It may not be the first part of your setup that you think of upgrading, but getting one of the best USB sound cards for gaming can actually make a world of difference when it comes to audio quality.

A sound card allows computers to have sound. Pretty simple, right? But let’s dig deeper. Here’s a closer look at the tech that defines a sound card, and what to know if you want to buy one. Today’s ...

Before the release of the Intel AC '97 standard, computer sound was frequently an add-on feature. To use anything other than a small, monophonic internal speaker, you'd need to buy a card that plugged ...

I've just been using motherboard audio, but I've been hearing lots of games have good simulated surround sound through stereo headphones, so I'm going for it. So, based on some of what I've read (here ...

Games are more than just an interactive visual experience. The time and effort that developers spend in creating and incorporating immersive audio and soundtracks are not experienced to their fullest ...

Having spent a number of years as the audio weapon of choice for computer sound systems, Creative has announced a couple of USB releases that will allow any sound card to benefit from its Sound ...

Your USB audio port can be surprisingly useful--giving you even better sound than your computer's regular audio output. Here's how to use it. Eliot Van Buskirk Evolver.fm Editor Eliot Van Buskirk has ...

Stereophile magazine's John Atkinson loved the Asus Xonar Essence ST/STX sound cards. They are, by far, the least expensive way of turning a PC into a genuine high-resolution audio source. Ex-movie ...

On its own, your computer can't make a sound. Digital data from audio and video files needs to be turned into something that our ears can hear, and this requires specialized hardware and sophisticated ...

I’ve got some bad news: Those nice headphones and great speakers that you spent so much money on? They probably don’t sound as good as they could. You spent the time searching for the best audio gear ...

Does it make sense to use an audio interface to input audio into your computer? For some users — it’s still a useful tool. Professional musicians are already familiar with the difference between an ...

I’m PCMag’s home theater and AR/VR expert, and your go-to source of information and recommendations for game consoles and accessories, smart displays, smart glasses, smart speakers, soundbars, TVs, ...