Sound cards inside and out. Everything about sound cards. How to choose a sound card for a computer and, in general, why is it needed? Why do you need a sound card?

Any person who owns a computer or laptop has at least once used it to listen to music, watch a movie, or talk to family via Skype or Viber. This feature has become an integral part of the life of any computer user, but he has no idea how it works. So, we’ll talk further about the sound card, which is responsible for these processes and capabilities. You will find out why you need a sound card and what it does and how it reproduces sound.

An audio card is a chipset or expansion card for creating sound that can be played through headphones, speakers or loudspeakers, and for recording it using a microphone.

Principle of operation

Typically, audio cards use a digital-to-analog converter to convert audio signals from digital to analog. They are output to any acoustic and sound-reproducing devices, be it speakers, headphones, etc. Modern advanced units include not one sound chip, but several, which is done to ensure the highest possible data speed and perform several functions simultaneously.

Types of cards

There are two types of audio cards - integrated and discrete. External ones are connected via FileWire or USB. Internal when assembling a computer by attaching expansion slots inside the system unit.

The main disadvantage of embedded devices is the huge risk of poor-quality PC power supply, that is, power surges and failure of the power supply. External ones are more practical, which is explained by external volume controls. Moreover, a unit of this type can work with both a laptop computer and a laptop or netbook.

In the case of an integrated card, its functions are performed by a processor that processes signals and converts sound. The discrete card has a personal sound processor, and some models even have their own memory.

So why do you need an external sound card if you have a built-in one? It's simple, with its help you can achieve the highest quality and clearest sound, as well as gain access to a number of important settings.

Where is it?

Often the audio device is included in an expansion slot, connected through an external port, or integrated into the motherboard. As for the latter option, this makes the assembly much cheaper and faster than an expansion card with an imperceptible loss in sound quality. Some devices are needed only for audio professionals or for use in the event of an integrated failure.

The unit is installed on a modern motherboard in PCI and PCIe slots. A standard computer card has an interface that can be accessed on the back panel, where there are various input and output ports, as well as on the sides and top of the case, depending on the individual design of the PC.

For computers whose improvements involve replacing the hard drive or increasing RAM, you can use a discrete sound device that connects via a standard USB port.

Software

Typically, the audio card comes with proprietary software on a special disk, or it can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s official website. However, you should not worry about this, since modern operating systems automatically detect and load drivers for any components, including sound cards.

Moreover, such software allows each user to make maximum fine-tuning settings and use a range of tools for editing, recording, etc.

Sound Features

Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround are surround sound standards used in the DVD format. If the PC is equipped with an audio card that supports the same standards, then the sound is reproduced without any distortion or noise, creating the effect of presence.

Today, the standards of audio devices for the highest quality reproduction of music and sounds are incredibly diverse. One of them, EAX and its improved version, EAX ADVANCED HD, guarantee excellent sound quality, which is achieved through the use of modern effects technologies.

Analog jacks 3.5mm

Almost all audio cards have a range of ports for connecting microphones, headphones, speakers and other auxiliary devices. But there are devices that have a larger number of output and input ports, designed for advanced users and their tasks.

Among the most common audio connectors are:

• Pink – audio output for microphone.
• Blue – linear.
• Green – output for headphones or speakers.
• Orange – for subwoofer or center channel.
• Black – for surround sound.
• Gray – for side speakers.

It is also worth mentioning the MIDI game port - this is a 15-pin connector designed for connecting additional devices.

Summing up

We have thoroughly analyzed this topic and now you know exactly what a sound card is for and what advantages it gives us, and we, in turn, can confidently say that the capabilities and functions of the speakers, sound card, and the entire system as a whole are directly affect the quality of sound reproduction.

Most motherboards are equipped with built-in audio cards, they have special chips, and the ports are located in absolutely any place, it depends solely on the wishes of the user, the design and technical capabilities of the device. However, you can use third-party sound cards and external audio devices, buy and supply them separately.

