Reddit mentions of Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro USB Audio System with SBX SB1290

Technically yes it will do the job, but it won't sound any better than the headphone jack on your laptop, and will probably sound worse. Those kinds of adapters are designed for the most basic connectivity and no more.

The cheapest you can go while getting passable sound quality is going to be this. http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster-System-SB1290/dp/B0044DEDC0/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1449984706&sr=8-9&keywords=usb+sound+card

Looks like it could be an external sound card for PC. I think X-fi is a technology from Creative? There should be a model number or something on the back. If not, plug it into your PC and hope it's not some terrible hacked device that will blow up your computer.
Seriously though, I'm like 90% sure it's something similar to this.

The easiest solution to this might just be a $30 USB DAC, like the Soundblaster X-Fi Go or Behringer UCA202. They'll easily let you record two channels of audio, and monitor it with standard headphones.

Grab something like this, I think something has happened to the sound part of your motherboard. If this works at least you can use it instead.

should probably check our /r/headphones

It depends what your onboard is and how terrible it is. I use this creative usb as the input for my modmic 4. I use a yulong u100 as my output dac/amp to my Senn HD598s for gaming, but use a Bifrost Uber and Lyr 2 to drive my hifiman HE500s.

I just tested my mod mic with onboard, my portable xonar U3, and the creative usb. Onboard without mic boost was inaudible, with mic boost it's ok, but not great. The U3 has no mic boost and fell half way between onboard without boost and with, but sounded much better. The creative USB with boost off was about the same as the U3, but with boost I have to turn the gain down to about 70% or it is overbearingly loud. I position the mic about 1" from the side of my mouth as it's supposed to be placed.

output impedance is pretty high on the STX, the usual 10Ω found in soundcards. The DAC in it is decent, but the output stage is pretty blah. You're better off with a real headphone amp.



If you're getting ready to piss $200 on an STX, skip it and buy a Magni 2/Modi 2 stack or O2+ODAC for the headphones, then a something like an X-fi go for mic input.

I recommend that you buy a USB X-Fi Go! Creative Audio sound card and a small mixer with phantom power. All the USB mics I've used have been terrible. Some pre and an external sound card will do you good. Especially if you later decide to expand your recordings. It'll cost you $200 max.


http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Soundblaster-Audio-System-SB1290/dp/B0044DEDC0

http://www.amazon.com/Sterling-Audio-ST51-Diaphragm-Microphone/dp/B003OA1BUQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1331437866&sr=1-1


http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Premium-8-Input-Compact-Silver/dp/B004O2P6EU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1331437846&sr=1-1

Or a USB Sound Card. Creative makes a good one

https://www.amazon.ca/Creative-Soundblaster-Audio-System-SB1290/dp/B0044DEDC0/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1522688359&sr=8-14&keywords=Creative+Sound+Card

Are USB sound cards cheap? I'm looking on Amazon and seeing some small cool looking ones for $30, wondering if that's a good price

Like this one

A USB one would be nice cuz I have plenty of USB space on my new tower and motherboard

no, its not the only thing.

pretty much anything except the $5.99 extra cheapy ones will do fine.

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster-System-SB1290/dp/B0044DEDC0/

https://www.amazon.com/ROCCAT-JUKE-Virtual-Soundcard-ROC-14-110/dp/B00UTMKCMK/

Does your computer not have another port anywhere to use a microphone? No pink slot?

If it doesn't, this will solve your problem:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044DEDC0/

You're probably using the MB sound card if you're not sure. I highly recommend upgrading your sound card, it'll make your headphones sound a fair bit better.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0044DEDC0/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?qid=1457313955&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=usb+sound+card

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009346RSS/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1457314148&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=usb+dac+fiio&dpPl=1&dpID=41l5DQfwtyL&ref=plSrch

I had to pick up an external sound card for my pc for it to recognize Apple type headphones as well as my QC25s. I would imagine the QC35 would have the same wiring.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044DEDC0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So check out this thing. UCA verse the creative portable usb one.
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Soundblaster-Audio-System-SB1290/dp/B0044DEDC0/ref=pd_cp_e_1

If you determine that your hardware has failed, here's a work-around for $35:

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Soundblaster-Audio-System-SB1290/dp/B0044DEDC0

Hmm, I must have looked at the wrong one. This is what I saw at Amazon.

You must have the small one, here.

I'm far less sure this one is worth using. I suppose you can try it, then try straight from the computer. Yes, you can increase the volume in Windows to about 95% or so, though some advocate maxing it out, then control the volume on the Magni 2.

