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5 Best Sound Cards for Windows 10 PC to Improve Audio
Best collection of high-performance sound cards
8 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
This guide gives you some of the best sound cards for Windows 10 PCs.
An onboard or integrated sound card is sufficient for most users. It works great when you listen to music, watch coolYouTube Videos, and do other light stuff with background music.
However, if you are an audiophile or a hardcore gamer, you are serious about sound. You want something that will heighten your immersion levels.
This will mean an investment in a sound card.
Does a PC need a sound card?
It is not an absolute need, but for the best sounds, it is the better option.
You probably ownhigh-quality headsets, but you feel something is ruining your immersion level. So buying a dedicated sound card becomes your only option.
And here are some benefits of using them:
This article lists the five best sound card options for your Windows 10 PC.
What is the best sound card for Windows 10 PC?
Creative Sound Blaster AE-7
TheCreative Sound Blaster AE-7 is our first pick in this guide, as it offers some handy features that are sure to improve your audio-listening experience whether you’re watching a movie or playing a game.
Using this sound card while gaming enables you to feel integrated into the environment that you’re exploring, thus allowing you to focus even more on the task at hand.
The double amplifier offers crystal-clear sound, perfectly covering low, mid, and high-pitch noises.
Besides this, it also uses accurate hardware-accelerated audio powered by a quad-core processor that will never leave you lagging power and clarity.
It comes with a top-notch 127dB DNR ESS SABRE-class 9018 DAC and a Quad-Core processor that perfectly handles all the audio tasks.
The Xamp discrete headphone bi-amplifier powers each earcup of your headphones separately with 1Ω output impedance.
It can also drive studio-grade headphones of up to 600Ω, including high-end planar-magnetic headphones, so the better your equipment, the better the sound quality.
Important features:
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX
The Sound Blaster Audigy is also an incredibly cheap, high-performance sound card. Creative has positioned itself as a top brand in producing sound cards.
Their Sound Blaster Audigy has earned customers’ trust due to its simple design, quality features, and affordable price.
This sound card delivers a compelling 5.1 multichannel surround sound that easily converts your PC into a cinematic entertainment system.
The Audigy is not as complicated as most top-end sound cards but delivers 106 dB of signal-to-sound ratio (SNR).
This means you get 20 DB more than on the standard sound cards on motherboards.
It comes with a suite of Sound Blaster audio processors, such as SBX Pro Studio, that allows you to change the bass level, left/right balance, and more.
The high headphone amplification of up to 600-ohm impedance results in high-performance and distortion-free audio.
Important features:
Creative 70SB174000000 Sound BlasterX
TheCreative 70SB174000000 Sound BlasterX AE-5 PCIe gaming sound card is one of our top picks in this department, as it offers mighty and crisp sound.
This helpful sound card not only allows you to immerse yourself fully in the environment you’re exploring in your games but also defies explanations regarding its sound clarity.
Besides this, it is the only sound card from this range that allows you to use theXamp, a customized headphone amplifier that will take your gaming session to the next level.
The AE-5 Plus is the equivalent of a high-end graphics card for sound, and it supports 5.1 discrete and 7.1 virtual surround, as well as Sound Blaster’s Surround Virtualization technology.
The SABRE32 ultra-class PCI-e DAC provides Hi-Rez sound with up to 32-bit / 384 kHz playback and a 122 dB DNR, practically removing distortion and jitter.
This sound card is about the perfect sound and ensures the show because it features customizable RGB LEDs on its body and an included RGB LED strip.
So, it doesn’t even lack the bling of a gaming card. Even if it’s an internal device, you will find a way to display its talents.
Important features:
Creative Sound Blaster Z PCIe
If you are looking for a classy sound card that is powerful enough to handle all your gaming audio needs, you might want to try out the Sound Blaster Z PCIe.
This sound card has a series of attractive features that every audiophile would want. It features a Sound Core3D Audio processor for advanced audio capabilities.
This adds to the inbuilt SBX Pro Studio sound technologies to deliver unprecedented sound clarity with stunning 3D surround effects.
An inbuilt control panel allows you to switch between two options. A flip switch lets you toggle between your headphones and the computer speakers.
This sound card delivers 116 DB of sound-to-noise ratio (SNR), which Creative claims it’s 99.99% pure sound, and 34.4 times better than motherboard audio.
In addition, this sound card comes with a removable, beam-forming dual microphone perfect for in-game communication.
The Sound Blaster Z is compatible with Windows 10, and you can download the driver from the manufacturer’s site. Its price fluctuates, but keep an eye on the discounts.
Important features:
ASUS Essence STX II
ASUS hi-fi sound cards deliver sound quality that is hard to describe, and the STX 11 is no exception.
These high-end sound cards don’t come cheap, but they deliver quintessential performance that keeps the spirit and philosophy of audiophiles alive.
The signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio of the Essence line is usually higher than that of standard cards found on motherboards.
While standard cards hover around 88 dB SNR, the Essence STX 11 boasts an industry-leading 124 dB SNR.
Another essential feature that every audio-savvy looks for in a sound card is surround sound support. The STX 11 provides 7.1 multichannel surround sound.
This allows you to hook up to an 8-speaker audio system and get rich surround sound as opposed to the 5.1ch setup, which can only support up to 6 speakers.
In addition, Asus provides an op-amp swap kit with the STX 11 that allows users to easily change the tone and timbre of the sound they hear.
And if you like using headphones, then you’ll love the Asus headphone amplification that supports up to 600-ohm impedance.
This amplification boosts the sound while removing any distortions to deliver a sound close to the original recordings.
Moreover, the STX 11 is compatible with Windows 10 PC. ASUS has drivers for Windows 10, both 32 and 64-bit. However, they are not on the CD; you must download them from the Asus site.
Important features:
We can now conclude our list with the best sound cards for Windows 10 PCs.
We have not made our list in any particular order, and we recommend that you get what seems most suitable.
Our list contains only the sound cards that are compatible with Windows 10. They include excellent 5.1, PCI, external, and USB sound card options for Windows 10 PCs.
If you have any other suggestions about sound cards, we will wait for them in the comments section below.
Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer.
She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies – AI and DNA computing in particular.
Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.
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Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina is a Windows fan since forever, especially interested in AI, emerging technologies, privacy, and security.
