I use Beyerdynamic DT990 (600 ohms) for competitive shooters and Sennheiser HD800 for singleplayer/immersive games.

My go-to recommendation is Sivga SV007 with V-MODA BoomPro. If you need sound isolation, then I suggest Status Audio CB-1.

If you're open to using a mic such as Antlion ModMic or Massdrop Minimic, then I have other headphone recommendations and suggestions.

If you want virtual surround sound, then you can use e.g. Astro Mixamp Pro TR, Creative Sound BlasterX G6, or Turtle Beach Elite Pro TAC. I recommend SBX Pro Studio from Creative as a virtual surround sound processor; it has less compression and better positional audio than Dolby Headphone.

 

Setup

---

You attach the BoomPro mic by inserting it directly into the headphone, which replaces the original headphone cable.

The cable terminates in a single 3.5 mm connector, so you can connect it directly to the controller or any other device with a headset jack. If you connect it to a regular headphone jack, then the mic won't work. No mics will. If the device has separate headphone and mic ports, then you need to use a TRRS Y-splitter, which is included with the BoomPro.

To connect the headset to the USB port on PS4, you can use an audio USB adapter.

My recommendations:

• Antlion: over twice as loud as the controller.
  
  
• Sabrent: a little quieter than the controller.
  
  
• Ugreen: moderately louder than the controller.
  
  At approximately the same volume, I heard no difference between these and the controller. I heard no hiss, hum, crackling, or other noise. The difference in the mic quality was negligible.
  
   
  
  

  Sound
  

  
  ---
  
  

  
  

  
  SV007:
  
  SV007 a well-balanced sound profile. The mid-bass, which is where boom and punch come from, is a little bit boosted. The sub-bass, which is how deep the bass goes and is where rumble comes from, is a little bit reduced. The overall bass is clean. The treble is close to neutral. It's clean, smooth, and crisp. The midrange is clear, not tinny or muffled. The overall clarity is great.
  
  It has a large soundstage, very good imaging and separation, and good to very good detail retrieval for competitive shooters. I assess headphones mainly in Battlefield: Bad Company 2, a multiplayer game I've played for over 3000 hours and I thrive at relying on sound cues.
  
  Soundstage is perceived space and environment of sound. It's width, depth, and height. I mean the type of soundstage that the headphone produces. Many games have a narrow, shallow, and short soundstage. A small soundstage makes the environment around you sound confined or boxed in. With a large soundstage, the environment sounds more spatial and expansive. Imaging is inherent to the audio content. It's how accurately the locations of sounds/objects are reproduced. Soundstage and imaging constitute positional audio, and you could say they are the stereo equivalent of virtual surround sound. Before you make any stances on virtual surround sound, I recommend that you read this post I wrote. Separation is how you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. You don't need to be concerned with this if you play competitively.
  
  

  
  

  
  BoomPro:
  
  You can actually judge for yourself by listening to recordings on YouTube.
  
  I prefer to watch Podcastage for mic reviews.
  
   
  
  

  Build, ergonomics, & features
  

  
  ---
  
  

  
  

  
  SV007:
  
  SV007 has an open design (as you can see with the grilles on the earcups), so sound passes freely in and out, unlike closed headphones which attenuate sound from passing through. The benefits of an open design are generally a larger soundstage and better imaging. If your ears tend to heat up, it may help mitigate this as it allows more airflow and heat to dissipate.
  
  The build is sturdy and lightweight, featuring metal yokes, hinges, and headband. It has no flimsy or squeaky parts. The cups are made of wood. They tilt and swivel and can lie flat. I have average sized ears and the earpads fit around them and don't press them against the inside of the cups. The pads are plush and have a smooth and relatively high-quality protein leather. The headband has decent padding, but the headphone has great weight distribution so it doesn't exert pressure on top of my head and doesn't cause hotspots. Adjusting the headband is smooth and easy and it stays firmly in place. The clamping force is mild and isn't too loose or too tight for my average sized head. The build quality is excellent with a near immaculate finish all around.
  
  

  
  

  
  BoomPro:
  
  BoomPro has a flexible aluminum neck and a tangle-free, braided cable that's free of microphonics. The game volume and mic mute controls are easy to adjust and don't accidentally adjust themselves when rubbing against your clothes. Adjusting them is smooth and consistent, not scratchy, sluggish, or sticky. The mic is as non-obtrusive as a boom mic can be and is almost unnoticeable in my peripheral vision.
  
   
  
  ^Formatted ^in ^Reddit ^Enhancement ^Suite.
  

Is some ways they can be yes. The Asus xonar cards all have a design flaw that any kind of internal interference or single going on inside your case is picked up on the mic input. USB sounds cards don't have that issue but cheap one can sometimes pickup interference from other sources, however it's usually far less then right next to your graphics card and CPU.

Sometime like this, https://smile.amazon.com/Sabrent-Aluminum-External-Adapter-AU-EMAC/dp/B00OJ5AV8I/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1486575400&sr=1-4&keywords=usb+sound+card or this, https://smile.amazon.com/Channel-External-Sound-Adapter-Laptop/dp/B01LQENV8G/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1486575400&sr=1-5&keywords=usb+sound+card will have a much less noisy input then your current card, but the headphone out might not be as strong or sound as good as the asus card.

You need a second audio output. It doesn't have to be anything fancy - a simple USB audio adapter should be enough.

Might be cheaper just to get a USB DAC

https://www.amazon.ca/TROND-Headphone-Microphone-Plug-N-Play-Compatible/dp/B00XUPX2H0/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1543250406&sr=8-15&keywords=usb+DAC

>that an analog to USB adaptor will not work for the training or be accepted.

This isn't a thing, and if it existed it would not work. USB is a digital only output. If a headset is USB, that actually means it has a little DAC (digital to analog converter) in the cable of the headset.

I cannot think of a reason why they would require you to use a USB headset. It seems ridiculous, unless the computer just simply do not have onboard audio.

However, you could get a cheap USB to analog adapter and use that with your current analog headset. Most of this sub is concerned with more "audiophile" DACs and headphone amps, however something like this should work

https://www.amazon.com/EC-Technology-Aluminum-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B014F2VUO8

I plugged into a $10 USB sound card and played into a torrented version of Logic Pro. It sounded fucking great and only cost me $10.

