywords=external+sound+card
or this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/U7-Soundcard-Integrated-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00CP53ML2/ref=sr_1_50?ie=UTF8&qid=1399712931&sr=8-50&keywords=external+sound+card

Both tha Asus Xonar and Creative x-fi are really good cards with quality sound and will work with your SP2500 speakers just fine

 

[zed77ultra]

Hi zed77ultra
This is a good external sound card
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-70SB109500002-Sound-Blaster-Surround/dp/B0042RUEQW/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1399712875&sr=8-17&keywords=external+sound+card
or this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/U7-Soundcard-Integrated-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00CP53ML2/ref=sr_1_50?ie=UTF8&qid=1399712931&sr=8-50&keywords=external+sound+card

Both tha Asus Xonar and Creative x-fi are really good cards with quality sound and will work with your SP2500 speakers just fine

I don't need any surround sound compatibility - just the stereo. ls it possible to get a cheaper sound card with only stereo sound?

 

[mickypheonix]

yes there is , both of these will also work with stereo however as a cheaper alternative
there are many sound cards such as these ,
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Soundblaster-Play-Sound-external/dp/B0028RZ23I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1399713817&sr=8-4&keywords=external+sound+card
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Labs-70SB129000002-Sound-Blaster/dp/B0042RUERG/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1399713893&sr=8-19&keywords=external+sound+card

there are many alternatives here
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=external+stereo+sound+card&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aexternal+stereo+sound+card

 

[zed77ultra]

yes there is , both of these will also work with stereo however as a cheaper alternative
there are many sound cards such as these ,
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Soundblaster-Play-Sound-external/dp/B0028RZ23I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1399713817&sr=8-4&keywords=external+sound+card
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Labs-70SB129000002-Sound-Blaster/dp/B0042RUERG/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1399713893&sr=8-19&keywords=external+sound+card

there are many alternatives here
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=external+stereo+sound+card&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aexternal+stereo+sound+card

But would the sound quality be the same? Could you give me some stereo sound card options that match the quality of the 7.1/5.1 cards but are cheaper?

 

[mickypheonix]

The Xonar and Creative x-fi put out the best sound quality IMHO , the first two i showed you have great software and will work with stereo , the small cheap sound cards are just that but will work but without the quality and software ,
I have used both cards and am currently using this card
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUeDPgxOiFQ
after 2 years still works perfect and love the flexibility and sound control and quality

 

[zed77ultra]

The Xonar and Creative x-fi put out the best sound quality IMHO , the first two i showed you have great software and will work with stereo , the small cheap sound cards are just that but will work but without the quality and software ,
I have used both cards and am currently using this card
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUeDPgxOiFQ
after 2 years still works perfect and love the flexibility and sound control and quality

So are you saying that high quality sound cards support surround, and it is hard/impossible to find a stereo only sound card that can give sound as good as a surround supporting one?

 

[mickypheonix]

no not at all most cards support stereo but the old saying is true , you get what you pay for