Just keep in mind that the potential of integrated devices is quite enough for users who are not fans of strong and powerful sound reproduction. Therefore, whether you need an external sound card is up to you to decide, based on your own needs and wishes.

To enjoy all the benefits of high-definition video and the latest PC games, you need both a powerful processor and powerful graphics adapter. However, very often users forget that for complete immersion in the atmosphere, high-quality multi-channel sound is also required. However, codecs, drivers and the built-in sound card will help little in this matter. You need a serious device. The article will describe how to choose a sound card. Useful tips when choosing will also not go unnoticed.

Built-in chips

Audio devices soldered directly on the system card board are unable to compete with discrete equipment. First of all, the codec installed on the motherboard actively uses processor resources during its operation, which reduces overall performance by several percent.

It happens that the built-in sound card is located in close proximity to high-ampere power lines. The electromagnetic field created by them leads to increased interference and interference. The architecture of the built-in equipment is simplified to the maximum.

How to choose a sound card for a computer?

There is a variety of hardware for sound output, all of which can be divided into two types: music cards and multimedia.

The first group is used for recording, playback and processing of audio information. This makes them narrowly targeted, and such devices are intended mainly for musicians. They can be installed either inside the system unit or connected to a USB connector. The price of this type of equipment is high.

Multimedia sound cards are suitable for a wider range of users. They are ideal for both stereo systems and acoustics with five and seven channels. Codecs are already built into the sound card and do not require additional configuration; In addition, in addition to codecs, the device has its own processor, which has a beneficial effect on computer performance.

Main characteristics

In order to choose a sound card for your computer, you must be familiar with the basic characteristics of the device. First of all, the main task is installed on the board - processing the digital signal and creating its analog equivalent. This device is essentially the brain of the audio card.

DAC parameters

How to choose a sound card for a computer, what characteristics should a DAC have? A DAC with a bit depth of 16 Bits and a maximum sampling frequency of 48 KHz is almost always sufficient. The last digit indicates how often the converter reads the signal during recording or playback.

It is believed that this parameter should be twice as large as that which will be reproduced. According to this theory, we can say that 44.1 KHz is sufficient for almost any recording; this level exceeds the threshold of frequencies audible to humans by two times. However, tests show that the rule is not always followed as written on paper, which means it makes sense to choose a device with a higher sampling rate for greater audio fidelity.

Marketing Tricks

It must be said that the figures written in advertising brochures are not always true, they are often greatly exaggerated. For example, a card with a stated sampling rate of 98 KHz may sound much worse than a device with more modest numbers. "How to choose the right sound card if you can't trust the specifications?" - the user will ask. When studying technology, pay attention to the company that manufactured the DAC. Ti-Burr Brown, Wolfson, Texas Instruments are considered the best.

In addition to the manufacturer, it is worth finding out the serial number of the DAC. It indicates the “advancement” of the model. That is, the higher the number, the more modern the development. You can only check the code name of the chip on the manufacturer’s website.

If there are several installed on the audio card, it is desirable that they all be the same. Often a high-quality DAC is used for the central channels, and an inexpensive one for the surrounding channels. This reduces not only the price of the final device, but also the quality of multi-channel sound.

EAX

Before choosing a computer sound card, find out whether the hardware supports EAX technology. Also, be sure to check which version you are using. Today the oldest is 5.0.

In simple terms, EAX is an “audio positioning” technology. The closest analogue is DirectSound3D. It controls the coordinates of the audio source in three-dimensional space. In computer games, this system is used most often; with its help, effects are added to the game that create the illusion of distance from the sound source and its location relative to the listener (left, right, behind).

To what has already been said, it should be added that EAX emulates reflections and reverberations. This gives the user a sense of the parameters of the game world. For an open world, a cramped room, and an empty multi-story building, the character of the same audio recording will be different.

ASIO

ASIO is a protocol used to transmit audio information with minimal delays. Recording in dedicated applications is almost impossible if the ASIO does not support the computer's sound card. How to choose the best option?