Edit: Now it's $5.

This. Buy the ZM-Mic 1 and if you only have a shitty onboard sound card also buy a USB sound card like this one, otherwise it'll be low volume with lots of noise. Yes, even a $5 USB sound card is better than onboard sound, they are that bad.

So less than $12 in total for very good mic quality, there's really no excuse for having a shitty mic, let alone none.

External sound cards are going to be your best bet in most cases. For music production in particular you'll wanna make sure it's ASIO compatible (usually listed in the spec sheet of the card). Also, if you're on a budget, try to find one with a built-in DAC, so you don't have to spend unnecessary money on a discrete one. My personal recommendation would be Asus Xonar U5. Pretty inexpensive and is basically all you're gonna need until you go pro.

your motherboard does not have the nessasary connector

http://www.amazon.com/Fanmusic-FM6011-Coxial-Converter-Digital/dp/B00A2QJK5I/

It's an amplifier board.

Specifically this amp board

Transducers

Power supply for amp/transducers

There's a dedicated PCI sound card in my PC. I'm using SimVibe software(must have) to drive the amp/transducers. Any PCI 5.1 sound card will work.

My PC is on the other side of the room so I'm using these y cable extensions. And this speaker wire

This is the sound card I bought, but i would buy a better one if I had to do it again.

this is actually fairly easy to do. reaper is 60$, these are 75$, this is 16, this type of midi controller is 55$, and you will need a laptop,

in reaper setup 5 channels, assign each cahnnel to a dedicated out using the soundcard i provided. setup SAMPLOMATIC5000 (reaper vst) with allthe sounds and have them set to midi triggers that you then trigger from the midi controller i provided. setup speakers anywhere in the room you would wish to have them.

​

now I gave you the BASIC setup, but all this can bedone with a keyboard through reaper, and even an SPDIF(optical) out in reaper if you do a little digging. This is NOT difficult and I commend you for wanting to provide an elevated gaming experience and I know you can do this if you just put your thoughts into action. you got this!

> Apparently USB sound cards with line-in audio are hard to find

Not all that hard.

Just started searching for this myself. I don't need 7.1 though. The turtlebeach one seems like the best, but I can't find it in stock anywhere. Does anyone know of another USB optical audio converter? Would THIS WORK?

The 3.5mm plugs on motherboard is broken. I'm using a USB 2.0 External Sound Card thingy, it was like 1 USD. does the quality of this affect the audio? Would the cheapest audio card be significantly better? What about a different USB audio card?

I have a USB audio device -- this one -- and would like to play audio from its microphone, live. I don't want to stream or record it. I just want to pass through the audio, live, from the mic to the speakers plugged into the headphone jack on the Pi.

I can't find anything online about how I would go about doing this, as everything is about streaming audio or recording it.

How would I do this?

Thanks!

Essentially the older version of this - HyperX Amp USB Sound Card - Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound - Works with PC/PS4 - Plug and Play Audio Upgrade for Stereo Headsets (HX-USCCAMSS-BK) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GW1SHSN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_CJdBDb2ZSWFNF. Which I recently
bought, at the same price as this new one damnit. :(

I've used these on several machines too. Fairly compact and great sound for the price.

This one might work

USB-C Audio Adapter, CableCreation Type C External Stereo Sound Card with Headphone and Microphone Jack Compatible with Windows, Mac, iPad Pro 2018, Plug and Play, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075YFDJ4Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EzFTDb18GG36N

I don't have it. But I figured I might try to help you look for one.

Try this out. works great for me. ;0)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XM883BK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Headphones only have one plug, for audio. You are talking about headsets, which have one for audio and one for the microphone. I use one of these for that.

What model? Like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Sound-Box-USB-SBCV/dp/B002R33VWW

Unless I'm right off the mark, you don't have the ideal USB audio interface with two outputs - you have one input and one output, but the main setup for Traktor DJs is at least two OUTPUTS - one for the Main Output, one for the Headphone monitor output.

Your only option might be to create an aggregated sound card, but your latency is likely to be an issue. I think Soundflower on Mac is your best bet so you can combine this USB adapter with your internal laptop sound card for audio output.

You're going to need a mixer with loopback. Though, if you don't mind the OK sound quality I have one of these and it has this function.

http://i.imgur.com/DWBuu4d.png

That's the headphone/speaker output settings, you can turn on the microphone so it outputs into the headphones with no delay and change the volume. Was nice when I had it.

I had this problem as well, but then I bought a Logitech headset that came with USB to jack adapter. It's something like this.

Now I use it for my 2.1 stereo as well, just run 3.5 from it to 'headphones' part of the adapter. PS4 is connected via HDMI to TV at the same time.

Take off the side panel of your PC. Are the front panel connectors on the case connected to the motherboard? are you sure? connected securely? could be a defective PC case.

I'm 99% sure the Strix has a dual headphone out/mic in on the back. If not this is $10.

I agree that what you probably really want is an I-gate. It would transfer packets from rf to internet and internet to rf. A digipeater just retransmits packets, usually with higher power so it can be picked up by an I-gate somewhere else.

The tnc-x tncpi had decent documentation that someone with limited programming knowledge could easily set one up.

It can be done way cheaper with an Amazon USB sound card and direwolf, but isn't nearly as easy to set up.

I have some experience with both, so I may be able to offer a little assistance if you
Decide to give it a go yourself.

Edit: added more info

My current setup with the USB sound card is for a mobile digipeater and tracker, I'm not actually using it as an igate but did play around with some of those settings in direwolf. It uses a RPi 3b, this sound card TROND External USB Audio Adapter... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07L56C28R?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share , and a $40 baofeng uv5r.

My igate is set up with the tncpi and uses a baofeng uv3r.

For a receive only igate go with a cheap radio as you don't need any fancy functions at all, and won't need tx. If your plan is for transmit as well, a cheap "import" radio is better than nothing, but wouldn't be as good as reprogramming the used commercial radio or a decent base station.

Oh, hey, here’s another idea, related to comments from others (sorry to again be offering alternatives, but I have no advice on how to make progress with Dell).

