Path: csiph.com!aioe.org!gothmog.csi.it!bofh.it!news.nic.it!robomod From: =?UTF-8?Q?Joel_Wir=C4=81mu_Pauling?= Newsgroups: linux.debian.user Subject: Re: What Mid-range USB Sound Cards Work with Linux? Date: Wed, 25 May 2016 03:30:02 +0200 Message-ID: References: X-Original-To: Martin McCormick X-Mailbox-Line: From debian-user-request@lists.debian.org Wed May 25 01:25:21 2016 Old-Return-Path: X-Amavis-Spam-Status: No, score=-5.2 tagged_above=-10000 required=5.3 tests=[BAYES_00=-2, DKIM_SIGNED=0.1, DKIM_VALID=-0.1, DKIM_VALID_AU=-0.1, HTML_MESSAGE=2, LDO_WHITELIST=-5, MONEY=0.5, MURPHY_SCAM1=0.1, RCVD_IN_DNSWL_LOW=-0.7] autolearn=no autolearn_force=no X-Policyd-Weight: DYN_NJABL=SKIP(0) NOT_IN_SBL_XBL_SPAMHAUS=-1.5 BL_NJABL=SKIP(-1.5) CL_IP_EQ_HELO_IP=-2 (check from: .aenertia. - helo: .mail-pa0-x22f.google. - helo-domain: .google.) FROM/MX_MATCHES_NOT_HELO(DOMAIN)=0; rate: -5 Dkim-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=aenertia.net; s=dkimaenertianet; h=mime-version:sender:in-reply-to:references:from:date:message-id :subject:to:cc; bh=RPW4ovfFDce9epm9P5/P67kThOMs5F5Hwdu67tdX+ng=; b=PmwuxYXW3e2N8yvL8JHWC1aG3MB4Y9akAZztgT7Cw4c1G4fbGUPhKXQZP01tmgfrae XcCM7dPtLwSI4P2LQ6Er1h4+PZ9rOL2R0Wd+N9GRH9kUCjnE9lGtKESV6o5aK23PivBh w5sAlZjzY7tYNnQfwhqAHZ9Gg3i/I9loh36uQ= X-Google-Dkim-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20130820; h=x-gm-message-state:mime-version:sender:in-reply-to:references:from :date:message-id:subject:to:cc; bh=RPW4ovfFDce9epm9P5/P67kThOMs5F5Hwdu67tdX+ng=; b=ajoAr/P3fvP/hdA+7T+PdKjYlg7dDr8V9J7axhrtmvQi16e9CWMmGdFUxuxjCc7Jht 9I4dg4TDJJBzvRfLqAs7l2B15UKy8VzRKsbAG51DwbeiWP/D8mYZrHVVNhVR+sK70Rlg VloM4MX8hQdVXeeiQppp0FAHk+JoKr06LQRu5cuHN+X8zcn4syTSxaoaMxSPoU57M8bw ICeUaK6sUYOICWac+EjGp8WUSIH6A9fjdkfYLBnoLvdIV2qfOzcNoTZMt5rdTVvfEjuT kFXl+CiI17WlIPgYiFwZEnR7RXeoslY14+Wkhu1iVx1bJPnhGXmRiknkaXpxSq78sJSj BVLw== X-Gm-Message-State: ALyK8tKUCNem+KsjX0/7sGwojBYhcx61Q5XmSRZlKxRz7dHB4yIBm8f1uHQlCb2OVPmvzkLy/+H76Wr6z5z3JQ== X-Received: by 10.66.231.35 with SMTP id td3mr1833631pac.56.1464139504325; Tue, 24 May 2016 18:25:04 -0700 (PDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 Sender: robomod@news.nic.it X-Google-Sender-Auth: cw9rycJMpZRBdZ1lwhQmOwmujyA Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=047d7b111e590ead920533a08bd1 X-Mailing-List: archive/latest/707743 List-ID: List-URL: List-Archive: https://lists.debian.org/msgid-search/CAKiAkGRBaLMpmuvtDvdvYS0Vt1-p5gtEUh0h5JDP-ZAfjfOzQg@mail.gmail.com Approved: robomod@news.nic.it Lines: 175 Organization: linux.* mail to news gateway X-Original-Cc: Debian Users X-Original-Date: Tue, 24 May 2016 18:24:44 -0700 X-Original-Message-ID: X-Original-References: X-Original-Sender: aenertia@aenertia.net Xref: csiph.com linux.debian.user:168236 --047d7b111e590ead920533a08bd1 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I said Fiio E1 I Meant - Q1 : http://www.head-fi.org/t/780726/fiios-new-q1-portable-dac-amp-lets-drink-to= -happy-listening On 24 May 2016 at 18:22, Joel Wir=C4=81mu Pauling wrote= : > Rather than going with a Consumer card. Head to a Audio/Music store. What > you are looking for is a USB - Audio interface; they generally have much > better Signal to Noise ration, hardware mixers and Ballanced XLR outputs > and Inputs. Something like the focusrite scarlet. > > Alternatively if you are just after a simple DAC/AMP without Inputs - the= n > I throughly recommend The Cheap FIio E1 - Which can be had for around 50$ > and have 96hkz/24bit DAC decoding I have several and they can be used as > just a headphone amp as well as with android. > > Basically is it doesn't have an external power source or a built in > battery - then avoid it - especially if you plan on attaching it to > unbalanced speaker/desk amps. The only Consumer manufacturer dac I would > consider in this class is the Creative E5 - but it's several hundred more > than the above mentioned Fiio E1 and you only really would need it if you > want bluetooth and input options. > > > > On 24 May 2016 at 11:27, Martin McCormick wrote= : > >> I went to a local electronics emporium and asked for a >> USB sound card that might possibly work under Linux. I have been >> messing with Linux and USB long enough to know that a number of >> USB sound cards mostly work well enough for one to play and >> record stereo but some special features may not work without >> proprietary drivers available to Windows or Mac users. These >> features are usually not show stoppers so there is no real >> problem. >> >> The only USB sound card they had was a SoundBlaster XG5 >> designed for the gaming market but, I thought, this is probably >> pretty good and, if most everything on it works, how can you go >> wrong? >> >> Well, here's how. Firstly, I am not bashing Creative Labs >> or the product itself but this is what happens when things become >> overly specialized. >> >> What I was looking for was a sound card which would >> record stereo. They usually will play, also but recording two >> line-level channels is a must. >> >> This is a really neat little device in that it has >> optical line input and output ports and a stereo headphone output >> but there is only a microphone input--(game over.) >> >> I did power it up and ran amixer on it to see if maybe >> there is more to that Mic input than originally meets the eye but there >> is actually less. There are several PCM inputs and maybe one is >> the microphone but it isn't clear what each PCM channel does. >> Again, if there are not two discrete analog line-level audio >> inputs, it can not be used as a normal sound card. >> >> I rarely need to return products to a store, but I am >> glad this one has a reasonable return policy because the device >> is so highly specialized that there is no way to use it for >> anything but playback only or as, in a game, good sound with a >> Mic for one to talk over. >> >> Basically, are there any good new USB sound cards these >> days that record and play stereo under Linux? >> >> Thanks for any suggestions. >> >> Martin McCormick >> >> > --047d7b111e590ead920533a08bd1 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