For musicians, having this technology is a must. If the computer is used not as a recording studio, but as a multimedia processor, ASIO can be considered an optional feature.

Midi interface

If the user is going to write arrangements, then what should a sound card for a computer have, and how to choose a suitable device? An important feature of audio cards is the presence of midi inputs and outputs. They are used to connect synthesizers and musical keyboards.

With the help of such an interface, not an analog signal is supplied to the sound device, but information about which key is pressed, whether it is completely lowered, and with what force and speed the user pressed it. All data is transferred to the program, and the program already plays the sound. Moreover, the possibilities of these programs are enormous. You can use those that emulate real instruments (for example, piano, guitar, drums), or you can create your own unique and unlike anything else preset.

Phantom power

If you intend to use a condenser, you should know that not every sound card for a computer can work with such equipment. How to choose the right device? It's simple - ask about the presence of phantom power on the audio card. Remember that dynamic microphones require the absence of this element! Phantom power can damage them.

Instrument and line inputs

If you are going to install an audio card in your computer for recording electric guitar, it must have an instrument input (another name is high-impedance).

Its resistance level is quite high (about 1 megaohm), which makes it possible to transmit a signal from the instrument to the computer without loss. If you connect a guitar to a regular input, a significant part of the overtones and low frequencies will be lost, which will make the sound dull. In this case, not a clear, beautiful sound will be recorded, but a dull sound with loss of low frequencies. A large microphone jack is often used as a connector.

Line In is required for connecting various stereo devices to the audio card. Typically, each channel uses its own connector. You won't be able to connect a guitar or microphone to it; the recording volume in this case will be very quiet.

Built-in preamp

A preamplifier is another module that can be equipped with a computer sound card. How to choose the right one and which one is better - with or without it?

First you need to understand what a preamplifier is. The amplitude of the signal that goes from the microphone to the input is very low. To record, you have to amplify it and then stabilize the volume. It is this function that is assigned to the preamplifier. Not all audio cards have it available. Even if the device has a microphone input, it may not have a preamplifier. Then the software does his job. However, in this case, the amplitude of not only the useful signal increases, but also noise with interference.

Choosing a sound card for a PC: is a preamp required?

For musicians or announcers, having a preamplifier will be a good bonus. But in this case there was a fly in the ointment. The quality of built-in amplifiers is almost always quite modest, but the price rises significantly due to such a built-in element. It must be said that you can always add an additional device of this type, so you shouldn’t add it to the list of required ones.

Conclusion

Since it is impossible to choose a sound card without wasting time, you will have to familiarize yourself with a large number of offers from different computer hardware stores. Of course, if you have no desire to study numbers, you can go another way - comparison. To do this, you need to listen to the same audio recording on different devices. In this case, the one that sounds most pleasant will be suitable.

Remember that the audio card is only part of the audio reproduction system. You also need a high-quality amplifier and good-quality speakers. Without them, all efforts aimed at selecting equipment will be in vain.

The main task of any sound card is to convert digital data into simple data that can be transmitted to headphones or speakers. All motherboards produced today already have them built-in, and they provide the necessary sound quality.

But some sound cards do not have enough functionality to run all programs; for example, they cannot simultaneously play and record sound. Therefore, to expand playback capabilities, a separate sound card is used, for example a USB sound card, and for little money the sound quality can be improved significantly.

Another advantage of such a sound card: it can slightly relieve the computer processor. The fact is that the standard card shifts many of the sound processing functions to the processor, in addition to occupying a certain part of the memory. So an additional USB sound card is a rational purchase in any case.

Based on the connection method, three groups of cards can be distinguished:

1. Via PCI or PCI Express connector. This connection is made through connectors located directly on the motherboard. Such cards are somewhat cheaper than similar external ones. But in terms of quality and functionality, they usually lose to them.
2. External USB sound card - connects via a USB port, suitable for any laptop or versatility is one of its advantages. A modern USB sound card can immediately output sound when recording,
3. External FireWire cards - connect via FireWire. These are the highest quality professional sound cards and are resistant to interference. To connect them to a laptop you need a PCMCI - FireWire adapter.

