What are my options for good sound quailty with my laptop?

[thecake90]

Right now I am using my onboard Audiocard with crappy headphones, I would like to upgrade but I dunno to what, should I get a USB headset? If so which? or would a normal headset with my onbaord audio work fine? or should I get an external USB soundcard like
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102035

And connect it to a headset?
I want to experience games and movies with surround sound! Please recommend me something

[thecake90]

I can get the Creative Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset for less than 40 euros, would that be a good choice ?

Another option is the sound blaster tatic 3d Alpha

[suture]

in a laptop i wouldnt think twice and buy something like this
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-CA-901.../dp/B005QUQP7G

maybe not so expensive but with sound sound quality as awesome.
To plug in external speakers, maybe a usb external sound card of some type.
Assuming your onboard sound is crappy, and you want 5.1 etc etc

[nikavelli]

Originally Posted by thecake90

Please recommend me something

Well how much money are you looking to spend?

[thecake90]

Originally Posted by nikavelli

Well how much money are you looking to spend?

100 Euros? maybe.. if there is something that is worth it, I am willing to spend.

[TruMutton_200Hz]

NuForce uDAC-2.

EDIT: Best version of it is the SGE (asynchronous USB, gold plated). For optimum portability and good sound quality combined, you could pair it with for example Shure SE535 Sound Isolating Earphones. They block up to 37 dB of environmental noise. Not exactly cheap but anyway.

[nikavelli]

Originally Posted by thecake90

100 Euros? maybe.. if there is something that is worth it, I am willing to spend.

In my opinion, it's not worth it. I would save more money and buy something higher quality. If you absolutely must buy something now, your best bet would be an all-in-one solution like a USB headset. With a USB headset, you would be replacing your onboard sound and crappy headphones. You can get some decent ones for under 100.

[Decane]

What onboard do you have, exactly?

[jhelsas]

Originally Posted by TruMutton_200Hz

NuForce uDAC-2.

EDIT: Best version of it is the SGE (asynchronous USB, gold plated). For optimum portability and good sound quality combined, you could pair it with for example Shure SE535 Sound Isolating Earphones. They block up to 37 dB of environmental noise. Not exactly cheap but anyway.

^+1

I don't thrust this Corsair/Razer/alike sound cards.

The best way to get a upgrade for your laptop sound is to get a good DAC/amp combo from Fiio(my case, an e7), nuforce(like the guy above, and better than the e7), ibasso or any of those companies. You can get something between US$ 80 and 150 and easly sound better than any of the above mentioned alternatives in my opinion.

Together with it, get a good headphone, or even a analog headset(though the good ones are fairly expensive and hard to find) and you are good to go.

http://www.amazon.fr/E7-FiiO-unit%C3...5020220&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.fr/Etymotic-moving...5020351&sr=8-1

For about 120 euros you have a good dac/amp with line-out(the L7 is the line-out adapter) so you can conect it beautifuly to a speaker system using only the DAC, and a pretty decent headphone with good isolation, unfortunatly no headset at this price point.

That would be my sugestion.

edit 1:

Also, checking this forum is allways a good sugestion:
http://www.head-fi.org/

edit 2:
Just found this, it will certanly be helpfull to this discussion:
http://lifehacker.com/5903575/unleas...-and-amplifier


About the SE535: It's more a matter of taste than anything else, so don't get me wrong please. In sheer isolation, I prefer the Etymotic HF5, and in sound, for the SE535's price I would get the Westone 4. In-ear, like all headphones independant of the SQ, have their own sound signature and some like it and others don't, it was my case with the W4 vs SE535.

Also both of them are (completly) outside the guy's budget. If he didn't have a budget, he could look at sooooo many other things....

[Tacoboy]

Asus Xonar U3 USB sound card.
Samson SR850 headphones.
Should be around your budget.

[Meocene]

definitely a USB stereo DAC - you're only real option, imo.