Easier than trying to make a custom front jack fix would be to get a USB headphone adapter, like one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XKC2DNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_7wYWAb6ZA6RAT

• this one seems cool, but I can’t speak for the brand
  
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FH1KTFI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_eFYWAbQ8DE8BN
  
• I have a prior version of this one, and it has always worked well

If you're on a desktop, get a PCI soundcard with optical out, if you're on a laptop, look for a USB sound card or DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) - essentially a USB sound card. amazon.co.uk should have plenty, but at that price point it could be hard to find something good.

eg.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TRIXES-External-Sound-Channel-Audio/dp/B003TO3KHY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483537816&sr=8-2&keywords=usb+soundcard+optical+out

Here’s a link Amazon-HyperX Amp USB Sound Card

This system is a set of computer speakers.

You will need a USB soundcard to get this to work.

For example:

http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Sound-Card-Xonar-U5/dp/B00MI8IDRE/ref=pd_sim_147_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=41y7FcI5BML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0CA6VW02PA6PBVC0TVED

Get this!! More volume and dolby 7.1!!! You will be shocked at how much better it will make your alphas sound! They gotta have it in sweden somewhere lol.


hyper x amp

HyperX Amp USB Sound Card - Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound - Works with PC/PS4 - Plug and Play Audio Upgrade for Stereo Headsets (HX-USCCAMSS-BK) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GW1SHSN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.Kd0BbZK34J50

Or you can try the one with the cloud 2. I have that one on the way for my headphones I use.

Probably want a DAC for your audio. For the ports, just search for a generic "USB Hub".

You could get it in one piece with this: https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-External-Adapter-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B01HPMHOY0

Or something similar.

Something like this should work well for you

You could try a USB sound adapter. The sound will be produced on the USB itself so that would rule out a problem with the headphone jack on the laptop.

Something like this...: https://smile.amazon.com/EC-Technology-Aluminum-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B014F2VUO8/

[This amp](http://www.parts-express.com/sure-electronics-aa-ab33182-4x100w-at-4-ohm-class-d-digital-audio-amplifier-board-sta508-(t--320-335)

and this sound card

If I were to do it again, I'd buy a better sound card. That one, the drives are built into the software and you can't do anything about it. It interferes with the onboard audio and makes the speakers I have plugged into onboard run at 5.1, even though they are 2.1 speakers. But overall it works pretty decent.

You're looking for a USB DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter), also called an external soundcard, or some combination of those.

Ones that are a desktop "box" rather than a large dongle tend to be more expensive, however here's one from Asus that a quick Amazon search turned up. Creative is also a name worth looking out for, there's this one and this smaller one There are also higher end ones more suitable if you're doing music or video production, which have high-quality inputs for microphones and instruments.

Don't worry if you find ones that take a 6.25mm (1/4") headphone cable as you can get converters easily. You can certainly get more expensive.

Edit: The Razer box probably does some simulated surround sound processing, I believe the Asus and Creative products should have simulated surround sound (and probably do a better job of it) in addition to enough speaker outputs to have true surround sound. Simulated surround isn't for everyone, and can be turned off.
Worth mentioning is the Sennheiser GSX 1000, which got a great review from HardwareCanucks, especially the simulated surround sound. Very expensive though.

TL;DR
It's a type of USB Soundcard, the Razer one has the wires fixed in. Only some of them are boxes with volume controls on them, so shop around.

I was going to say, a sound card like that should be $3-6 (USD) so you are right in the range. Those things are great for testing but probably not so great as a permanent solution.

If you game or care about audio fidelity for any reason I would go out and buy a decent sound card, yes!

You could "go nuts" and buy something like this Creative Audigy but it probably isn't strictly necessary. Then again, it's only $40 USD.
https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Audigy-Performance-Headphone/dp/B00EO6X4XG

Otherwise, just see what kind of port you have free on your motherboard and buy something for around $20 USD that fits. That price range should get you something respectable.
Example (PCI) sound card =
https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Channel-Surround-Adapter-PCISOUND5CH2/dp/B00JLREDZG

Good luck!

Hey guys, Posted in here a few times now seems every week i have a new question and an idea for an upgrade searing it's self into my mind.

Currently looking at getting the AT2020 Microphone

I currently have a pair of Sennheiser HD 579's

My question is, Will both of these connect correctly to This Mix Amp. If not, what is a better mix amp to use?

Thank you for the continued help as i continue to upgrade my build.

Why not opt for a USB split adapter? For [reference] (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-3-5mm-Audio-Adapter-version/dp/B00FH1KTFI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450902226&sr=8-1&keywords=logitech+usb+adapter) only

you need an external sound card like this:
https://www.amazon.com/EC-Technology-Aluminum-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B014F2VUO8/ref=sr_1_14?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1480617365&sr=1-14&keywords=external+sound+card
be sure to get a usb extension wire as the PS4 is just an awful shape that doesn't fit usb's that have a large base like most sound cards

OR

a DAC with an optical cable like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005K2TXMO/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AFKH6OU9WWNFS


a suggestion for a mic if you need a great one that's cheap:
https://www.amazon.com/Sony-ECMCS3-Omnidirectional-Stereo-Microphone/dp/B0058MJX4O/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1480617666&sr=1-3&keywords=sony+omnidirectional+microphone


you can also use any mic that plugs into a usb slot like a blue snowball or other desktop mic. I'm not sure what exactly your setup is so I can't really tell you whats best but hopefully this helps.

There's a wide range of options, from the "$10-15, decent, it works": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-External-Adapter-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B01HPMHOY0/

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-External-Converter-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B01M7QQQC7/

There's fancier stuff:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0044DEDCA/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018JUPY3A/

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Performance-Headphone-Integrated-Microphone/dp/B00EZT7RE4/

Or for the wealthy audiophile: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-X7-High-Resolution-Headphone-Connectivity/dp/B00Q3XLGLU/

Almost any sound card will be an upgrade compared to your onboard Realtek audio. The main benefits will be slightly cleaner sounding audio stream and additional features like the Dolby enhancements (which are nice for headphones and stereo systems).

Let me give you a few options that would be farily decent:

• ~$100: Asus Xonar U7 - Fairly new so may be a bit hard to find. Offers some decent features, especially for headphones. Also has an optical out for Home Theatre systems. Plus it's a USB device so you can take it with you if you have a laptop.
  
