Comparison Asus Strix Raid PRO vs Asus Strix Soar

— Regular. This category includes all sound cards that do not have a clear specialization and do not belong to any of the types described below. Generally, they have a set of basic or mid-level characteristics and are intended for simple everyday tasks: listening to music and game sound through regular speakers or headphones, online communication via microphone, etc. Regular sound cards are equipped with both digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters and can be either internal or external.

— Audiophile (Hi-Fi). Sound cards designed for lovers of high-quality sound; they may also be useful for professionals engaged in professional audio processing who require the most accurate reproduction of the received signal. Accordingly, models of this type are distinguished by high build quality, advanced components, and additional equipment, a variety of interfaces, and extended configuration capabilities (both software and hardware, including even the possibility of replacing individual components of the circuit). However, such cards are priced accordingly.

— Gaming. Sound cards originally created as components for advanced gaming systems. Accordingly, the main purpose of such models is the high-quality transmission of game sound, including 3D and multi-channel sound. Usually, gaming sound cards are equipped with advanced DACs and support various special...standards (see below); furthermore, they may have additional equipment like external control modules (see below). The vast majority of models of this type are internal, but they often have rather original designs (which will be useful for modding enthusiasts using transparent cases).

— DAC. Abbreviation for "digital-to-analog converter." This term usually refers to a component of a sound card, but in this context, it refers to a separate type of sound card, whose distinctive feature is the lack of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Consequently, DACs can only transmit sound from the computer to headphones, speakers, etc., and cannot be used for sound digitization from a microphone or other external signal sources. Note that this category includes a variety of models — from basic "USB-headphone" adapters, the size of a flash drive, to advanced audiophile-class solutions.

— Audio Interface. A kind of opposite to the above-described DAC: audio interfaces are primarily intended for digitizing incoming sound (e.g., from a microphone or electric guitar). Consequently, they are not only necessarily equipped with analog-to-digital converters — generally, these ADCs have very advanced characteristics and extensive sound adjustment capabilities (and some models even provide hardware switches for this). At the same time, audio interfaces can also work in the mode of converting digital to analog sound (simply put — outputting sound to headphones/speakers). The cost of such devices is usually quite high, so it makes sense to purchase them only for those who plan to work a lot with sound recording.

— Headphone Amplifier. The presence of a separate headphone amplifier in the design of the sound card. Such equipment allows at least to improve the overall sound of the “ears”, as well as to implement various additional settings for such sound (for example, a separate volume control). And some headphones — primarily high-impedance Hi-Fi models — in principle cannot be used without special amplifiers.

— External control module. The presence of an external control module in the design of the sound card. Such a module is actually a control panel with a wired connection; it doesn't give you the freedom of movement that a wireless remote control does (see below), but it's cheaper and often more convenient. So, the control module does not have to be in direct line of sight with respect to the audio card, and the length of the wire is often enough to place the device at the user's hand. However the set of adjustments placed on the external unit is usually limited to the most basic settings; however, even this, usually, is quite enough for comfortable use. In addition, the control unit often provides additional connectors for connecting headphones and a microphone. Among other things, this feature is especially convenient in games — it allows you to adjust the sound without distracting from the game itself. However, other types of sound cards can also be equipped with external modules (see "View").
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— Remote control. A remote control is included with the sound card. Do not confuse this function with the external control module described above: in this case, we mean a classic wireless IR remote control, like those used in TVs. Such a device does not necessarily cover all the capabilities of the audio adapter, however, the range of functions of the remote control can be quite extensive. On the other hand, the need to control a sound card from a distance is extremely rare, and in most cases, the mentioned external module is enough for this. So models with a remote control are not widely used.

— Exit to the front panel. Ability to connect an internal sound card (see "Type") to the connectors on the front panel of the PC. To do this, a special connector (or several connectors) is provided on the board, which is connected to the corresponding connector (s) using a wire. The convenience of this feature is obvious: in desktop computers, the front panel is located closest to the user, and it is to it that it is easiest to connect peripherals that involve frequent plugging and unplugging, such as headphones and microphones. Actually, connectors for such devices are most often displayed on the front panel.