[clug-talk] High Quality External USB Sound Card?

[Mark Carlson]

On 1/13/09, Peter Pankonin <r4nd0m1z at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 1/13/09, Mark Carlson <carlsonmark at gmail.com> wrote:

<snip>

>  > I use the HeadRoom Total BitHead which is a "High Quality External USB
>  > Sound Card" but it has no inputs.
>
>
> Thanks...that would probably suit my needs. I'll check into it.
>

It's a really nice device, that's for sure, but unless you are a hi-fi
nerd, something cheaper will suffice.  The BitHead is actually a
portable battery-powered headphone amplifier that just happens to
double as a USB sound card.

For $50 or so, you should be able to pick one up elsewhere.  USB sound
cards were very easy to get just one year ago, but now I can't seem to
find nearly as many locally.  Don't get a Creative X-Fi, as the
drivers have issues under Linux (there were official drivers, but they
were only available for 64-bit linux, and now they are no longer
supported.)

I wish I could recommend one, but it looks like all that's left at
Memory Express is one that I don't see anyone using under Linux,
Future Shop has none, and Best Buy only has the Creative X-Fi which I
doubt works well under Linux.

If you feel like picking up a ~$5 one off of eBay, I hear those
usually plug and play with Linux.

-Mark C.