  
• ~$60: Asus Xonar DSX - PCI-E based card, basically the entry level card I would go for if you want an internal sound card. Has a decent set of features and has 7.1 analog output (for the cheaper surround sound systems).
  
  
• ~$180: Asus Xonar Essence STX - Probably the best solution for headphones as far as PCI-E sound cards go. Decent DAC, reasonable integrated headphone amp, and all the other typical Dolby features. Note that this, like the U7, does not have multiple 3.5mm analog outs like the DSX.
  
  Now the above DAC's/sound cards are suggested if you are looking for something that has support for a surround sound speaker system and also has the virtual surround software (Dolby headphone/Dolby home theater). If you don't care about those and are only going to have either a stereo (2 channel) setup then I would probably recommend something different.

I'm struggling to think of much else!

Can you try the headset in your phone (without the splitter this time) and confirm that it does work properly there? Also how about trying some other microphone/headset in your PC?

An odd part from your answers is that the back ports give you nothing... Are they certainly the right ones? Can you make sure your speakers aren't set to the wrong configuration (see here)? A photo of the back of your computer would be nice to confirm. I might take a poke around the BIOS in case the ports have been accidentally disabled somehow.

If it's certainly the PC that is acting up, and the headphones are fine, then a cheap soundcard would side-step the problem. USB or PCI.

Are you on a desktop or laptop? If desktop, the back I/O for your motherboard should have a blue jack grouped in with your speaker/mic cluster that's for Line In and that can be used for routing 3DS or any audio on a 3.5mm cable into your PC. This is what I do for routing my 3DS sound into my headset while I can still use my Speakers and Microphone to talk with friends on the PC as they're left open.

If on a laptop or you don't have the requisite port, you could see about a cheaper external USB sound card that's something like this that will let you get a Line In port.

The combo jacks can be finicky.

I have the 4.0 and I had the problem of being really quiet as well. Couple things you can try, make sure the mic is not directly in front of your muth but a little off to the side so it doesn't pick up popping sounds from your mouth, also take off the windscreen(foam thing) and make sure that when you're wearing your headset the microphone is actually pointed at your mouth since the 4.0 is uni-directional, and put the windscreen foam thing back on. Also I picked up a USB Mic/Headset which has bumped it up so much, I no longer have to boost my mic through Windows or Discord. This is the one I got but anything similar will work https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XM883BK/

I use this and it works fine. Can be obtained for 9 dollars on eBay with Chinese shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B013256ODG/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?qid=1464057928&sr=8-11&pi=SL75_QL70&keywords=usb+to+spdif

Send usb to this and it will give you Coaxial output for the 793.

Yeah those headsets are typically for consoles and apparently there wasn't a good solution for that for a long time. I found one recently here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DLY3IW8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Other brands are available too. It's basically a USB sound card with a 4-pin socket.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A2QJK5I/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1453069883&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=Usb+to+coaxial&dpPl=1&dpID=41WEoRSM6OL&ref=plSrch

I have a G27, which really only has one usb output to begin with, but my setup until recently consisted of a 50 ft usb cable from my computer to a powered usb hub (amazon basic) where I plugged the G27, a $10 small sound card that looked like this, and keyboard and mouse. Rather surprisingly, it all worked flawlessly. I don't know if the hub being powered made all the difference or not, but I didn't want to take any chance.

My speakers are connected to my receiver, A optical cable goes from my receiver to this box., Then it goes from the box to usb in my pc.
The problem is that it doesnt have dolby digital live to decode the audio signal. So thats why i want an soundcard that has it. I just need advice if that is a good card or not or if it is even going to work.

I have this:
https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Xonar-U7-Sound-Card/dp/B00CP53ML2/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1485041042&sr=1-1&keywords=xonar+u7
works great, little over your price, at $80, but you might consider ..

AmazonSmile Link

Use this AmazonSmile link to donate a part of your purchase to charity.

>Sound Blaster Omni Surround

Is it this one?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Performance-Headphone-Integrated-Microphone/dp/B00F8VB0IW/

http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Channel-Surround-External-Laptop/dp/B009NVS6KS/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1406123764&sr=1-14&keywords=usb+sound+card

Incase sound doesnt work , I have the same at home and it's just plug and play

You could try the Trond AC2 USB sound card. It's Linux compatible and has excellent reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/External-Headphone-Microphone-Plug-N-Play-Compatible/dp/B00XUPX2H0

I understood the question. My point is that the DAC built into the phone is already quite good so there will unlikely be any benefit over just 3.5mm to RCA analog input. If you really wanted to use the coax though then this $30 USB->Coax adaptor might work with Android. The UCA-202 might as well with an OTG cable.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CP53ML2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2F5K4JEE2HZCG&coliid=I1G8S0FB4FE80K&psc=1

this is a DAC/AMP that has a headphone out and a mic input. So if you've got the vmoda boompro mic, you can use the splitter no problem with this.

I would get a usb to 3.5mm
Here's an example
https://www.amazon.com.au/Logitech-3-5mm-Audio-Adapter-Version/dp/B00FH1KTFI

I used to use an E-MU 0404 soundcard for getting guitar and vocal channels into the computer. Perfectly adequate for starting out, and the monitoring through it was much better than without it (effectively did away with latency). It will connect MIDI controllers, though I don't think I ever did with that (you can also use a USB adaptor straight to the PC for that).

If you're not recording instruments and just want a soundcard that improves sound quality to your headphones / speakers, you can use something much cheaper, I currently have this one plugged in for listening to music. Cheap and nasty but works well enough; did not require any setting up in either Win 10 or Ubuntu. Note its mic input is 3.5mm so will not take a "proper" microphone.

Would this be what I'm looking for? Or would it be something else?

EDIT: Would this work too? Or this Turtle Beach one? Or this StarTec one? Or this Behringer UCA202?

Budget: Max 150 - 200 (Euro)

Looking for a DAC/AMP with mic input, I have [Philips X2] ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-X2-00-Fidelio-Headphone/dp/B00MRUPSHQ ) headphones with ModMic but the modmic is super quite, have to boost mic gain so people can hear me which in turn make the mic sound pretty bad. Seems to be a problem with my Motherboards audio, a lot of other people with Realtek audio have the same problem.