When buying a sound card, pay attention to the number of inputs and outputs it has. The more there are, the better. There must be a MIDI input and a MIDI output. They are intended for connecting a MIDI keyboard. By connecting it, you will get a good synthesizer. It's good if there are SPDIF optical outputs. The SPDIF optical interface provides the highest quality, clearest sound. To record music from instruments, you also need the appropriate number of inputs/outputs to connect the required number of devices, although you can record them one by one.

You should also look at the number of microphones and the sound card can be supplemented with special inputs for synchronization for multi-channel recording and additional monitor outputs.

Today, the variety of market offers makes it easy to find a card of the desired quality and price. By paying a modest amount for a purchase, you can significantly improve the sound quality of your computer and expand its functionality. Even a simple USB sound card can provide this.

A high-quality card can become the basis for a home sound studio; it comes with its own software for ease of use, but this card is very expensive. Such devices are used by professionals in their work; for the average person, an additional internal card is enough to get high-quality surround sound to accompany games and watch movies.

Do you like listening to music and watching movies on your computer? Then you can't do without a sound card

According to the definition given in books on computer literacy for dummies or computer science textbooks, a sound card for a laptop or desktop PC means a special device that can be integrated on the motherboard or be external, used to reproduce and process the incoming sound signal. Using an audio card, you can listen to music, watch full movies or enjoy gaming. Using special programs, you can process sound or create music yourself.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

the process of audio processing on a computer involves editing recordings, eliminating noise, digitizing analog compositions for saving them on modern types of media, mixing music or embedding a frequency range.

Most modern sound cards are equipped with multiple outputs, including a jack for connecting speakers, a microphone or headphones.

This device may have different names:

• audio input/output device;
• sound card;
• audio card;
• audio device.

The card itself can be represented by a separate expansion card placed in the corresponding connector of the motherboard, or it can look like an integrated chipset soldered on the motherboard. It all depends on the model and manufacturer.

Why do you need a sound card in a computer?

Some users wonder what a sound card is for a computer. This is a necessary part that is found in every PC or laptop. Its purpose is to process the incoming audio signal and reproduce it.

Even the sounds that are built into the system and notify the user about events on the computer cannot be reproduced without the presence of this part. Also, users who play music professionally will need to buy a sound card for their computer, since it allows them to process sound and write their own works. Gamers install external sound cards on their laptops for better sound and more immersive gaming experience. The presence of connectors in the audio card for connecting external speakers or headphones makes it possible to watch movies, listen to music or have online conversations with relatives or friends using Skype or other similar programs.

The simplest sound card is a board with a set of chips and the necessary outputs

What does a sound card look like for a PC?

To understand what a sound card looks like in a computer, you can look at the photo. Also, the method of determining where exactly the sound device is hidden in the PC will depend on its type and the type of computer (desktop or laptop). How to identify the sound card in a desktop computer? This can be done by disassembling the case. On the motherboard you need to find a small chip (microcircuit), on which the name of the manufacturer's company will be printed. This method determines the sound card soldered to the motherboard.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

if it is built-in, but connected as a separate device, then its location will be the corresponding slot. Usually this is PCI-Express. In this case, the presence of a sound card on the computer will be indicated by the various outputs on the rear wall of the system unit.

It is more difficult to disassemble a laptop, so you can determine exactly where the sound card will be located by looking at the external connectors. Typically, portable PC models have only two outputs - for a microphone and headphones or speakers.

On the motherboard, the sound card is represented by a small chip indicating the manufacturer

Main types of sound cards for computers

There are only two main types of audio devices for a PC - an external sound card for a computer and an internal or built-in one. They differ in their appearance and set of characteristics. The purposes for using these devices in the system also differ slightly.