On 24 May 2016 at 18:22, Joel Wir=C4=81mu Pauling <joel@a= enertia.net> wrote:
Rather than going with a Consumer card. Head to a Audio/Music store. W= hat you are looking for is a USB - Audio interface; they generally have muc= h better Signal to Noise ration, hardware mixers and Ballanced XLR outputs = and Inputs. Something like the focusrite scarlet.

Alternatively i= f you are just after a simple DAC/AMP without Inputs - then I throughly rec= ommend The Cheap FIio E1 - Which can be had for around 50$ and have 96hkz/2= 4bit DAC decoding I have several and they can be used as just a headphone a= mp as well as with android.

Basically is it doesn't have an ext= ernal power source or a built in battery - then avoid it - especially if yo= u plan on attaching it to unbalanced speaker/desk amps. The only Consumer m= anufacturer dac I would consider in this class is the Creative E5 - but it&= #39;s several hundred more than the above mentioned Fiio E1 and you only re= ally would need it if you want bluetooth and input options.


=
On 24 May 2016 at 11:27, Martin McCormick <martin.m@suddenlink.net> wrote:
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 I went to a local electronics empori= um and asked for a
USB sound card that might possibly work under Linux. I have been
messing with Linux and USB long enough to know that a number of
USB sound cards mostly work well enough for one to play and
record stereo but some special features may not work without
proprietary drivers available to Windows or Mac users. These
features are usually not show stoppers so there is no real
problem.

=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 The only USB sound card they had was a SoundBla= ster XG5
designed for the gaming market but, I thought, this is probably
pretty good and, if most everything on it works, how can you go
wrong?

=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Well, here's how. Firstly, I am not bashing= Creative Labs
or the product itself but this is what happens when things become
overly specialized.

=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 What I was looking for was a sound card which w= ould
record stereo. They usually will play, also but recording two
line-level channels is a must.

=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 This is a really neat little device in that it = has
optical line input and output ports and a stereo headphone output
but there is only a microphone input--(game over.)

=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 I did power it up and ran amixer on it to see i= f maybe
there is more to that Mic input than originally meets the eye but there
is actually less. There are several PCM inputs and maybe one is
the microphone but it isn't clear what each PCM channel does.
Again, if there are not two discrete analog line-level audio
inputs, it can not be used as a normal sound card.

=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 I rarely need to return products to a store, bu= t I am
glad this one has a reasonable return policy because the device
is so highly specialized that there is no way to use it for
anything but playback only or as, in a game, good sound with a
Mic for one to talk over.

=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Basically, are there any good new USB sound car= ds these
days that record and play stereo under Linux?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Martin McCormick



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