Very neutral, clear sound card for a small price

1) TerraTec AureonDualUSB ultra compact sound card in USB stick design with stereo output, optical digital output and microphone input
2) Creative Sound Blaster Play sound card external
3) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go Pro USB external sound card with THX.

I have 3 sound cards with in-ear headphones (Shure SE315) and tested to active monitor speakers. Test music went from indie rock to electronica to classical music.

The Terratec has in my opinion the most neutral, most linear sound. Probably it is therefore conducted under the recommended sound cards on the website of the speaker manufacturer Teufel. I welcome that no drivers to install under Win7. USB stick in and ready. The sound quality improved dramatically compared to the Lenovo onboard chip. Even on my home hi-fi system, the results are very convincing, as I have now found.

The Sound Blaster Play is somewhat bass-driven compared to Terratec and thus acts supposedly "full" in the sound. This fits well in conjunction with headphones, so I have to keep them for mobile use. Two other reasons for the mobile use of the Sound Blaster with headphones: The stick is slightly smaller than the Terratec stick, thereby exerting more stable. In addition, it is not as potent as the Terratec: there I could just go to Volume 2 of 50 on the laptop when using the headphones, and also had to in Winamp and win-sound settings lower the volume, because otherwise it is incredibly noisy. Is probably also the high efficiency of the Shure SE315. The Sound Blaster is not quite as aggressive in the sensitivity, which gives me more freedom. The driver on the CD I have not installed. This is only necessary if you want to have "advanced settings".

The most expensive card, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Go, I have as a result of the comparison returned again because here constantly with classical piano music appeared slight Frisseln in the overtones. At the home facility, the efficiency was again too low, ie the recoverable volume is too low. So exactly the opposite of the Terratec.

In short, the Terratec is great if you are looking for a linear, clear, neutral sound and will use them as a player for a hi-fi system. The Sound Blaster Play I would recommend the one who is looking for a little more pronounced bass sound.