Source: Desktop

What I have been looking at:

At the moment leaning towards Creative BlasterX G5 or Creative Sound Blaster Omni haven't really seen any options outside of Sound Blaster for DACs with mic input.

Or maybe a simple cheap mic to usb sound adapter is all I need?


I have read the Philips X2 don't benefit too much for a DAC or Amp. Anyone who has run into similar problems with their ModMic could you let me know how you solved it, thanks.


Location: Ireland

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00CP53ML2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_hRslxbTBJQRM6

this one :)

Hi, i need help with this setup.

I have a ps4 slim, and i want to connect it to my PC speakers, which only has a 3.5mm. PS4 slim only has a usb port to connect to. So i was planning to get a USB DAC to do the trick. The options i have is to get a DAC, and 3.5mm extender. Will this work? WIll there be a loss in quality, loudness or extra noise?

Also, I have 2 options which are on Sale, can someone tell the difference between the two, SBX Pro Studio vs X-Plus. Is any of the two better? I only play on speakers, not really care for things like footstep accuracy but prefer a cinematic feel.

https://www.amazon.in/Creative-BlasterX-70SB171000000-Portable-Gaming/dp/B01DLY3IW8?ref_=bl_dp_s_web_3869607031

https://www.amazon.in/Creative-Sound-Blaster-PLAY-External/dp/B06XBZ38ZJ/ref=pd_sbs_147_5/259-3016092-2192724?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06XBZ38ZJ&pd_rd_r=383dd535-d670-472d-a42a-36a0ec98679a&pd_rd_w=Iko2l&pd_rd_wg=3CJOF&pf_rd_p=5c023088-3bf1-437a-ba7d-b879da18a58e&pf_rd_r=R8Y03ZHFDTGWD1C57BMZ&psc=1&refRID=R8Y03ZHFDTGWD1C57BMZ

I ran into an issue on my old store-bought computer (10 years old at least) where the sound just refused to work. I ended up buying an external sound card that plugged into a USB port.

This will cost you under $2 and you have other options as well.

When you say audio adapter you mean something like this or this? I've seen some fancy amp boards, can one use them as well?

So you connect audio adapter to RPi, connect speakers to it and play music off a share or connected HDD? Or is there some other purpose in this setup?

Definitely makes sense. I also found it a tad weird how I couldn't just use an external sound card.

Since you seem to know what you're talking about I have a question. Now I'm not gonna buy this, as it's too much for what I need, but could something like the Asus Xonar U5 work?

It's just that I have a hard time shaking the idea that there must be something off when using two devices (speakers + sound card) that both contain an amp. I mean you are essentially amping up the volume through 2 devices then.

I'd recommend a USB sound card then, it'll be cheaper.

I've got this one which works well.

https://www.amazon.com/VAlinks-External-Surround-Recording-Compatible/dp/B013256ODG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1475185530&sr=8-2&keywords=usb+optical+audio

Can you use Bluetooth midi and usb audio at the same time? I have not tried pressing the button on back while using a usb-c audio connection.

What about https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-CableCreation-External-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B075YFDJ4Q

Sorry to keep asking but that would mean something like this would work?

https://www.amazon.com/HyperX-Amp-Sound-Card-HX-USCCAMSS-BK/dp/B07GW1SHSN/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1MB9YG0IJRM4V&keywords=hyperx+cloud+2+usb+sound+card&qid=1564283851&s=gateway&sprefix=hyperx+cloud+2+usb%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-4

Good one, but i think there are few more ways to do it.


https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-CableCreation-External-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B075YFDJ4Q/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=cablecreation+audio&qid=1563789284&s=gateway&sr=8-2



https://www.amazon.com/Headphone-Splitter-Adapter-CableCreation-Earphone/dp/B0778FHLWL/ref=sr_1_25?keywords=cablecreation+audio+splitter&qid=1563789987&s=gateway&sr=8-25

I bought one of these and already had one of these. I've heard shotgun mics aren't ideal for music recording, but it works pretty well for a beginner setup. I record straight into garage band right now, I'll probably upgrade to Ableton eventually.

Hello,
i've bought the Sennheiser HD558 and it has a great sound, i think. But... How am i supposed to know if i need another soundcard or anything else? Right now i just plugged it into the PC-Mainboard... Am i only experiencing a small part of the power of the headphone? I also have this laying around: https://www.amazon.de/USB-Adapter-Surround-Sound-Gaming-Headset/dp/B00FH1KTFI
Should i use it?... Thanks

If you are using a PS4Pro or an OG PS4, they have optical ports. I am assuming your PS4 and PC are both connected to the monitor via HDMI/DVI and/or DisplayPort. What you could do is get a USB sound card as such, that has an optical input, and let your PC output it to the speakers. something like this, https://www.amazon.ca/HDE-Channel-Surround-External-Optical/dp/B009NVS6KS.

The only issue this might cause is, there may be some delay/lag as the PC has to process the input, and then output it. I do not know for sure tho how bad that may be, or if it is even an issue.

I have this one.

Well, technically, the easiest way would be to buy a USB sound card. Probably not the cheapest though. They do make some pretty nice ones though.

Edit: Perhaps not as expensive as I thought might not be great quality though.

Will this benefit and work well along side Hyper X Cloud 2s?

What about this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Performance-Headphone-Integrated-Microphone/dp/B00F8VB0IW ?

I bought an ancient headset with the green and pink adapters for 6.00 and a USB adapter off Amazon for 4.00.

C Technology Aluminum External USB Sound Card Audio Adapter with 3.5mm Stereo Headphone/Speaker and Mono Microphone Jacks for Window XP/Vista/7/8, Mac OS 8.6 or above- Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014F2VUO8/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_JmC8wbJ0CJNVJ


Plantronics .Audio 326 Stereo PC Headset https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001S2RCXW/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_ilC8wb6CGVR21

This is what I bought locally on sale. You can buy the 3.5mm adapters that plug straight into your controller also and use an older headset that way.