External USB sound card

This device is a separate block, inside of which there is a set of chips responsible for converting and playing sound, connected to a computer via a USB port. Using an external device is an opportunity to significantly improve sound quality. Most often, such systems are used for laptops, since discrete audio chips cannot produce high-quality audio even on expensive models. The need to purchase an external sound card can be caused by two reasons:

• desire to get high-quality sound on a laptop PC;
• if the main sound card is broken and cannot be repaired, or the replacement procedure will be more expensive than buying a new one.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

Connecting speakers is not a solution to the problem of poor quality sound. This will only lead to an increase in volume, at which all the flaws and shortcomings of the built-in audio chip will become more pronounced.

Most often, inexpensive models of external sound cards do not exceed the size of a regular flash drive. More expensive and high-quality ones may resemble a hard drive. The most expensive models, the price of which can reach 10,000, are close in size to the size of the computer itself.

External sound cards are portable and have all the necessary connectors.

All external audio devices have common capabilities:

• amplification of the audio stream compared to standard computer means;
• ability to connect external speakers, microphone and headphones.

Expensive models can be equipped with various sensors, indicators, and regulators. Top models additionally have coaxial outputs and analog channels.

The advantages of external sound cards for a computer are:

• significant improvement in sound quality;
• mobility, which makes it possible to connect the device to any PC;
• a wide range of models on sale;
• the ability to adjust the main frequency parameters using buttons located on the device body.

Internal sound card for computer

As the name implies, this type of device for playing and processing audio streams is a system hidden in the computer case. There is a division of internal audio cards into two categories:

Integrated. This is a chip that is soldered directly onto the board. This solution is the most budget option. You should not expect high-quality sound from such a system, although more expensive motherboards may have high-quality chips installed. The advantage of this type is that it reduces the overall cost of the computer. But such an audio device has many more disadvantages:

• after being placed on the motherboard, the chip begins to be affected by electrical noise, which distorts the analog signal;
• lack of its own processor, which leads to increased CPU load;
• inability to connect powerful audio systems.

Integrated cards are soldered into the board and have connectors for connecting devices located on the back wall of the PC.

Discrete. This type is a separate board that is installed in a PCI slot. Discrete cards are considered the oldest options. There are many manufacturers who specialize in producing discrete options. The use of this type has a number of advantages:

• the presence of its own sound processor, which reduces the load on the CPU and does not slow down the PC;
• producing higher quality sound;
• the ability to connect powerful external audio playback devices;
• the presence of a disk containing drivers for the sound card for Windows 7 or another operating system.

A discrete audio card is a separate card installed in a PCI-Express slot.

Main technical characteristics of sound cards and available connectors

The main parameter that determines the effectiveness of a sound card is high-quality audio playback without unnecessary interference and distortion. Most devices have digital and analog inputs.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

in practice, it turns out that the analog input/output produces interference when playing sound. But professional musicians believe that analog sound has a “warmth” that digital cannot provide.

Signal converter

Since a computer is a digital device and sound is an analog physical phenomenon, the use of special conversion tools is required. On a sound card, a separate chip called a DAC, or digital-to-analog converter, is responsible for this. The conversion process occurs in two stages:

• first, signal samples that coincide with the sampling frequency are isolated from the data stream;
• Then, by interpolation or smoothing, a time-continuous analog signal is formed.

There is also an inverse conversion technique, when an analog stream is received at the input, which needs to be made understandable to the computer, which means representing the signal into a set of numbers.

Scheme of operation of DAC and ADC

DAC capacity

Another characteristic that is closely related to conversion is the bit depth of the digital-to-analog converter. Bit depth is the number of bits of the input code or the minimum number of units of digital information or bits. Typically, a binary number representation with a bit width greater than 16 is used.

Increasing this indicator is required to expand the dynamic range.

To obtain sound with minimal distortion, you need to use a DAC with the maximum number of bits. Higher conversion parameters corresponding to 24 or 32 bits are used during audio signal processing. For playback, 16-bit is usually sufficient.

Sampling frequency involves equalizing the converted signal by reducing the time intervals of individual samples

Sampling frequency

Since during conversion the signal is recorded at a certain number of samples, we can talk about time sampling. A situation may arise that these segments will be located at a large interval from each other, which will lead to loss of information and sound distortion. Therefore, for correct audio conversion it is necessary to take samples at the maximum frequency.

