Improving sound when pluging headphones into Laptop

[NikolasKaefig]

Hi. I want to buy some value headphones like the CAL to watch movies, play games, and listen to music on my Laptop. I heard that sound on PC's really improve by having a proper sound card, even a cheap one but since I have a Laptop I'm stuck with onboard sound. So I was thinking about getting an USB sound card. Does anyone have any experience with those? Any recomendations? Thanks.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

Hi. I want to buy some value headphones like the CAL to watch movies, play games, and listen to music on my Laptop. I heard that sound on PC's really improve by having a proper sound card, even a cheap one but since I have a Laptop I'm stuck with on-board sound. So I was thinking about getting an USB sound card. Does anyone have any experience with those? Any recomendations? Thanks.

Cheapest USB sound card, the Asus Xonar U3, $40 and some places have a $10 mail in rebate for it.
 
Better USB sound card, Fiio E10, $64.

 

[GREQ]

Some guys on headfi have said a lot of good things about the 'ele dac' - it's about $17 on fleabay from hong kong. 

 

[NikolasKaefig]

Thanks, the ele dac looks interesting.