Your best cheap option is the SMSL SD-793ii. It's a DAC/AMP combo that has both optical and coaxial in but no USB connection (so you'll need this adapter if you want to use it with a laptop. This is what I currently use with my PS4 and laptop and it does a good job. I'd recommend the Amazon Basics Optical Cable. Not really sure about a good coaxial cable as mine is just some random one I got on Ebay.

However, I'm soon going to be upgrading to the Schiit Modi/Magni Uber stack (the Modi Uber has optical in), which is a better option if you have the money for it. Although, if this is strictly for your PS4 then the SD-793ii is all you need.

Will something like this work?

​

It really isn't that hard to attempt, depending on your laptop of course.

You would just remove a few screws, take the case off, and then hold a heat gun to it for a bit, till the solder melts (trying to keep the hot air away from everything else of course).

However, if you have never done anything of the sort before, I would just buy a usb sound card / headphones.

Here is a REALLY cheap one, with free shipping. Not the best, and the "7.1" is virtual, but it will do stereo fine. This is quite a bit better, with real surround sound 5.1 support, for pretty cheap still (if you get a usb sound card, I would get this one).

You can also get this as a cheap usb headset. Logitech is a good brand, so they could be pretty good headphones. For a bit more, you can get this one which has 5.1 surround sound, force feedback (awesome for games), ect. Also Arctic is a good brand, though with coolers stuff. However, if you have the money, I would get this. It is 7.1 surround sound, and Logitech. But ALOT of money.


I don't known what OS you use, but all of them should work with Windows. I also know that the second usb sound card works on linux, and the rest should work too, as ever random usb sound stuff I hooked up just worked (and Linux just rules with stuff like this). However, if you use OSX, that I don't know. Might be best to get one that specifically supports OSX.

I have a Theta DS Pro basic. It's an older DAC so there's no USB input. I send a signal to it from my computer via my ifi headphone amp which has an SPDIF out. I would like to have my headphone amp back, so I'm thinking about buying a standalone USB to SPDIF converter. Will buying a more expensive one actually have any noticeable difference in audio quality over a cheap one like this one on Amazon?

Still holding out for internal sound support on Skylake devices.

In the meantime, I've had success using an external USB sound card.

Alternatively, you can experiment with Bluetooth receivers (speakers and some phones).

Usb Sound cards are dead cheap, you can pick them up on amazon for £4 although I’m not sure they understand what 7.1 audio is. For a bit more this has all the channels and SPDIF in and out, I use it fir line in/out but it can’t do passthrough which is what I wanted, I don’t know if all the channels are supported because I don’t have a multiple channel output device.

the e10 is pretty cool, had one for a couple of years. it costs more though.
this is the amazon one i meant...
https://www.amazon.com/VAlinks-External-Surround-Recording-Compatible/dp/B013256ODG

Here is one of you have only one jack https://www.amazon.ca/External-Converter-Headphone-Microphone-Desktops/dp/B07Q1NT97X/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?keywords=audio+to+usb+adapter&qid=1558133412&s=gateway&sprefix=audio+to+usb+&sr=8-12 if you have two than you will need this https://www.amazon.ca/TROND-Headphone-Microphone-Plug-N-Play-Compatible/dp/B00XUPX2H0/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?keywords=audio+to+usb+adapter&qid=1558133412&s=gateway&sprefix=audio+to+usb+&sr=8-11 these are just ones I found quickly on Amazon you might be able to find better ones if you look more

I think I'll go hub. I'm pretty sure it's USB only but can't check right now.

Someone else suggested this...
https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-External-Adapter-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B01HPMHOY0

So I'd go Keyboard > Hub > Adapter > iphone/ipad, then run the audio back out through the hub. Sound right?

Yeah. Don't make your life harder than it should be. Every USB C hub out there implements SD card readers, Ethernet ports, audio ports with USB-to-whatever circuits. You can do that yourself.

Say, https://smile.amazon.com/Adapter-MicroSD-Charging-Chromebook-Nintendo/dp/B07MC76BBP/ almost there but doesn't have audio. Plug https://smile.amazon.com/UGREEN-External-Adapter-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B01HPMHOY0/ into one of the USB 3.0 ports or https://smile.amazon.com/External-Adapter-Compatible-Windows-AFUNTA/dp/B01LH1NQ9W/ into one of the USB 2.0 ports. Done!

It’s a usb interface. I just added it to the post

Is there anything cheaper? Trying to get a modmic as well as the headphones. I do have a blue snowball, but it picks up to much background noise. Also don't plan on getting beefier headphones in the future, I'm sure these are better than my voids, which is really all I need. Would something like this work?

I understand in order to use a mic you need this....
https://www.amazon.com/EC-Technology-Aluminum-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B014F2VUO8/ref=sr_1_14?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1480617365&sr=1-14&keywords=external+sound+card

However, I just wanted to confirm that the PS4 pro will recognize both USB ports actively. One USB port will have the xim4 plugged in supporting the keyboard and mouse, and the other USB port will have the above adapter plugged into it supporting the headset and mic. Both USB ports are being used for the one game we are playing by one person with one controller. Is this correct? Thank you in advance.

Thanks for your answer!

I guess this should work (Amazon)? 16 bit and 48 kHz are enough for me.

There are suprisingly few low-cost options for USB to S/PDIF, while decent and cheap DACs are so abundant.

Try a USB sound card that features a Stereo Microphone jack. It is possible your computer is using a balanced mono jack.


Something like this should work and is reasonably cheap. It won't hurt to give it a shot.

http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Sound-Box-USB-SBCV/dp/B002R33VWW
this is the one i bought about a year ago

That was my exact goal with the eGPU, too. I wanted a one cable solution for mouse, audio, monitors, and also a wireless charger port. I bought this usb to 3.5 mm audio jack adapter to take care of it. I have a decent ear and have not noticed any significant loss in audio quality.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L56C28R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XU4LDbP1EQ8RH

Right? I'm not sure why that is. I have an ASUS ROG VL753VD which has a built in microphone but obviously its insanely sensitive so other people can basically hear my heartbeat through it...it just doesnt detect any microphones that are inputted through the audio jack. And do you think this would get the job done or not?

It is unclear. There's many different kinds of USB C headphones, and even the description says a lot of devices won't work with the mic.

I would definitely recommend you get an adapter like this instead of using poorly supported USB C earbuds.