The limit is the speed of the DAC. Also, the greater the number of fixed segments that pass through the processor, the more memory must be allocated to store data. A signal that has the form of discrete samples can be converted into an infinite one only if the interval is limited to half the period of the highest signal oscillation in the spectrum. This is why sound card standards use filters that limit the maximum sampling rate.

Traditionally, all connectors are color coded

Interfaces

Almost every sound card for a computer is equipped with a certain set of ports or connectors that are used to connect microphones, headphones, external speakers and other devices. The most common inputs/outputs are the following connectors, which vary in color:

• pink– for microphone;
• blue– linear output;
• green– connector for connecting acoustics or headphones;
• black– for surround sound system;
• grey– when using a 7.1 system, when you need to connect side speakers;
• orange– for connecting a center channel or subwoofer.

Additionally, more advanced models may have an optical output or SPDIF, a coaxial connector that allows for better sound.

The choice of sound card should primarily be determined by its purpose.

How to choose a sound card for your computer

When choosing the optimal sound card for a PC, you should pay attention not only to the listed characteristics, but also imagine the purposes for which it will be used, and take a closer look at some additional parameters:

• EAX technology support. This is an analogue of DirectSound3D three-dimensional sound, which is used for sound cards. The use of such a technique is important in computer games, as it allows you to achieve the effect of presence. This technique is also used for reflection and reverberation of sound;
• presence of ASIO. A protocol that is used to transmit an audio signal with minimal delays, which is important when using editors to record audio. This technology is also implemented at the hardware level;
• Midi. A midi interface is required for musicians who intend to use a computer to create their own arrangements. These connectors are required to connect synthesizers or musical keyboards.

Also, when choosing the optimal card, you should not fall for marketing tricks, since very often the indicated indicators are exaggerated. It is worth paying attention to the DAC manufacturer. The best companies are Ti-Burr Brown and Wolfson. Another indicator of quality is the serial number of the converter. The larger the number, the more modern the model.

Asus Strix Raid DLX is the best value for money among sound cards, according to users

The best manufacturers

ASUS sound cards

One of the market leaders for these products is the Taiwanese company ASUS, which is known to a wide range of users for its mobile products - laptops and phones. The manufacturer’s line of audio devices is represented by both budget models (Xonar DG, cost – 2,200 rubles) and premium products, which, according to users, produce almost ideal sound (Strix Raid DLX, cost – 15,000 rubles).

Creative sound cards

Next in the ranking of the best manufacturers is Creative Labs, which specializes in the production of hardware and software. One of the most popular models is the Sound Blaster, which is already experiencing its 6th rebirth. The top model in the line is the Sound Blaster ZX, which has an original external design and a remote unit for connecting peripherals and controlling sound parameters. The cost of this card starts from 9,000 rubles.

Sound Blaster ZX is the sixth reincarnation of the sound card from Creative Labs

Other companies

Asus and Creative are the undisputed leaders. Also on the sound card market there are companies such as LynxStudio, which produces mid-price audio devices, C-Media, M-Audio. A distinctive feature of the latest brand’s audio devices is the products’ focus on recording sound at home. This is expressed in equipping the board with a line input for a guitar or microphone.

Using Device Manager, you can not only see which card is installed, but also update the driver

How to check a sound card on a computer and find out exactly what it costs

The easiest way to find out the sound card on a computer is to use the Windows Task Manager. The “Sound, video and gaming devices” item will show all audio devices installed on a specific PC.

Driver for sound card

You can also try to update the sound card driver through Device Manager if you have problems with sound. This will be useful for budget models that do not come with a special disk with installation software.