This is your best bet. Ignore the USB part of your request because any headset can be made USB for very cheap DAC's.

The majority of USB headsets ship with a low quality DAC anyway. So don't bother.

Grab one of these as well if you require USB.

That's a very high quality one, but you can go cheap if budget is an issue, and then upgrade later.

Here is the best deal on the internet - the external USB sound card - make your music sound 50 times better. It's called the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro USB Audio System with SBX SB1290. Amazing low price of $29.99 on sale (Amazon). Before this device my volume was max and it sounded poor. Now my volume is at 20% and it sounds like an expensive stereo.

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster-System-SB1290/dp/B0044DEDC0/ref=pd_sim_sbs_147_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=31tudwHNXgL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR102%2C160_&refRID=09CXN5MXW71FGBHP448C

Well, there's always USB alternatives:

• Cheap
  
• Quality

Somewhere above $1000. But really, you'd be better off buying an external sound card. I use this one, which works quite well and is pretty cheap. Depending on what hardware it will be driving, you might want something better.

Sounds like interference if the mic is muted and sound still comes through. Using a USB interface might solve it, but there's no way to know for sure. There are several cheap USB soundcards for <$10 on amazon, but the sound quality may be questionable. For around $30 you can try the Creative Labs X-Fi Go, which I would trust a bit more.

The 9500's have pretty low impedance at 32 ohms and have high sensitivity at 101dB/mW, so an external amp is not really necessary.

Couple options that are really the same options: Get a USB external sound card. Creative labs makes some, and they even have headphones that plug in via USB and have the 'sound card' built into them.

Examples:

external 'card'

headphones

i'd recommend not going the headphone route, because you'd preferably like to pick the cans you want, without being restricted to that one pair... the the external card is the way to go probably.

(edit - keep in mind these are just example products, and I've never used them (although i do have a pair of the fatality headphones... they are decent, but not very good), there are better quality ones out there, so be sure to investigate before you buy)

It does not. http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster-System-SB1290/dp/B0044DEDC0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405299455&sr=8-1&keywords=creative+usb Here's a list of specs if you need more info.

Yeah, one of these then. I don't really have an opinion on quality for these things though but a usb sound card is what you need. The link is just an example.

I'd probably just get the cheapest one at Blurst Buy or your local equivalent and return it for the next cheapest one if the sound quality sucks and repeat till I find a good one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820132021

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811996038

These things would be what you are looking for.

But if you know how to solder, or someone who can for free, the jacks can be easily repaired. If it needs a full replacement, the jack itself is probably $2-3. But paying a shop to do it would be more expensive than just buying the case new again.

edit: There's also a USB sound card route:

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Soundblaster-Surround-System-SB1095/dp/B0044DEDCA/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1395962452&sr=8-13&keywords=usb+sound+card

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Soundblaster-Audio-System-SB1290/dp/B0044DEDC0/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1395962452&sr=8-8&keywords=usb+sound+card

Cheap alternative (Don't expect any quality sound):

http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Virtual-External-Surround-USB-AUDD/dp/B00D69U1B0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395962644&sr=8-2&keywords=usb+sound+card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829128004


Also: There are many NZXT people in this subreddit, you can try joining the live chat irc on the right or contacting one of them to see if they can help you purchase a full front panel replacement board. If it hasn't been over a year, it should still have warranty, you can contact NZXT directly to see if they have a replacement board.

Oh man, i mean... Those would DEFINITELY solve my problem. But those seem like above and beyond fixing some line noise. I was thinking more like a thumb-drive-sized audio card. I see creative and turtle beach both have them. They seem pretty cheap, but a little pricier than the random non-name-brand companies and promise high quality.

Some reviews on the creative seem to imply that there is noise and feedback on the creative, and someone went as far as digging into it claiming Creative acknowledges the issues and blames the issue on inadequate shielding. This basically makes it useless for me!

People claim the turtle beach has poor sound as well.

Am I just looking for a product that doesn't exist?

I am looking to buy a DAC (budget around $30) for my laptop as the sound quality is inferior to my iPhone. I am mainly going to use my RHA ma750i for listening.

I've looked at several of them on Amazon and most are too expensive for me. I just want to have the same music quality experience as my iPhone.

Here's the Link for both of them:
Sound Blaster PLAY!
, Sound Blaster X-Fi Go!

They seem convenient, portable and quite easy to carry.

If you guys know of better DACs in the same price range, please let me know. Thanks.