USB C headphones probably won't even be a thing for too long since high fidelity & old stuff is going to stay analog, other modern stuff is going to be Bluetooth.

"in the nautical world, jury means 'makeshift' or 'temporary.'"

"It’s sometimes thought that Jerry in jerry-built or jerry-rigged comes from Jerry as used as British slur against Germans during Word War I and II. This disparaging term is real..."

You could also simply use an external sound card which has separate RCA/3.5mm outputs for 5.1. No need to mess around with HDMI.

$10 but not great: https://www.amazon.ca/HDE-Channel-Surround-External-Optical/dp/B009NVS6KS

Better would be a Creative-branded one

How exactly would that work?

Edit: watched a video on it and seems like my easiest and best option. Think I'm going to get this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L56C28R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_g.iVDbAR5W6H0

Unless you have any other recommendations

aha! There's a PCI version audio card that fits in the long slot at the edge of the motherboard, is that one covered?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JLREDZG/

There are lots of nice headsets you could get.

I just got the Logitech G230 yesterday and it is truly amazing! It has nice bass (really balanced for my liking) and feels comfortable.

It's the same as the G430 but it has different colors. However the G430 comes with a USB adapter that I highly recommend (has more features and improves the mic).

You could either order the G430 or the G230 with the adapter.

The SteelSeries Siberia v2 is pretty good but the build quality might not be that great. My pair (black edition) had its mic and headband break within months. The same also happened to my brother who got the Frost White version. However, this was almost two years ago and may have been improved.

I can't really speak for any other headsets as these are the only ones I've ever had.

I was going to do a similar project, but just ended up making it in an enclosure I 3D printed. Here is the way to go:
http://www.pimusicbox.com/

Allows you to access a sonos-like interface on your computer or phone. Isn't quite the same as what you were trying to do, but its 100 times more simple, especially if you don't have much experience doing this sort of stuff.

You will need a powered USB hub, USB sound card, and USB wifi. I suggest these two things for the soundcard and wifi...

http://www.amazon.com/External-Headphone-Microphone-Plug-N-Play-Compatible/dp/B00XUPX2H0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450757339&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=usb+sound+card&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/Edimax-EW-7811Un-150Mbps-Raspberry-Supports/dp/B003MTTJOY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450757359&sr=8-1&keywords=edimax+wifi

One final suggestion, look into changing the grill cloth on the front of it with some new stuff, guitar amp grill cloth works great and this is a great place to buy it.

http://www.mojotone.com/amp-parts?search=Grillcloth

I was initially annoyed by this issue and I even bought a [USB Sound Card] (http://www.amazon.com/External-Headphone-Microphone-Plug-N-Play-Compatible/dp/B00XUPX2H0/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1450050903&sr=8-31&keywords=usb+audio) to rectify the issue. But as I used the Surface Book more, I noticed that I also use my laptop without a table (lap, sofa, bed) and placement turned out to be a godsend. For my previous laptops, I can't turn them sideways when using them in a sofa for example because it will use the inserted headphone jack as a support. I once broke the inside of the 3.5mm port of my old laptop because of this. With the current design, I don't have to worry about this issue as the jack is at the top.

Bottomline:
Do I hate the placement? Yes and it looks annoying. But it has some benefits for me on how and where I use the laptop.

Yes, seen those, the build quality is suspect.

I may end up with something like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Performance-Headphone-Integrated-Microphone/dp/B00F8VB0IW

Although I don't need the soundcard part of it.

Sorry for the late response, but I appreciate all the help you've offered so far. If it's cool I still have some questions.

I currently have that Zalman mic you linked and getting the white noise with it. Do you think the onboard soundcard I have on my z97 board is the issue? (MSI SLI Krait z97 if it makes a difference)

Would getting a microphone with a little plastic buffer like this help the issue, or would spending the money on a cheap sound card be more beneficial?

I was also looking a condenser mic with stand or maybe a gaming headset like these G430s on sale.

Any and all help would be appreciated!

I just ordered this sound card to go with my Hyperx headset, I hope it works without a problem but if it doesn't, I'll just return it then try sending the motherboard for repair, or maybe get a new power supply.

Is this what your looking for?

HyperX Amp USB Sound Card - Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound - Works with PC/PS4 - Plug and Play Audio Upgrade for Stereo Headsets (HX-USCCAMSS-BK) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07GW1SHSN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_CPhUDbKXEHXKG

Just a heads up, if you pick up the these Cloud Is for PS4 then you can upgrade them to Cloud IIs with 7.1 surround sound by purchasing this adapter.

1

2

3

I found these three would they be any good?

I had a similar issue that turned out to be a kernel bug: https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=195303

​

I got one of these and all is well: https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-External-Adapter-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B01HPMHOY0/ref=sr_1_18?crid=3J2Q1R1HVQ2IW&keywords=usb+audio+adapter&qid=1554078757&s=gateway&sprefix=usb+audo%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-18

​

Not ideal, but I'll gladly switch back to onboard once the issue is fixed.

​

A DIY solution would obviously be the cheapest. All you'd need to make one yourself is some suitable, male and female connectors, and resistors suitable values.

But wait, now on reading your opening post again and checked - your soundcard only has a combo audio out + mic TRRS socket, correct? I'd say hold on with DIY adapter idea for now! I don't know if that schematic on the diyaudioheaven site could be directly applied into making an adapter for mic-equipped headphones. At least AFAIK, in-line mic controls work via the button presses causing impedance changes in the mic section of the wiring, that are then interpreted as various commands, so I'd figure the mic would continue working fine as long as that was just included in the DIY adapter (naturally outside the resistors), but perhaps a 'better safe than sorry' approach would be best here. Hopefully someone with more knowledge could chime in.

While not quite 150% what the soundcard costs, there's the iFi iEMatch - around 100% of the Soundblaster's price. And in-line mics reportedly don't unfortunately work with it.

Seems like a tricky situation here... :|

>I also had an idea to put a 300 ohm resistor in line with the usb 2.0 Vcc wire (using usb 2.0 male to female extension cable) but I'm not sure if that would give me what I need

You mean between the computer and the dongle soundcard? That won't work.

No idea how you'd get audio to a Google Cast endpoint - that protocol is still a black box as far as I know.