The sound card is installed in one of the PCI-Express connectors, which are located on the motherboard

How to connect a sound card to a computer

After purchasing a brand new audio card, the question may arise about how to install a sound card on a computer. When using an external device, you only need to plug the plug into the USB socket, and then install the necessary drivers for proper operation. If you are using a discrete card, then you will need to remove the side cover of the system unit and carefully place the board in the appropriate slot. A latch is used for fixation. After physical installation, you need to turn on the PC and install the drivers. It is quite possible that the system itself will detect the new device and automatically install it.

Gone are the days when computers hit store shelves “deaf and dumb”: today even the most budget models have a built-in sound card. Now speakers or headphones can be connected to any computer - be it office or gaming, desktop or mobile, expensive or cheap.
The problem is that the sound quality output from built-in cards often leaves much to be desired. Anyone understands that when choosing a motherboard, the last thing a buyer will pay attention to is the characteristics of the built-in sound card; The manufacturer understands this too. Therefore, the first (and often the only) criterion for a manufacturer to select a sound chip for a mother card is its price.

Classification of sound cards.

Although the operating principle of all sound cards is the same, according to their characteristics and supported formats they are usually divided into two classes: professional and multimedia.

Characteristics of sound cards.

Maximum frequency And ADC capacity determine how accurately an analog signal from a microphone or line input will be converted to digital. These parameters are important if the card is intended for recording high-quality sound. For most household needs, a single-channel ADC with a maximum frequency of 44.1 kHz and a bit resolution of 16 bits is sufficient.
To record stereo sound, you must have at least 2 recording channels.

PCI	PCI-E	USB

Signal to noise ratio determines the level of noise added to the signal by the sound card itself. The higher this indicator, the cleaner the sound remains. For listening to music, it is undesirable for this figure to be below 75 dB. Hi-Fi equipment provides a minimum of 90 dB, and high-quality Hi-End devices are capable of providing a signal-to-noise ratio of 110-120 dB and higher.

EAX, OpenAL, A3D support Determines whether the card supports gaming surround sound formats. Using these formats (via a multi-channel acoustic system), imaginary sound sources, sound reflections from virtual walls and other sound effects are created in space. Of course, for all this it is necessary that the game itself also supports this format.

ASIO support. ASIO is a software interface for direct (bypassing the operating system) data exchange between the sound card driver and the sound recording/playback program. The need for this format arose due to the fact that Windows (which uses this format) may delay the transmission of audio data when the system is under high load. By ear, this is defined as “jamming” and “slowing down” of the sound. And, if (for example) when watching a film, isolated such cases can be ignored, then with professional sound processing this, of course, is unacceptable.
At the same time, ASIO support does not guarantee that audio tracks will sound without delays - much depends on the quality of the sound card and its drivers. You shouldn't expect much effect from enabling this mode on a cheap, basic-level card.

Availability of digital output(S/PDIF, HDMI) allows you to transmit an audio signal in digital form to audio equipment that can receive such a signal - for example, to a home theater. With this connection, the DAC parameters of the sound card are unimportant - the conversion of the digital signal to analog is carried out by the home theater DAC. Such a connection is justified if the home theater DAC is of better quality than the one built into the sound card.

Availability of digital input allows you to receive a digital signal from audio equipment (for example, digital microphones and audio players). When using a digital input, the ADC characteristics of the sound card are unimportant - the sound already enters the card in digital form. In this case, the work of converting analog audio to digital (if it is performed) is taken over by the ADC of the device from which the digital audio signal comes.

Availability built-in headphone amplifier It will be useful if you often sit in front of a computer with headphones. If you have a high-quality high-impedance headphone, an amplifier is simply necessary - otherwise they will sound quiet. You can buy a separate headphone amplifier, or you can choose a sound card with a built-in amplifier.

Microphone phantom power used when connecting condenser studio microphones - it is believed that such a microphone provides the best voice recording. To connect conventional dynamic microphones, phantom power must be turned off, otherwise the microphone may be damaged.

High impedance instrument input (Hi-Z) designed for direct connection of electronic musical instruments with high pickup impedance (for example, electric guitars, electric cellos, violins, etc.). When connecting such instruments to a regular line input, the amplitude-frequency response of the signal may be distorted.