Choosing a sound card for your PC

On the first day, they built a PC that could display some characters on a monitor screen. On the second day, they added a tiny, wimpy speaker to the computer, so that when something went wrong we would be notified with an unpleasant sound. A long beep, for example, usually indicates a defective memory chip.

On the third day, they told us we could create our own monophonic music using the same speaker. On the fourth day, companies such as Media Vision began making the first sound card to enable the PC to produce more decent audio.

The first products available included Pro Audio Spectrum. It was an 8-bit sound device with the connection for a 2x CD-ROM drive. Then, on the fifth day, they make Creative SoundBlaster de-facto industry standard for an add-on audio feature.

On the sixth day, they increased the capability of the sound card to 16-bit. Now, on the seventh day, they have incorporated high-end features into the audio subsystem, like electronic equalizers, sound expanders and digital output.

Most of the boxed motherboards for Do-It-Yourselfers today already come with a built-in audio subsystem. They are usually SoundBlaster-compatible, so that when you install the operating system it will immediately get the software driver that it requires in order to function.

If you are not happy with the built-in audio component, you can generally disable it from within the BIOS and then you can add a full-featured sound card, such as SoundBlaster Audigy. The SoundBlaster Audigy 2 from Singapore-based Creative Technology can be regarded as the reference for those who want to turn their PCs into digital recording equipment.

What should one look for if you want to upgrade your PC's audio? First, look only at sound cards that can drive a set of at least 5:1 speakers. This will give you a surround sound effect, with two speakers in front of you, two behind your ears, one right in the center and a subwoofer. Even if you do not have so many speakers to spoil your ears, usually you can set up the sound card for the traditional stereo configuration -- one speaker on the left and one on the right. A feature called QSound can even simulate a 4:1 sound effect (two in front, two in the rear and a subwoofer) on a pair of speakers.

Like the video graphics cards, more and more audio equipment now use digital connection. With digital connection, the noise level is lower than the analog. So, make sure your new sound card has both input and output digital data ports. In the world of PC audio, the commonly used standard is the S/PDIF (sometimes without the slash). It stands for Sony Phillips Digital Interface.

High-end sound cards now also have a front-panel extension. So, if you need to disconnect the speakers and use the headset for voice command or dictation purposes, you will not grapple at the back of the housing -- and damage the plugs if you happen to be clumsy, you can simply plug and unplug on the front audio panel of your PC.

Keep in mind, too, that the actual quality of a sound card depends on the speakers that you use. And, when talking about PC speakers, more expensive does not always mean better performance.

Home PCs are normally designed to include a better audio system than the Office PCs for obvious reasons. Today, there is also a new breed of home PCs that are called Media Centers.

They allow us to watch DVDs and hear the sound with up to 6:1- speaker configuration. One thing to remember is that, although they may have a complete array of audio features, they are not audiophile-grade. If you intend on listening to Norah Jones' velvety voice in the middle of the night, your best bet is still a high-end bookshelf mini system.-- Zatni Arbi

Upcoming Topics - Roundup of PDAs that can make calls -- April 21 - Extreme Audio, if money is not a problem -- April 28 - Keyboards for all tastes and requirements -- April May 05