If all you want to do is distribute the audio from the vinyl player, then just capture it and replay it over Snapcast or Icecast or MPD or literally hundreds of other services that play an audio stream.

For capturing from the vinyl player unless you have a heavyweight system alongside, you could get a small embedded box (like an RPi) and a cheap USB soundcard or try to go digital with either an HDMI audio extractor or (much rarer) audio interface with TOSlink input like this DIGIFLEX External Sound Card USB 6 Channel 5.1 Audio one.

On the RPi side you'd pick the audio off the sound card with something like cpiped (linked above) which will buffer the audio for you and then pipe that to snapserver or forked-daapd or icecast or whatever.

(If you don't need synchronized audio then it's even simpler since an awful lot of networked TVs and amplifiers can be instructed to play an audio stream URL.)

> Getting outside the PC case 9x out of 10 will yield better results.

Does that mean you would recommend something like this or this instead of an internal card?

Try this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DIGIFLEX-External-Sound-Channel-Audio/dp/B003TO3KHY/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1374761849&sr=8-6&keywords=usb+sound+card

If it doesnt work search for

DIGIFLEX External Sound Card USB 6 Channel 5.1 Audio

Right now, I'm using a cheap USB headphone like this: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B014F2VUO8. As long as it's plug and play, I think it will be fine on a Raspberry Pi. I looked at the specs for Centrance and it says it's plug and play with Windows, Mac, and Linux. So, you should be fine. I would verify if anyone owns one and has had any issues. If someone has, then it should be fine on a pi.

I've been meaning to try the Zoom R8's audio interface since that is what I use to record or the Novation X-Station's audio interface. Worth a shot. I wouldn't record with the cheap headphone usb audio interface I have now. I've been using it while I learn the ropes of pure data and what I can get away with on the Pi.

Maybe you could try something like this? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JLREDZG/ref=s9_top_hd_bw_b1C5v_g147_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-3&pf_rd_r=WNZRHZD5HDC8C1FMVMZJ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=202b99be-dd6c-5402-b007-d88175803d72&pf_rd_i=284823
I have not done this but I am just thinking of solutions if it is broken.

For budget, I would highly recommend the BM-800. Whatever the cheapest you can find, I got the Excelvan model, but they're all the same.

I also use a usb sound card, this one to be exact.

There are reviews and comparisons of the mic by a Youtuber, Podcaststage2 I believe. So you can hear it for yourself.

I'm sure the ATR2500 is a better mic, but I figure I'll throw in the ultra budget mic for consideration.

Yeah it has two ports. In and out Link

I assume the Modmic uses a 1/8" connection (3.5mm, like on your smartphone).

You can improve your audio quality by using a USB adapter, yes. What USB adapter do you have? Personally I use this.

You mean something like that? https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00XM883BK/ref=simh_0?pf_rd_p=e6a49e68-3d59-4876-badd-d3a7f1fb7b25&pf_rd_s=grid-unrec-4&pf_rd_t=Gateway&pf_rd_i=mobile&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=T0P7FDC8KZD371CC0MED&pf_rd_r=T0P7FDC8KZD371CC0MED&pf_rd_p=e6a49e68-3d59-4876-badd-d3a7f1fb7b25

Nice, you have the same setup I wanted. I already have the vive 'n' chill running and was looking for what usb c OTG worked for others for two outputs.

EDIT: Any idea if it shows up as a passthrough device or not? I kind of want to try a nicer DAC like this or this but not sure if drivers will be an issue on the latter.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XM883BK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I own the SMSL 793II and had this same issue after changing my motherboard, then someone linked this

Asus Xonar U5: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00MI8IDRE/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499551731&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=asus+xonar+u5&dpPl=1&dpID=415czWFsIkL&ref=plSrch

Asus Xonar U7: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00CP53ML2/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1499551731&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=asus+xonar+u5&dpPl=1&dpID=414hGNCNO-L&ref=plSrch

I have the U7 and love it. 😀

You're getting interference from something. It could be a USB device, your internal hard drive, or something else in your laptop. This is a very common annoying issue, especially in laptops since the analog cables for your sound run so close to virtually every component in your system. Totally eliminating the problem while still using the same headphone jack on your laptop would be very tedious, and you may not be able to get it fixed completely. However, if you bought something like this your problem should go away. This device passes your audio signals, including a mic signal, through a USB port to the outside of your laptop. All you have to do is plug it in, plug your headphones into it, and maybe change your default audio device. I used it on a desktop that had almost completely broken onboard sound (until I bought a discrete sound card) and it worked like a charm. Give it a go if you want to.

Decent onboard sound will be better, but there's still a crap-ton of electrical noise inside a computer that it could pick up.

I would try and go with USB if you can, maybe try one of these cheap ones for a mic input only (I expect the output to be pretty crappy for headphones)

This sort of thing?

it appears to have three phono outs so i could i use this to output three instruments each to a different speaker?

but it says 6 channels, so how do you get six individual streams of sound out of it if there aren't six outputs?

I just found this external usn sound card from creative: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00F8VB0IW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&psc=1

​

Will something like this increase my sound quality regardless of what speakers I am using?

I'm not sure of your location so my links are for Amazon US.

You need an external dac/amp because the controller definitely won't work for those. This should be fine unless you want to spend a bit more and get better quality:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01DLY3IW8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525343634&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=Soundblaster+g1&dpPl=1&dpID=31o4Ceu3LmL&ref=plSrch

Then you'll also need a y splitter if you don't have one already because that dongle only accepts the combined 4 pole connection. Those can be found cheap on Amazon too.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B011LBA5ZG/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1525343994&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=audio+combiner&dpPl=1&dpID=41IoMFm28%2BL&ref=plSrch

If you want better quality audio, this little guy will be great, but your modmic will then have to go into one half of the y splitter and then into the controller (the controller is fine for mic input but headphones not so much). It'll look weird but this is basically my setup.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B072JJT7SF/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1525344194&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=Fx+audio&dpPl=1&dpID=41iOCuvyjdL&ref=plSrch

I think the lightning input on this splitter is only for charging. You'll probably need a powered USB hub with built-in audio like this one (not sure if it's compatible with iOS, though) https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-External-Adapter-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B01HPMHOY0